Coordination and Subordination

Coordination and Subordination

Coordination and subordination are the two fundamental mechanisms for combining clauses (and phrases) in English. The choice between them has profound effects on the style, register, complexity, and meaning of a text. For AQA 7702, you need to understand not only how these mechanisms work grammatically but also their stylistic and rhetorical significance in different types of text.

Coordination

Coordination joins grammatically equal units — two or more words, phrases, or clauses of the same rank — using coordinating conjunctions. The coordinated elements have equal grammatical status: neither is dependent on the other.

Coordinating Conjunctions

The seven coordinating conjunctions in English are remembered by the mnemonic FANBOYS:

• For — introduces a reason or cause: She left early, for she was feeling unwell.
• And — adds information: She arrived and sat down.
• Nor — adds a negative alternative: He did not complain, nor did he leave.
• But — introduces a contrast or exception: She was tired but determined.
• Or — introduces an alternative: You can stay or you can leave.
• Yet — introduces a contrast (similar to but): The task was simple, yet nobody completed it.
• So — introduces a consequence: It was raining, so we stayed inside.

Coordination can operate at different levels:

• Word level: bread and butter; tired but happy
• Phrase level: the old man and the young woman; quickly but carefully
• Clause level: She opened the door and she walked in.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join grammatically equal elements, creating a stronger structural bond than simple coordination:

• both...and — Both the students and the teachers supported the proposal.
• either...or — Either you apologise or you leave.
• neither...nor — Neither the government nor the opposition offered a solution.
• not only...but also — She is not only intelligent but also extremely hard-working.
• whether...or — Whether you agree or not, the decision has been made.

Correlative conjunctions are characteristic of formal and rhetorical writing. Not only...but also is a particularly effective persuasive device because it creates a sense of accumulation and emphasis.

Stylistic Effects of Coordination

Coordination produces distinctive stylistic effects:

• Additive/cumulative effect: Repeated use of and creates a sense of things being added one after another, building up a picture or narrative. This is called polysyndeton: She packed her bag and put on her coat and opened the door and walked out into the rain.
• Simplicity and directness: Coordination creates a flat, non-hierarchical structure that is easy to process. It is characteristic of spoken language, children\'s writing, and styles that aim for simplicity.
• Biblical/literary register: Polysyndeton with and evokes the rhythms of the King James Bible and epic narrative: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
• Breathless pace: Coordination without conjunctions (asyndeton) creates a fast, staccato effect: I came, I saw, I conquered.

Subordination

Subordination creates a hierarchical relationship between clauses — one clause (the subordinate or dependent clause) is grammatically embedded within or dependent upon another (the main or independent clause). The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses and signal the logical relationship between the subordinate and main clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions include: