Notes on Grammar

(For Horne Study)

A. SENTENCE TYPES - COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES

I. The conventions of writing require that a SENTENCE begin with a capital letter and end with aperiod. SENTENCE usually also contains at least a subject and averb. two or more independent sentences are grouped together into a longer sentence, with each part still having its own subject and verb, each part capable of standing alone but associated in this way with the others because of common subject matter or because they express closely associated thoughts. Writing conventions and variations of style allow a comma or a semi-colon or a colon between the parts of a longer sentence like this, but in speech we are not usually aware of the association or grouping together unless the separate parts of a longer sentence are joined by SENTENCE CONNECTORS, or co-ordinating conjunctions, as they are more traditionally called. Here are some examples from our recent units:N ▶S ▶

In terms of its grammatical elements a Sometimes

Ich werde unsere Sachen an der Garderobe abgeben, und Sie könnten in~wlsch€r. die belegten Brötchen holen. Es war nicht nur der Film zu entwickeln, sondern meine Vergrösserungen müssten auch fertig sein. Das werde ich bald t~n, denn bei unserer gros sen Familie ist alle Augenblicke einer krank.

Notice that in each example the conjunction could be omitted with no change in meaning. We would simply end up in each case with two shorter sentences. Note also that normal word order occurs in all parts of these sentences. Longer sentences of this type are traditionally called COMPOUND SENTENCES.

11. There is another class of longer sentences consisting of two or more parts, each with its own subject and verb, however. In such sentences one or more of the separate parts is actually dependent on or subordinate to another part. Often, but not always, the subordinate or dependent part of the sentence is introduced by a CLAUSE INTRODUCER, i.e. a subordinating conjunction, relative pronoun or question word. We have had several examples of longer sentences of this type in recent units:

Bevor Sie Ihr Visum bekommen, werden Sie im Generalkonsulat untersucht und geröntgt. Ich wollte, ich wäre nicht Kandidat geworden. Was wurde aus der Geschäftsreise nach Bayreuth, die Sie nicht gerne machen wollten? Ich bin überzeugt, dass seine Partei schon einen Posten für ihn vorgesehen hat, falls e~ wirklich aus dem Kabinett ausscheiden sollte.

Notice that in each of these examples at most only one part can stand alone. The other parts are dependent on it or subordinate to it. Note also that clause introducers, where they occur, can not be omitted unless other, substantial changes are made in the sentence, in which case the meaning may also be different. Note finally that clause word order occurs everywhere after clause introducers. Longer sentences of this type are traditionally called COMPLEX SENTENCES. The part of a COMPLEX SENTENCE which can stand alone and be given as a sentence by itself is traditionally called the MAIN or INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. The dependent or subordinate parts are called DEPENDENT or SUBORDINATE CLAUSES.

B. COMPLEX SENTENCES - DIRECT AND INDIRECT DISCOURSE

I. COMPLEX SENTENCES are used to reproduce the words or thoughts expressed by another person, or by the speaker hirnself on a different occasion. Here is an example:

Herr Adams sagt zu seiner Sekretärin: "Fräulein Färber, haben Sie das Sekretariat des Bundesaussenministers angerufen?"

The main clause identifies the speaker and the occasion; part of the sentence reproduces the words spoken. In this example the words spoken are quoted exactly; no clause introducer occurs. Of course, the conventions of writing require quotation marks or some other specific punctuation to indicate to the reader that this is a quotation. COMPLEX SENTENCES of this kind, reproducing the actual words spoken, are said to be in DIRECT DISCOURSE, and the quotation is called a DIRECT QUOTATION • • 11. The words or thoughts expressed by another person, or by the speaker hirnself on a different occasion, are not alw~ given as a DlRECT QUOTATION in DlRECT DISCOURSE but are often reproduced more or less accurately in paraphrase. We have encountered this type of construction several times:N ▶S ▶

the subordinate

Ich dachte, Sie wären noch im Urlaub. Können Sie mir übrigens sagen, ob man durch das Hotel Theaterkarten bekommen kann? Sie meinen, dann hätten wir Plätze nebeneinander bekommen können.

Notice that a clause introducer may or may not be used to introduce this kind of paraphrase of what has been said or thought. Since these are not direct quotations the conventions of writing do not require quotation marks or other special punctuation. COMPLEX SENTENCES of this kind represent what we call INDIRECT DISCOURSE, and the subordinate parts of such sentences are called INDlRECT QUOTATIONS.

C. THE UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE

I. In two of the three examples above (B.II.) you have seen that an UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE form occurs in the INDlRECT QUOTATION. Let us look at some more examples of INDIRECT DISCOURSE from the current unit:

Die Sekretärin sagte mir, der Herr Bundesminister des Auswärtigen wäre noch nicht von seiner Reise zurück. Man spricht davon, der Innenminister hatte sein Rücktritts- Interior has handed in his resignation. gesuch eingereicht. Sie sagten gestern abend auf der Wahlkundgebung, Sie würden night that you would work toward a für eine weitere Verkürzung der Arbeitszeit eintreten. Ich habe immer betont, dass es I have always insisted that constructive zu einer konstruktiven Zusammenarbeit beider Sozialpartner order must come about. kommen ~ . While not occurring everywhere to the exclusion of all other forms in INDIRECT DISCOURSE, UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE forms do occur with a high degree of frequency in this type of sentence. We can say that the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE is the usual form of the verb in INDlRECT DISCOURSE.N ▶S ▶

The secretary told me the foreign minister --_.-_. wasn' t back froin hi.3 :xi.p yet. People are ~ ~ the Minister of the You said at the election rally last further reduction of working hours. cooperation of both partners in the social

1. If we examine the examples above once more two points can be noted. First, compare the German sentences with their English equivalents and note that in English either a form of the verb in Past Time or a phrase with "would" has occurred in order to reproduce what has been said or thought so as to express the words or thoughts of another person in INDlRECT QUOTATION. English does not have a particular UNREAL form which is used here. Second, note that the INDIRECT QUOTATIONS sometimes are introduced by a clause introducer, sometimes not. The clause introducer is not obligatory in either language, but when it does occur in German it is followed by clause ward order. Actually, all the sentences above could have been given either with or without the clause introducer:

UNIT 21 GER MAN BASIC COURSE

Die sekretärin sagte mir, dass der Herr Bundesminister des Auswärtigen noch nicht von seiner Reise zUrÜck ware.

Man spricht davon, dass der Innenminister sein Rücktrittsgesuch eingereicht hätte.

Sie sagt~n gestern abend auf der wahlkundgebun~, dass Sie für eine weitere Verkürzung der Arbeitszeit eintreten wurden.

We may then say that INDIRECT QUOTATION3 in German occur interchangeably either with or without clause introducers.

2. A variety of verbs and verb phrases occur in the main clauses of sentences in INDIRECT DISCOURSE. We have encountered the following additional cxamples in the recent unit:

Es wurde ihm von seinen Kollegen vorgeworfen, er hätte sich zu stark vom Standpunkt der Regierung distanziert.

Man stellt schon Spekulationen darüber an, wie sich der Rücktritt auf die Wahlen auswirken könnte.