We all know the meaning of “coordination” which means something that support our ideas and “subordinate” means something of lesser importance. As the name suggests, coordinating sentences and subordinating sentences are very much useful in forming the relationships between the ideas and tells us about the ideas that are supporting our idea or our sentence and the sentences that are making our sentences lower in position. These kinds of sentences are very much important in English as we may have to emphasize or reduce the importance of several issues in the sentences that we use. Let us know when to use coordinating sentence parts and how to use these coordinating sentences.
We generally use the coordinate sentences when we want to compare any equally important ideas in a sentence and combine two independent clauses. Usually we use the following methods to coordinate sentence parts:
- Coordination using a conjunction
The conjunctions that we use for coordinating the sentences are and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet etc. Each of these conjunctions represent a different meaning and used in different situations.
“And” is used to link between or combine two ideas.
“But” is used to combine two contrast ideas.
“For” is used to show a cause.
“Nor” is used to give a negative meaning.
- Using a pair of correlative conjunctions
Some of the examples for the pair of coordinative conjunctions include either-or, neither-nor, not only-but also etc.
E.g. He is neither best nor worst.
These are used to combine different sentences which coordinate each other. These show a balance between two independent clauses.
- Coordination using a semicolon
Semicolon is used to link two independent clauses that are of equal importance. Generally we represent the cause and result kind of sentences separated using a semicolon.
E.g. Sheela went to the market; she brought fresh vegetables.
- Coordination using a conjunctive verb.
Conjunctive verbs include therefore, as a result, for example, in addition, however etc.
These are also commonly used conjunctives which are use to indicate different relationships between the sentences. When we are using these kinds of conjunctives we need to decide which ideas can be combined to give the exact meaning. The incorrect usage of these conjunctions to represent the relationships between the ideas leads to the change in the meaning.
E.g. The creation of computers has greatly helped the society; in addition to providing the job opportunities, it also improved our life styles.