Core semantics of value subordinate conjunction

Subordinate conjjunctions: Syntactic criterion

Subordinate conjunctions can only introduce clauses or infinitives; they cannot relate other syntactic constituents. There are different kinds of subordinate coordinations with different syntactic behaviour: the subordinate coordination `que' which introduces noun clauses, subordinate coordinations which introduce subordinate interrogative sentences (e.g. `quand') and subordinate coordinations which introduce sentences (e.g. `parce que').

Test:

Given X a conjunction: If the second occurrence of X can be replaced by `que', then X is a subordinate conjunction.

Examples:

• Comme /pos=conjunction & type=subord il est tard et qu'il a faim, il est rentré.
• Après qu' /pos=conjunction & type=subord il a préparé le repas et qu'il a mis la table, ...

Test:

Given P, clauses: If X does not realise a verb argument of , then X is a subordinate conjunction.

Examples:

• Pierre veut que /pos=conjunction & type=subord Marie vienne. Here, `que' does not realise a verb argument of .
• Il sait que /pos=conjunction & type=subord Marie vient. Here, `que' does not realise a verb argument of .

Test:

If X has as antecedent an adverb or an adverbial syntagm, then X is a conjunction.

Examples:

• Pierre mange plus /pos=adverb que /pos=conjunction & type=subord Paul.
• Pierre est plus /pos=adverb petit que /pos=conjunction & type=subord Paul.
• Pierre est plutôt /pos=adverb petit que /pos=conjunction & type=subord grand.