Coordination & Subordination

1. Coordination & Subordination Sections 16 and 17

2. Coordination • Basically, it is stringing independent clauses together • This is important to do when creating compound sentences • However, don’t overdo it • Excessive coordination results from using too many compound sentences • This causes confusion because the exact relationship between ideas is unclear • Example: • She is going on a trip soon, so there is no reason to stock up on groceries, but she still needs a few items, for the trip is not scheduled until June third and her aunt won't be in town before then, or else she would go earlier.

3. Coordination • Avoid excessive coordination by using: • Subordination • Makes an independent clause into a dependent clause • Division • Splits the independent clauses in a compound sentence into two separate sentences • Avoid false coordination • Don’t use a coordinating conjunction to join an adjective clause to an independent clause

4. Subordination • It helps avoid excess coordination by making compound sentences into complex sentences • What should be subordinated? • I’m so happy you asked! • Ideas expressing time, place, manner, cause, purpose, result, condition, concession, or degree • Details stating size, color, cost, etc. • Predications containing pronouns and the verb “be” • How else can you use subordination? • I’m glad to see you’re taking such interest in the topic  • Use subordination to combine related ideas • These ideas can be from two (or more) simple sentences • Or, two or more independent clauses

5. Subordination • So…how does you actually combine ideas? • One way is to form a complex sentence that contains an adjective clause • Like this: • Kyle was elected class president. He is friendly to everyone, • How would you combine these two simple sentences into a single complex sentence? • Kyle, who is friendly to everyone, was elected class president. • Another way is to form a complex sentence that contains an adverb clause • Like so: • Aaron was late, and he received a demerit. • How would you combine these two independent clauses into a single complex sentence? • Because Aaron was late, he received a demerit.

6. Subordination • Avoid upside-down subordination • Which, as the name implies, means that your main idea and subordinating idea are in the wrong places • i.e. your main idea in the dependent clause and your subordinate idea in your independent clause • For example: • When everyone panicked, the earthquake struck. • This exhibits upside-down subordination • How do you fix it? • When the earthquake struck, everyone panicked. • This is correct…no illogical causation

7. Subordination • Avoid illogical subordination • To make sure you avoid this: • Do not use an adverb clause in the place of a noun clause • For example: • Because he was best qualified was the reason he got the job. • What’s wrong with this? • That he was best qualified was the reason her got the job. • Good, now you have your noun clause as the subject • Likewise, do not use an independent clause in the place of a noun clause • For example: • He wanted to improve himself was the reason he returned to school. • I’m not even going to ask if that sounds wrong • That he wanted to improve himself was the reason he returned to school. • Now the noun clause is the subject and makes the sentence work

8. Subordination • And, lastly (thank God!) • Avoid excessive subordination • Can you believe after all that you still have to show a modicum of common sense and know when to stop yourself from stringing a bunch of dependent clauses together? • Don’t worry, most of the time I don’t know when to stop either. • Here’s an example for you: • Don’t do this: (because it sounds terrible) • Someone checked out the book that Isaac needs for the report which, unfortunately, he is scheduled to give in history class which meets first hour tomorrow. • Do this: (because it sounds a million times better) • Someone checked out the book that Isaac needs for his report. Unfortunately, he is scheduled to give the report in history class first hour tomorrow.