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Some ways of sentence extension
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Sentence extension embraces different parentheses and direct address mentioned above (§ 113); it also includes homogeneous parts, appended parts, and different kinds of repetitions.
Homogeneous parts
§ 189. Homogeneous parts are two or more componentsof thesentence which are characterized by the following features:
1. They are connected by coordination, that is, are of equal syntactical rank. They are connected either by a coordinating conjunction (a), or Joined asyndetically (b).
(a) The men were cold and sick and silent.
(b) They crawled ahead, waited, listened to the bombardment.
2. They have one and the same syntactical function in the sentence and similar syntactical relations with other parts of the sentence.
The grass was long and high and wet —— >
——> The grass was | long | and | high | and | wet |
Dora and I ate in silence. ——>
| ——> | Dora | and — —> ate in silence. | I |
The identical syntactical function and thefact that these parts are coordinated make them homogeneous.
3. Homogeneous parts are separated from each other by pauses in speech and generally by commas in writing.
Gertrude had seen Martin first and noticed the eager, hungry lines of his face, and the desperate, worried
look of his eyes.
4. They may differ:
a) in their structure
I started to kiss Maybelle but couldn’t quite make up my mind.
(The first homogeneous predicate is a compound verbal phasal predicate and the second is a compound
verbal modal predicate.)
She didn’t feel well and stayed in bed.
(The first homogeneous predicate is a compound nominal predicate and the second is a simple verbal
predicate.)
She mumbled and kept staring at the same spot in the book.
(The first homogeneous predicate is a simple verbal predicate and the second is a compound verbal
phasal predicate.)
b) in the ways of expression (morphologically)
The Johnsons and I have been to five balls to-night.
(The homogeneous subjects are expressed by a proper noun and a pronoun.)
His voice was loud, ringing, yet strained.
(The homogeneous predicatives are expressed by an adjective, participle I and participle II.)
The Colonel had just finished breakfast and was walking across the compound towards the stables.
(The homogeneous simple predicates are expressed by different verb forms.)
From the point of view of their syntactical function there may be:
a) homogeneous subjects
You and Tuck have had a nice time together this summer, haven’t you?
He and Sis didn’t discuss such things.
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b) homogeneous predicates
Sis got up and dressed in a hurry and didn’t even put on any lipstick.
When she would turn the pages, she licked her thumb and held out her little finger and turned very
slowly.
c) homogeneous predicatives
He felt little and worn and helpless.
The question was painful and difficult to ask.
d) homogeneous objects (direct and indirect)
She had on a sweater and a blue pleated skirt.
All of a sudden I felt mad at myself and the dream and Maybelle and Sucker and every single person I
knew.
e) homogeneous attributes
He wore a blue striped shirt and grey checked trousers.
f) homogeneous adverbial modifiers
She had lessons on Tuesday after school and on Sunday afternoons.
Homogeneous parts may be connected by different coordinating conjunctions:
a) copulative conjunctions and, nor, neither... nor, as well as, both... and, not only... but also
Neither the wagons nor the howitzer came.
b) disjunctive conjunctions or, either...or
I don’t care either for Maybelle or any particular girl any more.
I can get along by myself if Sis or anybody wants to.
c) adversative conjunction but and conjunctive adverb yet
The old man nodded but did not stop eating.
The story is interesting, yet a little too long.
§ 190. There are, however, cases which look very much like homogeneous parts but which should be distinguished from them.
They are:
1. Different kinds of repetitions which make the utterance more expressive but which name the same notion. Any part of the sentence may be repeated in this way.
There were rumours, rumours, rumours.
It’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
I’ll never, never, never go there again.
She is my dear, dear, dear sister.
2. Phrases where coordinated nouns refer to one thing or person, such as: my son and heir, their friend and defender, her friend and counselor.
Bread and butter is not enough for breakfast.
3. Syntactically indivisible coordinated phrases in which neither component can be removed and which make one indivisible part of the sentence..
Four and four is eight.
Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
4. Sentences where the predicate consists of two parts joined by the conjunction and which in this case has no copulative meaning.
| Try and do it properly Come and help me | = Try to do it properly. = Come to help me. |
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