The syntax of the Russian language considers the structure of phrases and sentences. Moreover, the construction and punctuation of different types of complex sentences, especially with three or more predicative parts, usually causes particular difficulty. Let us look at specific examples of the types of NGN with several subordinate clauses, ways of communicating the main and subordinate parts in them, the rules for setting punctuation marks in them.
Complicated sentence: definition
To clearly express an idea, we use various syntactic constructions. A complex sentence is characterized by the fact that two or more predicative parts are distinguished in it. They can be equivalent in relation to each other or enter into relationships of dependence. SPP is a sentence in which the subordinate part is subordinate to the main and joins it with the help of subordinate unions and / or union words. For example, â [Stepka was very tired in the evening], (WHY?) (Since he walked at least ten kilometers in a day) â. Hereinafter, square brackets denote the main part, round - dependent. Accordingly, in SPP with several subordinate clauses, at least three predicative parts are distinguished, two of which will be dependent: â [The area, (WHAT?) (Which was passing right now) was well known to Andrei Petrovich], (WHY?â a good half of his childhood) . â In this case, it is important to correctly determine the boundaries of simple sentences, where you need to put commas.
Multi-subordinate NGN
A table with examples will help determine what types of complex sentences are divided into three or more predicative parts.
Type of subordination of the subordinate part of the main | Example |
Sequential | The guys rushed into the river, the water in which had already warmed up enough, because the last days were incredibly hot. |
Parallel (heterogeneous) | When the speaker finished speaking, silence reigned in the hall, as the audience was shocked by what they heard. |
Homogeneous | Anton Pavlovich said that reinforcements would soon arrive and that only a little patience was needed. |
With different types of submission | For the second time, Nastya re-read the letter, which trembled in her hands, and thought that now she would have to drop out of school, that her hopes for a new life were not realized. |
We will figure out how to correctly determine the type of subordination in NGN with several subordinate clauses. The above examples will help in this.
Sequential submission
In the sentence â [The guys rushed into the river] 1 , (in which the water had already warmed up enough) 2 , (because the last days were incredibly hot) 3 â we first distinguish three parts. Then, using questions, we establish semantic relations: [... X ], (in which ... X ), (because ...). We see that the second part has turned into the main one for the third.
We give one more example. " [There was a vase of wildflowers on the table], (which the guys gathered), (when they went to the forest for an excursion) ." The scheme of this NGN is similar to the first: [... X ], (which ... X ), (when ...).
Thus, with uniform submission, each subsequent part depends on the previous one. Such SPPs with several subordinate clauses - examples confirm this - resemble a chain where each subsequent link joins the one located in front.
Parallel (heterogeneous) submission
In this case, all the subordinate clauses belong to the main one (to the whole part or word in it), but they answer different questions and differ in meaning. â (When the speaker finished speaking) 1 , [silence reigned in the hall] 2 , (since the audience was shocked by what they heard) 3 â . Let us analyze this NGN with several subordinate clauses. Its scheme will look like this: (when ...), [... X ], (since ...). We see that the first subordinate part (it stands in front of the main one) indicates time, and the second - the reason. Consequently, they will answer different questions. The second example: â [Vladimir certainly had to find out today] 1 , (at what time the train arrives from Tyumen) 2 , (in order to have time to meet a comrade) 3 â. The first subclause is explanatory, the second is goals.
Uniform submission
This is the case when it is appropriate to draw an analogy with another well-known syntactic construction. For registration of PP with homogeneous members and such SPP with several subordinate clauses, the rules are the same. Indeed, in the sentence â [Anton Pavlovich talked about] 1 , (that reinforcements will soon arrive) 2 and (that you only need to be patient a little) 3 â the subordinate parts - the 2nd and 3rd - refer to the same word, answer to the question "what?" and both are explanatory. In addition, they are interconnected with the help of the union and , in front of which a comma is not put. Imagine this in the diagram: [... X ], (what ...) and (what ...).
In the SPP with several subordinate clauses, with uniform subordination between the subordinate clauses, any compositional unions are sometimes used - the punctuation rules will be the same as when registering homogeneous members - and the subordinate union in the second part may be completely absent. For example, â [He stood at the window for a long time and looked] 1 , (as cars drove up to the house one after another) 2 and (workers unloaded building materials) 3 â.
NGN with multiple subordinate clauses with different types of subordination
Very often, four or more parts are distinguished in a complex sentence. In this case, they can communicate with each other in different ways. Let us turn to the example in the table: â [Nastenka re-read the letter for the second time, (which trembled in her hands) 2 , and thought] 1 , (that she will have to quit her studies now) 3 , (that her hopes for a new life did not materialize) 4 ". This proposal is with parallel (heterogeneous) (P 1,2,3-4) and homogeneous (P 2,3,4) subordination: [... X , (which ...), ... X ], (what ...), (what ... ) Or another option: â [Tatyana was silent all the way and only looked out the window] 1 , (behind which there were small villages close to each other) 2 , (where people were bustling) 3 and (work was in full swing 4 )â. This is a complex proposal with sequential (P 1,2,3 and P 1,2,4) and homogeneous (P 2,3,4) subordination: [... X ], (followed by ...), (where ...) and (... )
Punctuation marks at the junction of unions
To place punctuation marks in a complex sentence, it is usually sufficient to correctly determine the boundaries of the predicative parts. Difficulty, as a rule, is represented by punctuation of NGN with several subordinate clauses - examples of schemes: [... X ], (when, (which ...), ...) or [... X ], [... X ], (how (with whom ...), then ...) - when two subordinate unions (union words) appear nearby. This is characteristic of consistent submission. In this case, you need to pay attention to the presence of the second part of the double union in the proposal. For example, " [An open book remained on the couch] 1 , (which, if there were time left 3 , Konstantin would certainly read to the end) 2 ". The second option: " [I swear] 1 , (that (when I get back from the trip home) 3 , I will definitely visit you and tell you everything in detail) 2 ". When working with such NGNs with several subordinate clauses, the following rules. If the second subordinate clause can be excluded from the sentence without prejudice to the meaning, a comma between unions (and / or allied words) is put, if not, it is absent. Let us return to the first example: " [A book was lying on the sofa] 1 , (which had to be read in time) 2 " . In the second case, with the exclusion of the second subordinate part, the grammatical structure of the sentence will be violated by the word "that."
Should be remembered
A good assistant in the development of NGN with several subordinate clauses - exercises, the implementation of which will help to consolidate the knowledge gained. In this case, it is better to act according to the algorithm.
- Carefully read the sentence, identify the grammatical foundations in it and indicate the boundaries of the predicative parts (simple sentences).
- Allocate all means of communication, not forgetting about the constituent or used allied unions.
- To establish semantic connections between the parts: for this, first find the main thing, then ask her the question (s) to the subordinate clause (s).
- Construct a diagram by showing on it arrows the dependence of the parts on each other, place punctuation marks in it. Move commas to the recorded sentence.
Thus, attentiveness in the construction and analysis (including punctuation) of a complex sentence - NGN with several subordinate clauses specifically - and reliance on the above features of this syntactic construction will ensure the correct implementation of the proposed tasks.