Complex sentences: homogeneous, sequential and parallel subordination. Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses in a complex sentence
In this chapter:
§1. Types of subordination in NGN with several subordinate clauses
An IPP can have more than one subordinate clause. In this case, it is important to understand how all the parts of a complex sentence are related to each other, what obeys what. Three types are possible:
1) consistent submission,
2) parallel subordination,
3) homogeneous subordination.
Consistent submission
With sequential subordination, a chain of sentences is formed: the first subordinate clause is subordinate to the main clause, the second subordinate clause is subordinate to the first subordinate clause, etc. With this type of subordination, each subordinate clause is the main one for the subsequent subordinate clause.
I'm afraid that Anna will be late for the exam, which is scheduled to start early in the morning.
Scheme: [...], (union What...), (conjunctive word which…).
With sequential subordination, the subordinate clause related to the main one is called a subordinate clause of the first degree, and the next subordinate clause is called a subordinate clause of the second degree, etc.
Parallel subordination
If subordinate clauses of different types belong to one main sentence, then parallel subordination is formed. With this type of subordination, both subordinate clauses belong to the same main clause. It is important that these subordinate clauses are of different types and they answer various questions.
When the teacher came in, the kids stood up to greet her.
Scheme: (conjunctive word When…), [ … ], (union to …).
Homogeneous Subordination
If subordinate clauses are sentences of the same type and relate to the same member of the main sentence or the entire main sentence as a whole, then a homogeneous subordination is formed. With homogeneous subordination, subordinate clauses answer the same question.
I suddenly felt how the tension subsided and how light my soul became.
Scheme: [...], (union How...) and (union How …).
Subordinate clauses explanatory sentences are similar to homogeneous members of the sentence, they are connected to each other by the conjunction And. Both subordinate clauses refer to the main clause of the sentence. There is no comma between them.
It is important that with homogeneous subordination, conjunctions or allied words can be omitted, which is typical for sentences with several subordinate clauses.
Test of strength
Find out your understanding of this chapter.
Final test
Is it true that an IPP can have more than one subordinate clause?
What is subordination called when the first subordinate clause is subordinated to the main clause, the second to the first, etc.?
- consistent submission
- homogeneous subordination
- parallel subordination
What is subordination called when subordinate clauses of different types are attached to one main clause?
- consistent submission
- homogeneous subordination
- parallel subordination
What is subordination called when subordinate clauses are sentences of the same type and refer to the same member of the main sentence or the entire main sentence as a whole?
- consistent submission
- homogeneous subordination
- parallel subordination
When the performance ended, the children clapped so that the artists felt their gratitude.?
- consistent submission
- parallel subordination
- homogeneous subordination
What is subordination in a sentence: I think that in the next episode the hero will save the girl he is in love with.?
- consistent submission
- parallel subordination
- homogeneous subordination
What is subordination in a sentence: I heard the door slam and people talking in the hallway.?
- consistent submission
- parallel subordination
- homogeneous subordination
What is subordination in a sentence: I think that my brother will be happy with my gift and that I made a very good choice.?
- consistent submission
- parallel subordination
- homogeneous subordination
The section of the science of our language devoted to the structure of sentences is fraught with many interesting things, and parsing can be a fun activity for those who are well versed in the rules of the Russian language. Today we will touch on the syntax and punctuation of a complex sentence, in particular the case when there is not one subordinate clause, but several. What types of subordination are there and why is a sentence with parallel subordination of subordinate clauses interesting? First things first.
Complex sentence and its parts
This is called a complex subordinate (S/P) complex sentence, in which you can distinguish the main part (it carries the main semantic load) and the subordinate part (it is dependent on the main part, you can ask a question about it). There can be two or more subordinate parts, and they can be attached to the main, main part in different ways. There are sequential, homogeneous, heterogeneous, parallel subordination of subordinate clauses. To find out the type of subordination, you need to pay attention to whether the dependent parts answer the same question or to different ones, whether they refer to the same word in the main part or to different ones. We will consider the material in more detail in the next section.
Types of subordination of subordinate clauses
So, there are four types of subordination.
- Consistent submission- subordinate parts depend sequentially on each other, and one of them depends on the main one. I know (about what?), what to do (for what?) to get to (where?) where I need to go.
- Homogeneous - subordinate clauses answer the same question and refer to the same word. I asked (about what?) what time it was, where we were and how to get to the airport. This sentence has three subordinate (dependent) parts, all of them relate to the word “asked” and answer the question “about what?”
- Heterogeneous subordination - subordinate clauses also refer to the same word, but different questions are asked to them. I have to go to this city (why should I?) to accomplish everything I have planned, (why should I?) because there are a lot of things to do.
- Parallel subordination subordinate clauses - dependent parts refer to different words of the main sentence and answer completely different questions. (For what?) To catch the train, I have to leave home early for the train station (which one?), which is located in another part of the city.
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses
What is the difference between various types subordination, we found out. By the way, in some sources, heterogeneous parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is distinguished as one type. This occurs because in both cases the questions to the dependent parts are posed differently.
If the sentence is complex with parallel subordination of subordinate clauses, then most often one dependent part is located before the main one, and the second - after.
You need to highlight the main, main part of the sentence, determine the number of subordinate clauses and ask questions about them. Only in this way will we be convinced that we really have parallel subordination of subordinate clauses. If the questions are different, and we will ask them from different words, which means that the subordination is truly parallel. When I went outside, I suddenly remembered that a long time ago I was going to visit my friend. In this sentence from the predicate of the main part "remembered" we ask a question "When?" to the first subordinate clause, and from the complement "about that" ask a question "about what?"to the second. This means that in this case a parallel method of subordination is used.
It is necessary to be able to determine the boundaries of the parts of a sentence and correctly ask questions from the main part in order not to make mistakes when placing punctuation marks. We remember that subordinate clauses are separated from the main clause by commas, which are placed before the conjunction or allied word connecting the parts of a complex sentence.
Let's sum it up
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is one of four types of subordination in the Russian language. To determine the type of subordination, you need to highlight simple sentences as part of a complex, identify the main part and ask questions from it to the dependent ones. If the question is the same, then this is homogeneous subordination, if different from the same word - heterogeneous, if unequal questions from different words - parallel, and if the question can be asked only to one subordinate clause, and from it to another, and so on, then What we have before us is consistent subordination.
Be literate!
In a complex sentence, hereinafter referred to as SPP, all subordinate parts can relate directly to the entire main sentence or to one of its members. In this case, they indicate the homogeneous subordination of dependent clauses. With homogeneous subordination, we indicate its main features:
- all subordinate clauses refer to the main clause or to the same word in the main clause;
- clauses have the same meaning and answer the same question, that is, they are clauses of the same type;
- connected by coordinating conjunctions or non-unionally;
- pronounced with enumerative intonation,
for example:
It is not known where she lived (1), who she was (2), why her portrait was made by a Roman artist (3) and what she thought so sadly about (4).
Unknown (what?). To all subordinate clauses, regardless of the fact that they are attached by different allied words ( where, who, why, what about), let's ask the same question: What? In this SPP there is a cascade of explanatory clauses, which depend on one word in the main part - a predicate impersonal sentence expressed by a predicative adverb. Consequently, this is an SPP with homogeneous subordination of subordinate clauses.
, (where...), (who...), (why...) and (about what...).
Between subordinating sentences with listing, as in the example given, commas are placed, except for the last two subordinating sentences. If a non-repeating connecting or disjunctive conjunction is used between homogeneous subordinate clauses ( and, or, either), then the comma is not placed, for example:
We understood that it was already late and that we had to hurry home.
Linear proposal diagram:
, (what...) and (what...).
Examples of sentences with homogeneous subordination of subordinate clauses
I understood that I was lying in bed, that I was sick, that I had just been delirious (A. Kuprin).
In spring, the oriole appears late, when the groves are already covered with foliage and all the songbirds have arrived long ago (I. Sokolov-Mikitov).
The aunt interestingly told that her first husband was the Persian consul and that she lived with him for some time in Tehran (F. Iskander).
Since the birch trees were dressed up and various grasses with spikelets and cones and necks of different colors grew under them, a lot, a lot of water has flowed from the stream (M. Prishvin).
In the morning, the grandmother complained that all the apples in the garden had been knocked down at night and one old plum had broken (A. Chekhov).
Subordinate clauses that relate to the entire main sentence (time, concession, reason, conditions, etc.) or to one of its members (definitive, explanatory, measures and degrees, place, manner of action) can be heterogeneous, that is, different in value and belong to different types, for example:
When the fishermen gathered (1), Ivan Ivanovich, in his own way, somehow deduced that by the evening the wind would drive the ice away at noon (2) (M. Prishvin).
Two subordinate clauses depend on the main clause:
- one - subordinate tense ( when the fishermen gathered);
- the second is an explanatory clause ( that by the evening the wind will drive the ice at noon).
Linear proposal diagram:
(When...), , (what...).
Examples of sentences with parallel subordinate clauses
But although they were neighbors all their lives, Ulya never saw Anatoly outside of school and Komsomol meetings, where he often gave presentations (A. Fadeev).
As soon as the heat subsided, the forest began to get cold and dark so quickly that I didn’t want to stay in it (I. Turgenev).
When I have a new book in my hands, I feel that something new, speaking, wonderful has entered my life (M. Gorky).
The river along which we walked kept turning sharply, so that its glittering mirror rested in the distance either on thickets of willow trees or on a sandy cliff (V. Soloukhin).
When I look closely, it even seems to me that I am beginning to see hundreds, thousands of kilometers around (M. Bubennov).
In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, the field where winter rye was sown is covered with lush greenery (L. Leonov).
Sentences with sequential subordination
Complex sentences with sequential subordination are discussed in detail with examples in this article.
Let us give more examples of sentences with sequential subordination of subordinate clauses.
The time for our journey has expired, although we managed to cover only half of what we had planned (V. Soloukhin).
Everything is available to a person in this life, if only he desires it passionately, so passionately that he doesn’t feel sorry for life itself (L. Leonov).
There is a known knot on the trunk on which you place your foot when you want to climb an apple tree (V. Soloukhin).
If every person on a piece of his land did everything he could, how beautiful our land would be (A. Chekhov).
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is one of three types of subordination of secondary (or dependent) parts in each type. Each type has its own subtleties and tricks, knowing which you can easily determine this type.
Homogeneous, sequential and parallel subordination of subordinate clauses
All three types characterize the order in which the answer to the question posed from the main part of the sentence occurs. It is worth noting that there can be (and most often is) several subordinate parts and they can stand both in front of the main part and after it.
Homogeneous subordination of subordinate clauses is a subordination when all minor parts answer the same question. As a rule, such clauses have one common conjunction or For example: “Mom told me that everything would be fine and that she would buy me a doll.” In this case, you can see one common conjunction “what”. However, there are also cases when the conjunction is omitted, but it is implied. An example is the following sentence: “Nastya noticed that he was looking at her and there was a blush on his cheeks.” In this version, the conjunction is omitted, but the meaning remains the same. It is very important to see this omitted conjunction clearly, as such sentences often appear in the exam.
Consecutive subordination of subordinate clauses is such a subordination when the secondary members answer the question of their “predecessor”, that is, questions are asked from each part of the sentence to the subsequent member. For example: “I am sure that if I get an excellent score, I will enter a good school.” educational institution" The sequence is clearly expressed here: I am sure (of what?), that..., then (what will happen?).
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is a type of subordination when the secondary parts refer to one thing. They do not answer one question, but together they explain the meaning of the main statement. It is advisable to draw up diagrams of this kind so as not to make mistakes in determining the type. So, submissions: “When the cat jumped out of the window, Masha pretended that nothing bad had happened.” So, the main part is the middle of the sentence (and from it you can ask a question both to the first subordinate clause and to the second): Masha pretended (when?) and (what happened then?). It is worth noting that a simple complex sentence will not contain any of the types of subordination presented above. As a rule, they are built only between parts.
Thus, we can conclude that in a complex sentence the dependent parts have three types of attachment: homogeneous, sequential and parallel subordination of subordinate clauses. Each type determines the dependence on the main member and the connection with the same secondary parts. To correctly identify this type, you just need to ask the question correctly and draw diagrams of complex sentences, indicating these same questions with arrows. After a visual drawing, everything will immediately become clear.
There does not have to be one subordinate clause in an IPP. There may be several of them. Then it is worth considering all the options for what kind of relationship develops between subordinate clauses and the main one.
It is also worth clarifying that the scheme of a complex sentence can be not only linear ( horizontal), as in the examples above. Flowcharts ( vertical).
So, for several subordinate clauses the following cases are possible:
Homogeneous submission. All subordinate clauses relate to the main clause (or to some word in its composition). In addition, they answer one question. And the subordinate clauses are connected to each other according to the same principle as homogeneous members offers.
The children stamped their feet with impatience and couldn’t wait until it was time to set off, when they would finally see the sea, when everyone could run around along the shore to their heart’s content.
Parallel subordination. All subordinate clauses refer to the main clause. But they answer different questions.
When it was her turn to choose, Olya took the box that came to her hand first.
Consistent submission. One subordinate clause is attached to the main clause (it is called a subordinate clause of the first degree). Another subordinate clause, of the second degree, is added to the subordinate clause of the first degree. By the way, with this type of subordination one subordinate clause can be included in another.
The guys decided that they would all cope with it themselves. challenging task, which Misha courageously decided to put on his shoulders.
Scheme for parsing a complex sentence
A reasonable question may arise as to why all these NGN schemes are needed. They have at least one practical purpose - an obligatory part of the syntactic parsing of a complex sentence is the compilation of its diagram.
In addition, the diagram of a complex sentence will help to correctly analyze it for parsing.
SPP parsing diagram includes the following task items:
Determine whether the sentence is based on the purpose of the statement: narrative, interrogative or motivating.
What - according to emotional coloring: exclamatory or non-exclamatory.
To prove that a sentence is complex, you need to define and indicate the grammatical basics.
Indicate what type of connection between parts of a complex sentence is present: allied connection, intonation.
Indicate the type of complex sentence: complex sentence.
Indicate how many simple sentences are included in a complex one, and by what means subordinate clauses are attached to the main one.
Label the main and subordinate parts. In the case of a complex sentence with several subordinate clauses, they should be designated by numbers (degrees of subordination).
Indicate which word in the main sentence (or the entire sentence) the subordinate clause is associated with.
Note the way of connecting the predicative parts of a complex sentence: a conjunction or a conjunctive word.
If there are any, indicate indicative words in the main part.
Indicate the type of subordinate clause: explanatory, attributive, connecting, adverbial.
And finally, draw up a diagram of a complex sentence.
The section of the science of our language devoted to the structure of sentences is fraught with a lot of interesting things, and syntactic analysis can be a fascinating activity for those who are well versed in the rules of the Russian language. Today we will touch on the syntax and punctuation of a complex sentence, in particular the case when there is not one subordinate clause, but several. What types of subordination are there and why is a sentence with parallel subordination of subordinate clauses interesting? First things first.
Complex sentence and its parts
A complex sentence (S/P) is a complex sentence in which one can distinguish the main part (it carries the main semantic load) and the subordinate part (it is dependent on the main part, you can ask a question about it). There can be two or more subordinate parts, and they can be attached to the main, main part in different ways. There are sequential, homogeneous, heterogeneous, parallel subordination of subordinate clauses. To find out the type of subordination, you need to pay attention to whether the dependent parts answer the same question or to different ones, whether they refer to the same word in the main part or to different ones. We will consider the material in more detail in the next section.
Types of subordination of subordinate clauses
So, there are four types of subordination.
- Sequential subordination - subordinate parts depend sequentially on each other, and one of them depends on the main one. I know (about what?), what to do (for what?) to get to (where?) where I need to go.
- Homogeneous - subordinate clauses answer the same question and refer to the same word. I asked (about what?) what time it was, where we were and how to get to the airport. This sentence has three subordinate (dependent) parts, all of them relate to the word “asked” and answer the question “about what?”
- Heterogeneous subordination - subordinate clauses also refer to the same word, but different questions are asked to them. I have to go to this city (why should I?) to accomplish everything I have planned, (why should I?) because there are a lot of things to do.
- Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses - dependent parts refer to different words of the main sentence and answer completely different questions. (For what?) To catch the train, I have to leave home early for the train station (which one?), which is located in another part of the city.
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses
We found out what is the difference between different types of submission. By the way, in some sources, heterogeneous parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is distinguished as one type. This occurs because in both cases the questions to the dependent parts are posed differently.
If the sentence is complex with parallel subordination of subordinate clauses, then most often one dependent part is located before the main one, and the second - after.
You need to highlight the main, main part of the sentence, determine the number of subordinate clauses and ask questions about them. Only in this way will we be convinced that we really have parallel subordination of subordinate clauses. If the questions are different, and we ask them from different words, then the subordination is truly parallel. When I went outside, I suddenly remembered that a long time ago I was going to visit my friend. In this sentence from the predicate of the main part "remembered" we ask a question "When?" to the first subordinate clause, and from the complement "about that" ask a question "about what?" to the second. This means that in this case a parallel method of subordination is used.
It is necessary to be able to determine the boundaries of the parts of a sentence and correctly ask questions from the main part in order not to make mistakes when placing punctuation marks. We remember that subordinate clauses are separated from the main clause by commas, which are placed before the conjunction or allied word connecting the parts of a complex sentence.
Let's sum it up
Parallel subordination of subordinate clauses is one of four types of subordination in the Russian language. To determine the type of subordination, you need to select simple sentences as part of a complex subordination, determine the main part and ask questions from it to the dependent ones. If the question is the same, then this is homogeneous subordination, if different from the same word - heterogeneous, if unequal questions from different words - parallel, and if the question can be asked only to one subordinate clause, and from it to another, and so on, then What we have before us is consistent subordination.
Be literate!
