Conjoins are usually
coordinated using one of the coordinators and, but, or or.
In [1], the bracketed conjoins are coordinated using and:
[1] [Quickly] and
[resolutely], he strode into the bank
This type of coordination, with a coordinator present,
is called SYNDETIC COORDINATION.
Coordination can also
occur without the presence of a coordinator, as in [2]:
[2] [Quickly], [resolutely],
he strode into the bank
No coordinator is present here, but the conjoins
are still coordinated. This is known as ASYNDETIC COORDINATION.
When three or more
conjoins are coordinated, a coordinator will usually appear between the
final two conjoins only:
[3] I need [bread], [cheese],
[eggs], and [milk]
This is syndetic coordination, since a coordinating
conjunction is present. It would be unusual to find a coordinator between
each conjoin:
[3a] I need [bread] and
[cheese] and [eggs] and [milk]
This is called POLYSYNDETIC COORDINATION.
It is sometimes used for effect, for instance to express continuation:
[4] This play will [run]
and [run] and [run]
[5] He just [talks] and
[talks] and [talks]
Each of the following sentences exhibits
coordination. Is it syndetic, asyndetic or polysyndetic coordination? The
conjoins have been bracketed.
More on
Conjunctions...
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