SYNTAX
Dear Grammarians,
Is this sentence a compound or complex sentence?
I went home so I could get some sleep.
I think it is a complex sentence. The 'so' conjunction even though typically a co-ordinating conjunction is not functioning as one here. I also think the relative pronoun 'that' has been omitted e.g. so that I could get some sleep. On the other hand I also think something else is occurring here with 'that'. It is not a typical relative clause, perhaps because of the 'so' conjunction.
Would appreciate others thoughts.
With thanks
Kozmo
Top answer
It is actually an adverb clause of purpose: I wanted to get some sleep. For this purpose I went home. => I went home so (that) I could get some sleep.
- It is actually an adverb clause of purpose: I wanted to get some sleep.
- For this purpose I went home.
- => I went home so (that) I could get some sleep.
- ------------------------ The auxiliaries may or can (might or could for past) are often used in purpose clauses.
- ------------------------ 'that' can be omitted from the subordinator 'so that' in informal situations.
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It is actually an adverb clause of purpose:
I wanted to get some sleep.
For this purpose I went home.
=> I went home so (that) I could get some sleep.
------------------------
The auxiliaries may or can (might or could for past) are often used in purpose clauses.
------------------------
'that' can be omitted from the subordinat
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