Sentences and complex sentences
A complex sentence is a combination of two or more clauses in one sentence.
In the case of a combination of equivalent clauses, such complex sentence is called a compound sentence. A combination of principal clause and subordinate clause (i.e. clauses that are not equivalent) is called a complex sentence.
Compound sentence
A compound sentence is a combination of two or more clauses of the same sort.
principal clause + principal clause (+ principal clause + principal clause...)
There are several types of compound sentences:
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copulative:
Žiak sedí a píše úlohu. -
disjunctive:
Buď sa hrajte s kočíkom, alebo kreslite obrázky. -
adversative:
Chceli sme ísť na výlet, ale pršalo. -
comparative:
Deti poslúchali, ba aj hračky si upratali.
Complex sentence
A complex sentence is a combination of two or more clauses that are not equivalent.
principal clause + Subordinate clause
The subordinate clause always explicates the principal or superior clause.
These are simple, not complex sentences. In these sentences we have underlined the clause element - attribute (we use the question: aký?).
We have formed a complex sentence. The attribute from the previous sentence has been replaced by an attributive clause.
We ask using the principal clause, and answer using the subordinate clause.
We can also replace the object for an object clause, the subject for a subject clause, the adverbial of cause for a causative clause, etc.
simple sentence | complex sentence |
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Object (o čom?) |
Object clause (o čom?) |
Adverbial of cause (prečo?) |
Causative clause (prečo?) |
Object clause
Povedz, čo …Myslím si, že …Vieš, že …
Now we will demonstrate how to form a complex sentence with an object clause. We ask using the question: o čom?, čo? na čo? etc. Examples:
Čo robíš dnes večer.
What are you doing tonight?
Že Jano nepríde.
That Jano won't come.
Že Bratislava je hlavné mesto Slovenska.
That Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia.
Že sa zasa uvidíme.
To seeing you again.
In this type of sentence, we usually use the conjunction že.
Teším sa, že prídeš. Povedal, že chodí na strednú školu. Viem, že nič neviem. Viete, že Peter teraz pracuje v Bratislave?
Word order
The word order doesn't usually change (but //sa// and //si//, for example, may move within the sentence).
Jano nie je doma. Povedal, že Jano nie je doma. Zuzka bola cez prázdniny na esperantskom kongrese. Vieš, že Zuzka bola cez prázdniny na esperantskom kongrese? Stretneme sa zajtra. Dohodli sme sa, že sa stretneme zajtra.
Causal adverbial subclause
We have created a complex sentence with an adverbial clause of cause. In this sort of sentence, we usually use the conjunction //lebo//.
Miško je chorý, lebo nebol teplo oblečený.
Miško is ill because he was not warmly dressed.
Teraz leží v posteli, lebo má horúčku.
He's lying in bed now because he has a fever.
Má horúčku, lebo prechladol.
He has a fever because he caught a cold.
Ja som neprechladla, lebo som sa teplo obliekla.
I did not catch a cold because I was warmly dressed.
Tom nemôže pracovať, lebo ho bolí chrbát.
Tom can't work because his back is sore.
Word order
The word order doesn't usually change (but //sa// and //si//, for example, may move within the sentence).
Musím ísť domov. Je neskoro. Musím ísť domov, lebo je neskoro. Dnes nejdem do školy. Som chorý. Dnes nejdem do školy, lebo som chorý. Nejdem von. Učím sa. Nejdem von, lebo sa učím.
Temporal adverbial subclause
Kedy sme sa išli kúpať? Keď bolo teplo.
When did we go swimming? When it was warm.
Kedy sa deti išli sánkovať? Keď napadol sneh.
When did the children go sledging? When the snow fell.
Kedy mi otec kúpil nový bicykel? Keď som mal desať rokov.
When did my father buy me a new bike? When I was ten.
We have formed a complex sentence with an adverbial clause of time. We ask using the questions: //kedy? ako často? ako dlho?// In this type of sentence we most often use the conjunction //keď//.
Word order
Usual word order:
conjunction //keď// +
predicate +
subject +
other constituents of the sentence
Of course, we can also change the order of clauses in a complex sentence:
Attributive clause
Now we will learn how to form a complex sentence with an attributive clause. We ask using the question: //aký? ktorý?// In this type of sentence, we usually join the clauses using the relative pronouns //ktorý, ktorá//, and //v ktorom//...
simple sentence | complex sentence |
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These complex sentences are used very frequently when giving explanations, definitions, descriptions, etc.
Slovensko je krajina, ktorá sa nachádza v strednej Európe. Aká krajina? Krajina, ktorá sa nachádza v strednej Európe.
Redaktor je človek, ktorý píše články na Wikipédii. Aký človek? Človek, ktorý píše články na Wikipédii.
Word order
The word order doesn't usually change (but //sa// and //si//, for example, may move within the sentence).
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Wikipédia je encyklopédia. Je zadarmo.
Wikipédia je encyklopédia, ktorá je zadarmo. -
To je program. Slúži na písanie textu.
To je program, ktorý slúži na písanie textu. -
Slovensko je štát. Nachádza sa v Európe.
Slovensko je štát, ktorý sa nachádza v Európe.