coordinante

Coordinante is a term used in linguistic grammar to describe an element that participates in coordination, linking two or more units of equal syntactic status within a sentence. In this sense, a coordinante can be a conjunction, a conjunctive phrase, or, in some traditions, a word or phrase that serves to connect items that form a coordinated structure. The concept is most often contrasted with subordinante, which introduces dependence rather than parallel structure.

Coordinantes function to join parts of equal weight, such as two nouns or two independent clauses. The most common coordinantes are coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or in English; y, pero, o in Spanish). Some grammars also classify certain adverbials or conjunctive phrases that join clauses as coordinantes, for example a sentence connector that expresses result or contrast, when it links independent clauses.

Different languages have different term standards. In many Spanish- and Portuguese-language grammars, coordinante is used to refer to the element that performs the coordination, while the general term for the class is conjunción coordinante or conector coordinante. In English-language grammars the equivalent labels are coordinating conjunction or coordinating element.

Etymology: from Latin coordino, "to place together"; the suffix -ante marks a present participle or agent noun in Romance languages.

See also: coordination, subordinating conjunction, conjunction, connector.