Conjunctions Page 2

Coordination Types

CONJUNCTIONS PAGE 2/3

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.

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