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Here are five Simple Sentences, the last four of which can be arranged in a single sentence; thus—

The boys rush out, and run, and leap, and shout.

In the first arrangement the last three sentences are connected with the second sentence by the Pronoun they : in the second arrangement the word and effects the connexion, and is for that reason called a Conjunction. But observe that the Pronoun forms part of the sentence attached by it to the preceding sentence, whereas the Conjunction forms no part of either sentence.

76. A Compound Sentence contains two or more Simple Sentences. If they are connected, but are grammatically independent of each other, they are called Coordinate Sentences, that is, sentences on a footing of equality, each depending in no way on the other. If they are not independent of each other, one is called the

Principal Sentence and the others Subordinate Sentences.

For example

Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

R. 3. ; 1, 4, 173.

is a Compound Sentence made up

of two independent sentences linked together by the Conjunction but; and—

Watch the door with pistols, that none shall issue out. Wives, 4, 2, 53.

is a Compound Sentence, made up of a principal sentence, Watch the door with pistols, and a sentence expressing the purpose of the precaution, and thus subordinate to the principal sentence, with which it is linked by the Conjunction that.

NOTE. The second of these sentences is usually called a Complex Sentence. Such sentences will be fully

discussed in Part V.

77. Conjunctions are words that link words to words, phrases to phrases, and sentences to sentences. are divided into

They

1. Co-ordinate Conjunctions, which link words to words, phrases to phrases, and co-ordinate sentences to co-ordinate sentences.

2. Subordinate Conjunctions, which link subordinate sentences to principal sentences.

(1.) CO-ORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS.

78. Of these there are four kinds, of which the chief types are

called

And, Or, But, Therefore,

1. Copulative Conjunctions, And-words.
2. Alternative Conjunctions, Or-words.
3. Adversative Conjunctions, But-words.
4. Inferential Conjunctions, Therefore-words.

COPULATIVE CONJUNCTIONS.

And, too, then, also, moreover, besides.

79. All these occur in a single passage in the "Pilgrim's Progress : "—

They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and nail

with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian: then they showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men: they showed him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats: they showed him moreover the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath. . . . They showed him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted.

80. And merely connects, without modifying the sense of the words connected by it; and hence it may often be omitted. In lively descriptions, the occasional omission of and gives vigour to the style; as

I came; I saw; I conquered.

The shore was rocky; the night was black: the wind was furious: the waves of the Bay of Biscay ran high.

Macaulay.

He became melancholy, fanciful, irritable.—Macaulay. On right, on left, above, below,

Sprung up at once the lurking foe.-Scott.

Suit the action to the word, the word to the action. Ham. 3, 2, 19.

NOTE.

The first word or phrase is sometimes introduced by both :

And now there came both mist and snow,
And it grew wondrous cold.-Coleridge.

ALTERNATIVE CONJUNCTIONS.

Or, either, else, otherwise, neither, nor. 81. Or has many uses, among which we may remark1. It connects statements of which one, and one only, is asserted to be true:—

He heard me not,

Or hearing would not hear me.-Tennyson.

2. It suggests that the person addressed may take
his choice between two alternatives :—

I pray you, tarry: pause a day or two,
Before you hazard.-Merch. 3, 2, I.

Then, if you speak, you must not show your face;
Or, if
you show your face, you must not speak.
Meas. 1, 4, 12.

3. Following an entreaty or a command, it puts the second clause emphatically:

Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink!"

J. C. 1, 2, III.

Open the gates, or we'll burst them open.

H. 6. A.; 1, 3, 28.

Under which king, Besonian?

82. Or is rarely omitted :—

Speak or die.

H. 4. B.; 5, 3, 118.

Come one, come all, this rock shall fly

From its firm base as soon as I.-Scott.

83. The form either... or is used when the alternatives are to be distinctly stated :—

Nelson either knew the danger, or suspected the deceit. Southey.

Either she hath bewitched me with her words,

Or nature makes me suddenly relent.-H. 6. A.; 3, 3, 59.

84. In poetry the form or

...

or is often used for

either or, or for whether. or :

...

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Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it.—Cor. 3, 1, 208.

For my part, noble lords, I care not which,

Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.

H. 6. B.; 1, 3, 104.

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