 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
299
the conjunctive adverbs then, moreover, besides.
And is the conjunction most frequently used to realize copulative coordination. It may suggest mere
addition.
Then she went home and wrote Brody a thank-you note for being so nice, and she also wrote a note to the
chief of police commending young Martin Brody.
The events described in copulative coordinate clauses may be simultaneous or successive.
The black Cadillac made its hunting sound through the night, and the tyres sang on the slab, and the black
fields stretched with mist swept by. (simultaneity)
The front door to the house opened, and a man and a woman stepped out on the wooden porch.
(succession)
Occasionally the second clause may contain some commentary on the previous clause.
She was familiar with the petty social problems, and they bored her.
Owing to its vague copulative meaning the conjunction and may also link clauses with adversative or
causative-consecutive connections. The meaning of the second clause is either contrasted to the first or contains
its consequence.
Why were her own relations so rich, and Phil never knew where the money was coming from for to-
morrow’s tobacco?
In sentences beginning with a verb in the imperative mood, the first clause implies a condition for the
fulfilment of the action in the second clause.
Take these pills, and you will feel better. (If you take...)
The conjunction nor joins two negative clauses.
I didn’t recognize the girl, nor did I remember her name.
The correlative pairs neither... nor, not only... but (also) express mere addition, sometimes with accentuation
on the second clause.
I not only remembered the girl’s name, but I also knew everything about her family.
The conjunctive adverb then joins clauses describing successive events.
We went along the street, then we turned to the left.
Copulative connection may also be expressed asyndetically, the clauses so joined may describe simultaneous
or successive events.
Our Elsie was looking at her with big imploring eyes; she was frowning; she wanted to go. (simultaneity)
§ 141.
Adversative coordination joins clauses containing opposition, contradiction or
contrast. Adversative connectors are: the conjunctions but, while, whereas, the conjunctive adverbs however,
yet, still, nevertheless, and the conjunctive particle only. Adversative coordination may also be realized
asyndetically. The main adversative conjunction is but, which expresses adversative connection in a very
general way. The clause introduced by but conveys some event that is opposite to what is expected from the
contents of the first clause.