How to Discern an Asyndetic Coordinate Subject Complement?

". . .to let fall is absolute indifference, absolute contempt;"

I think this got maybe discerned an asyndetic coordinate subject complement. May something like He was a moody man, his temper was never equable seem maybe something like an asyndetic coordinate subject complement?

complements

saySay

Posted 2015-07-05T23:59:11.190

Reputation: 1 656

1This is an advanced question. It will need a real linguist to even understand what you're asking. Please post it on English Language & Usage Stack Exchange. – Brian Hitchcock – 2015-07-06T07:17:38.027

absolute indifference, absolute contempt is an asyndetic coordination, but the sentence He was a moody man, his temper was never equable is an example of parataxis. – Damkerng T. – 2015-07-06T09:56:25.097

All right. I guess I may do that, Brian Hitchcock. I appreciate it. – saySay – 2015-07-09T00:05:24.417

That information on parataxis seems interesting. I thank you, Damkerng T.. – saySay – 2015-07-09T00:05:43.507

Answers

He was a moody man, his temper was never equable.

There are two independent clauses above. The comma could be replaced with a full stop or a semi-colon. I would consider the comma merely a vagary of punctuation, and would not process the two sentences as one.

Let's remove the "was":

He was a moody man, his temper never equable.

There, "his temper never equable" is a supplemental clause.

He was a moody man, an intemperate man.

Here we have asyndetic coordination.

Tᴚoɯɐuo

Posted 2015-07-05T23:59:11.190

Reputation: 116 610

I think I may get main clauses, subordinate clauses, adjective clauses and noun clauses. I may not get supplemental clauses. I may not get how that may seem a clause. I guess I thought clauses got to contain a subject and verb. It seems to contain a subject. I may not discern a verb. And so asyndetic coordination seems to mostly contain maybe no and, no verb, and maybe no subject? I thank you, TRomano. – saySay – 2015-07-09T00:03:40.250

If you mean that the connecting words "and/or" are lacking between "absolute indifferene" and "absolute contempt" you are right. And, yes, your bold part is a subject complement.

rogermue

Posted 2015-07-05T23:59:11.190

Reputation: 8 304