The Classification of Words

THE CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCES /
A. As to Their Structure
§ 403. Sentences with only one predication are called simple sentences. Those with more than one predication have usually no general name ³. We shall call them composite sentences.
In a composite sentence each predication together with the words attached is called a clause.
Composite sentences with coordinated clauses are com­pound sentences.
She's a very faithful creature and I trust her. (Cronin).
Composite sentences containing subordinated clauses are complex sentences.
// / let this chance slip, I'm a fool. (Cronin).
In a complex sentence we distinguish the principal clause (I'm a fool) and the subordinate clause (If I let this chance slip) or clauses.
¹ See A. Martinet A Functional View of Language Oxford, 1962,
p. 52: "If in a phrase such as with a smile, smile is considered the centre
of the phrase . . a is centripetal . with centrifugal: a is connected with
the rest of the sentence only through smile, which it helps to specify,
with connects smile with the rest of the sentence^.
² In his book Connectives of English speech f Fernald deals chiefly
with prepositions and conjunctions
³ Sometimes they are called periods, but as the opposite of simple
sentences the term does not seem to fit H Poutsma names them compo­
site sentences, a term we adopt heie.
240
We may also differentiate compound-complex (He seems a decent chap, and he thinks Ferse at the moment is as sane as himself. Galsworthy), and complex-compound (When that long holocaust of sincerity was over and the bride had gone, she subsided into a chair. Galsworthy) sentences.
There may be several degrees of subordination in a complex sentence.^,
It was almost nine o'clock before he reached the club, where he found Lord Henry sitting alone. (Wilde).
The clause where he found Lord Henry sitting alone is subordinated to the subordinate clause before he reached the. club and is therefore of the second degree of subordination.
§ 404. The clauses of a composite sentence may be joined with the help of connective words (syndetically) or directly, without connectives (asyndetically).
E. g. We consent to be in the hands of men- in order that they may be in ours. (Galsworthy). You're modern, Fleur; I'm mediaeval. (Ib.).
§ 405. A simple sentence or a clause containing some words besides the predication is called extended. An unextend-ed sentence (clause) contains no other parts but the subject and the predicate.
A sentence (clause) with several subjects to one predicate or several predicates to one subject is called a contracted one.
E. g. Diana crossed to the window and stood there with her back to Dinny. (Ib.).
§ 406. The dominating type of sentence (clause), with full predication, i. e. containing both the subject and the predi­cate, is called a two-member sentence (clause). All other types are usually called one-member sentences (clauses). Here are some examples of one-member sentences.
Put your money on Old Maid. (Galsworthy).
A cup of teal
Thanks.
These sentences are representatives of certain types that are established in the language system alongside of the two-
241
member type. They are not speech modifications of some other type of sentence, as the so-called 'elliptical' sentences are (see § 418).
B. As to Their Categories