How to explain punctuation marks in a sentence? and got the best answer
Answer from Ptenezz[guru]
Rules, of course!
Answer from Marina[master]
Give an example from the cartoon: Execution cannot be pardoned, a lot depends on the comma, the meaning changes
Answer from Igor Mstislavovich Mikryukov[guru]
The rules of the Russian language, sunshine! For example, the word sun in the previous phrase was separated by a comma, since this is an appeal to you. In general, language is a difficult subject. Can I help you and give you some skills in... the language? :-))
Answer from M@ria[guru]
Uuuu ... it's so long to explain ... read a Russian textbook if it's very interesting. And just do a comma where logically you would pause. And a dash before THIS in the description (for example: male - THIS is a kind of male, (COMMA) defying any training! 🙂 joke 🙂 no teacher from me :))
Answer from PaVA re Vera[guru]
Don't know.
I have inborn literacy, and when I explain to someone, I put pressure on feelings, on the perception of the language.
For example, you explain that if you can painlessly throw out the part of the sentence that you highlight when pronouncing intonation, and a meaningful sentence remains, then you highlight this part of the sentence with commas. You also say that a comma is almost always put before "what, so that and others like them" (I can't think of an example to NOT put it :)). Etc. etc.
It is more pleasant and easier to explain in a living language, at least to me :).
With more complex cases, of course, I had to resort to rules, but at the initial stage this method has good results.
Answer from Your personal psychologist[newbie]
If the teacher dictates to you, watch his intonation, he stops in places where there are any punctuation marks. Write a specific proposal! And we will help you :)
I can make out some examples of punctuation marks. Well, consider my first suggestion. There are commas because this sentence is complex. The first part talks about the teacher, the second about you, the third again about the teacher. You - different people, separated by commas. Commas are placed in such cases "after", "because", "because", "to" and others.
Separate with commas introductory words, such as "of course", "firstly", "secondly", etc. There are still appeals, well, they have already been talked about. They also distinguish turns, participles and participles. The first are distinguished if they are after the word being defined, the second always. For example: He walked along the road, tired of everyone. He is the main word, from him the question is asked: what? - Tired of everyone.
Okay, I'm already tired of myself)).
Answer from Yovetlana Kleshenok[newbie]
Hey! In our Great and Mighty Russian language there is such a section "Punctuation". This section just explains the punctuation marks in sentences.
Answer from Yovetlana Voloshina[newbie]
explain the punctuation marks in the sentence: Some people like to live by the rules by which they feel connected to the world of adults, while others, on the contrary, want to do what is impossible - this is how they defend their personality.
Answer from Aliya imangulova[newbie]
I don't understand
Answer from Ismail Varaev[active]
don't even know
Answer from Jovetlana[newbie]
Punctuation parsing of a sentence Scheme punctuation parsing suggestions
1. Name and explain the punctogram at the end of the sentence (period, question mark, exclamation point, ellipsis, combination of characters).
2. Name and explain punctograms at the level complex sentence(punctuation marks between simple sentences as part of a complex one).
3. Name and explain punctograms at the level of a simple sentence.
Sentence Punctuation Parsing Sample
[Asking, (which is more peaceful), Pierre climbed onto the horse, grabbed the mane, 4 pressed the heels of the twisted legs to the horse's stomach and, 5 feeling (that his glasses were falling off) and (that he was unable to take his hands off the mane and reins) , galloped after the general, 9 arousing the smiles of the staff, ^ from the barrow looking at him]. (L. Tolstoy)
Explanation of punctuation marks
1. Period at the end of a sentence; a period is placed at the end of the sentence, as it is a declarative, non-exclamatory sentence that contains a complete message.
2. Punctuation marks between parts of a complex sentence; This is a complex sentence with three subordinate clauses:
1 and 2 - commas highlight the subordinate clause inside the main one;
6 and 8 - commas highlight subordinate clauses inside the main one;
7 - no comma is put, because homogeneous clauses are connected by a single connecting union "and";
3. Punctuation marks between homogeneous members of the sentence; separation of circumstances and definitions:
3 and 4 - commas separate homogeneous predicates connected without union;
5 - a comma separates a separate circumstance expressed by a single gerund;
9 - a comma separates a separate circumstance expressed by a participle;
10 - a comma separates a separate definition, expressed by participial turnover and standing after the word being defined.
Exercise 388 When writing off current
hundred put serial numbers near the set sign and
after the text, briefly explain why you put one or the other
goy sign.
elder's wife, (4) Maura, ^5) a woman healthy and not-
stupid, (6) in all her life she has not seen a city, (7)
railway, (8), and in the last ten years she has been sitting at home,
(9) behind the stove, (10) going outside at night.
1-2 - commas highlight the introductory word, indicating
referring to the relationship between thoughts;
3 - a comma separates the main sentence from the appendix
dated;
4-5 - a single application is selected;
5-6 - a common application is highlighted;
7-8 - homogeneous members of the sentence are separated
(homogeneous additions, homogeneous predicates);
9-10 - isolated clarifying circumstance
10 - isolated circumstance - gerund -
turnover.
Day after day in the flour dust in the dirt dragged
with our feet from the yard in a thick, odorous stuffiness, we
rassuchali dough and made pretzels wetting them on-
sweat and we hated our work with an acute hatred
Vistu we never ate what came out from under
of our hands preferring brown bread to pretzels. sitting
at a long table against each other nine against nine
we are mechanically moving in the course of long hours
we used our hands and fingers and got so used to our work
that sometimes they no longer followed their movements. And
we looked at each other so closely that each of
we knew all the wrinkles on the faces of our comrades. We are not about
what was to say we are used to it and all the time
were silent if they did not swear because there is always something to scold
person, and especially a friend. But we rarely fought
what can a person be guilty of if he is half dead
if he is like an idol if all his feelings are suppressed by the
the gesture of labor? But silence is scary and painful only
for those who have already said everything and they have nothing more
to speak for people who did not start their re-
whose silence is simple and easy for them ... Sometimes we sang
and our song began like this, in the midst of work, suddenly someone
sighed with a heavy sigh of a tired horse and
shaft quietly one of those lingering songs plaintively
whose gentle motive always lightens the burden on
the soul of the singer. One of us sings and we are silent at first
we listen to his lonely song and it goes out and stalls
under the heavy ceiling of the basement like a small fire
campfire in the steppe on a damp autumn night when the sky is gray
hangs above the ground like a lead roof. Then to the singer
swim in the stuffiness of our cramped pit. And suddenly, not at once
becomes stronger louder and accurately pushes the raw
the heavy walls of our stone prison...
(M. Gorky)
Preface 5
SPELLING
Spelling of vowels in root 7
§ 1. Checked unstressed vowels 7
§ 2. Unverifiable unstressed vowels 9
§ 3. Alternating vowels 9
§ 4. Vowels o-e after pinching at the root 18
§ 5. Vowels s-and after c in the root 20
§ 6. Letter 20
Spelling of consonants in root 22
§ 7. Voiced and deaf consonants 22
§ 8. Double consonants 23
§ 9. Silent consonants 26
Capitalization 27
§ ten. Capital letters in proper names 27
Letters b and b 33
§ 11. The use of b and b as separators 33
§ 12. The letter ь as a sign of softness 33
§ 13. The letter ь as an indicator grammatical form 34
Spelling prefixes 37
§ 14. Vowels yi “after prefixes 37
§ 15. Prefixes on zi prefix s-37
§ 16. Prefixes pre- and pre-40
Vowels after hissing and c in suffixes and endings 43
§ 17. Vowels oi e after hissing 43
§ 18. Vowels after ts 46
Spelling of nouns 49
§ 19. Endings of nouns 49
§ 20. Suffixes of nouns 53
Spelling of adjectives 62
§ 21. Endings of adjectives 62
§ 22. Suffixes of adjectives 64
Spelling compound words 74
§ 23. Connecting vowels o and e 74
§ 24. Compound words without connecting vowels 75
§ 25. Spelling of compound nouns 77
§ 26. Spelling of compound adjectives 80
Spelling of numerals 88
§ 27. Numbers quantitative, ordinal, fractional 88
Spelling of pronouns, 91
§ 28. Negative pronouns 91
§ 29. Indefinite pronouns 94
Spelling verbs 97
§ 30. Personal endings of verbs 97
§ 31. The use of the letter ь in verb forms 100
§ 32. Suffixes of verbs 103
Spelling Participles 109
§ 33. Endings and suffixes of participles 109
§ 34. Spelling stumps in participles and in verbal adjectives 114
Spelling of adverbs 125
§ 35. Vowels at the end of adverbs 125
§ 36. Adverbs for hissing 127
§ 37. Negative and indefinite adverbs 127
§ 38. Consolidated spelling adverbs 129
§ 39. Hyphenization of adverbs 137
§ 40. Separate writing of adverbs and adverbial expressions 139
Spelling of prepositions and conjunctions 150
§ 41. Prepositions 150
§ 42. Unions 152
Particle Spelling 157
§ 43. Separate and hyphenated spelling of particles, 157
§ 44. Particles not and mi 159
Spelling of interjections and onomatopoeic words 184
§ 45. Hyphen in complex interjections 187
Repetitive spelling exercises 185
PUNCTUATION
Simple sentence
Punctuation marks at the end of a sentence and at a break in speech 193
§ 46. Period, question and exclamation marks, ellipsis 193
Dash between sentence members 194
§ 47. Dash between subject and predicate 194
§ 48. Dash in an incomplete sentence 199
§ 49. Dash to indicate the limits of space, time, quantitative 198
Punctuation marks in sentences with homogeneous members 200
§ 50. Homogeneous members not connected by unions 200
§ 51. Homogeneous and non-homogeneous definitions 200
§ 52. Homogeneous members connected by non-repeating unions 203
§ 53. Homogeneous members connected by repeated unions h 205
§ 54. Homogeneous members connected by double unions 207
§ 55. Generalizing words with homogeneous terms 208
§ 56. Comma between repeated words 215
Punctuation marks in sentences with isolated members 217
§ 57. Separate definitions 217
§ 58. Separate and non-separate applications 223
§ 59. Separate circumstances 231
§ 60. Separate additions 238
§ 61. Separate clarifying, explanatory and connecting members offers 238
Punctuation marks for words not grammatically related to sentence members 247
§ 62. Introductory words and sentences. Insert sentences 247
Section 63 Appeal 258
§ 64. Interjection. Affirmative, negative and interrogative-exclamatory words 259
Repetitive punctuation exercises in simple sentence 262
Difficult sentence
§ 65. Punctuation marks in a compound sentence 265
§ 66. Punctuation marks in a complex sentence 272
§ 67. Punctuation marks in comparative turns with conjunctions like, what, than, etc.
§ 68. Punctuation marks in a non-union complex sentence 294
Repetitive exercises for punctuation in a complex sentence 304
Direct speech
§ 69. Punctuation marks in direct speech 312
§ 70. Punctuation marks in quotations, in expressions taken from something alien to the author
dictionary or used in an ironic sense 314
Repetitive spelling and punctuation exercises 318
VOCABULARY AND STYLISTICS
Lexico-phraseological exercises 327
§ 71. Polysemy of the word 327
§ 72. Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms 331
§ 73. The meaning of words and expressions 341
§ 74. The use of foreign words 345
Grammar-stylistic exercises 346
§ 75, Use of forms of nouns 346
§ 76. The use of forms of adjectives 348
§ 77. The use of forms of nouns 348
§ 78. Use of pronouns 349
§ 79. Use of forms of the verb 349
§ 80. Structure of a simple sentence 350
§ 81. Agreement of the predicate with the subject 352
§ 82. Harmonization of definitions and applications 353
§ 83. Some cases of management A 355
§ 84. Proposals with homogeneous members 357
Punctuation marks play an important role in the perception of written text. You can't argue with that. Let's take an example - the phrase "Execution cannot be pardoned", which changes the meaning to the opposite depending on where the comma is. Properly placed punctuation marks are a guarantee that the text will be clear to whom it was addressed. However, even we, who successfully graduated from high school (I passed by here), often experience difficulties with punctuation.
Many people remember from school that a comma is always placed before "what". Speaking of punctuation marks, the word "always" is best avoided. For example, a union can occur as part of expressions that are integral in meaning (they are also called indecomposable combinations), and then putting a comma in front of it would be a mistake. That's right, for example: get what you need, do what you want, have something to do, do it right, appear as if nothing had happened, strive at all costs, don't go where you shouldn't, spend the night where you have to, the picture is a miracle how good , work that is necessary.
In a complex sentence, a comma is always needed before the union "what"! Not always! And here the word "always" is better to forget. Yes, a comma is placed before the union that joins subordinate clause. For example: Some slacker wrote that there is love on earth. Or: Wait for the yellow rains to make you sad. But if the subordinate clause consists of only one allied word, there is no comma before it: We are going to meet, but we don’t know yet when. The girl did not come on a date and did not even explain why.
More about the difficulties that await in complex sentences. They may also have this: one main clause has several subordinate clauses. In this case, the same rules apply as for homogeneous members. If the clauses are not connected by unions, a comma is placed between them: How do I want to come up with a means so that happiness is ahead, so that at least for an hour I can return to childhood, catch up, save, hug to my chest ... And if there is a non-repeating union between the clauses and, the comma is not put neither before nor after. An example of this rule was in the text of the Total Dictation - 2016 and led to a large number errors. And rightly so: It was clear that the troops needed a truce and that the only opportunity to declare it could be the Olympic Games ...
And if between the parts of the sentence is not the union "what", but the union "and"? Such sentences are called compound sentences. By general rule in them, a comma is placed before the union. For example: Gold rusts and steel decays. But even here there are pitfalls. So, we do not put a comma if the complex sentence includes interrogative or exclamatory sentences: To whom are these texts addressed and what is their meaning? How ridiculous he is and how stupid his antics! A comma will also be a mistake if two simple sentences in the complex have a common secondary term: From a long sitting, his legs numb and his back hurts.
There are no conjunctions in a complex sentence. A complex sentence, between the parts of which there are no unions, is called unionless. The punctuation marks in it depend on the meaning of the phrase. For simple enumeration, a comma is placed. If the second part explains, reveals the content of the first part, indicates the reason for what was said above, a colon is necessary. If the second part, on the contrary, contains a consequence, a result, a conclusion from what was said in the first part, we put a dash. Compare: She married him, he began to earn more (a simple enumeration of events). She married him: he began to earn more (she decided to become his wife because he began to earn more). She married him - he began to earn more (the growth of his income was the result of marriage).
When do you need a sign before "how"? A comma is placed before the union "how" if it attaches a subordinate clause: I remember how I first came to this city. A comparative turnover with a union stands out, such as: Like a straw, you drink my soul; The air is clean and fresh, like a baby's kiss. But you don't need to use a comma if the conjunction like means "as", for example: I'm telling you this as a linguist (= "I am a linguist", there is no comparison here). A comma is not put even if the turnover with the union as part of the predicate or is closely related to it in meaning, for example: The son did not call, and the mother was sitting on pins and needles (without turnover with as a predicate it does not make sense here).
How is everything in simple sentences? A simple sentence (one where there is only one grammatical basis) can be complicated by introductory words and plug-in sentences, participial and adverbial phrases, clarifying, explanatory and connecting constructions ... And here is the time to name punctuation reference books, where all these constructions are written in detail. The most complete is D. E. Rosenthal's reference book "Punctuation". And, of course, indispensable for all those who write the complete academic reference book "Rules of Russian Spelling and Punctuation" edited by V. V. Lopatin.
Introductory words. Introductory words are distinguished by commas, many people remember this: Onegin, I was younger then, I think I was better ... Less often they recall another rule: if the introductory word is at the beginning or at the end of a separate turnover, then it is not separated from the turnover by any punctuation mark: This the film was shot in some Soviet city, it seems in Riga. This film was filmed in some Soviet city, in Riga, I think.
Words that are erroneously separated by commas. It must be remembered that such words and combinations as literally, as if, in addition, are not introductory and are not distinguished by commas, because, in the final analysis, it is unlikely, like, even, as if, as if, moreover, meanwhile, for sure. However, the word raises many questions. Remember: if it is at the beginning of a sentence or between parts of a sentence and is used as a union, but the comma after it is erroneous: It is difficult to remember all these rules, but it is necessary. Or: This conversation can be continued for a long time. However, it's time for us to have lunch. However, the introductory word can only be in the middle of the sentence: It's time for us, however, to have lunch.
Why do many of these rules not pass in school? School textbooks really do not talk about all the punctuation rules. There is nothing to worry about, because biology lessons do not provide all the information known to academicians, and school physics lessons do not prepare doctors of physical and mathematical sciences. The same is true with Russian language lessons: the task of the school is to provide basic information about the Russian language and spelling, and not to prepare professional editors and proofreaders. To become a specialist in the field of the Russian language, you need to study further - as well as to master any other profession.
Worst punctuation mistake ever. It's a comma inside the address. From school, almost everyone remembers that appeals are separated by a comma: Hello, Yura! Hello mother! Good evening, Ivan Petrovich! And they put a comma in such a place, for example: Dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Kate! But the comma here is a mistake, because the words respected, dear, beloved, etc. are part of the appeal. That's right: Dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Kate! But: Good evening, dear Ivan Petrovich! Dear Katya, I love you - in these examples, the whole appeal is separated by a comma, dear Ivan Petrovich and dear Katya.
How to understand where to put commas, and where it is not necessary? This punctuation mark is an important design tool writing. Often it is he who helps to understand the meaning invested by the author in the text. Commas are arranged according to certain rules that are easy to remember. So why not remember school lessons?
History reference
How to figure out where to put commas? People have been asking this question for more than a millennium. The sign that performs the function of a comma was invented by the famous ancient Greek philosopher Aristophanes of Byzantium. It happened in the third century BC. Even then, mankind desperately needed to clarify the written language.
Aristophanes of Byzantium came up with a system of punctuation marks, very far from modern punctuation. He used special dots, which had to be placed depending on how the phrase was pronounced when reading. They could be located at the bottom, middle or top of the line. The function of a comma in those days was assigned to a dot in the middle.
The sign that is used today is derived from the fraction symbol. The modern comma is a mini-copy of the one used from the 13th to 17th centuries to indicate a pause.
How to know where to put commas
So, how to quickly and easily learn the rules, stop making mistakes? How to figure out where to put commas and where they are not needed? To begin with, you should remember that this punctuation mark serves to isolate and highlight:
- introductory words, clarifications;
- definitions;
- interjections;
- participial and participle turnovers;
- appeals;
- circumstances.
Of course, that's not all. The punctuation mark can also be used to separate:
- homogeneous members suggestions;
- between indirect and direct speech;
- between parts of a complex, compound and complex sentence.
Commas can be single or double. Singles break the sentence into parts, fixing the boundaries of these parts. This punctuation mark is needed, for example, when it is necessary to mark two simple parts in a complex sentence. Paired commas can be used, say, to highlight participial and adverbial phrases, introductory words.
Meaning of the sentence
The meaning of the sentence will help you understand where to put commas. After all, punctuation marks are used precisely in order to convey it correctly. If a comma is in the wrong place in a sentence, the meaning is inevitably distorted.
For example: “During the day I entertained my sister, who was sick with reading aloud”; “Elizaveta, with whom I quarreled a few days ago with a cheerful face, came towards me”; “I accepted the invitation of Anton, whom I had not seen for many days with joy.” The commas are not where they should or are missing, so the meaning changes. The person who read the text does not understand what the author wanted to say.
Before unions
In order not to make mistakes, it is necessary to remember the unions before which this punctuation mark is placed. When, where, what, because, since are just some of them.
Let's assume that the conjunction "because" is used in the sentence. Where to put commas? Examples help to understand this. Let's say: "Nikolai is late, because he does not have time to get ready"; “Svetlana will not come, as she has urgent business”; “Ksenia did what she had never done before”; “Vladimir answered in a way that no one before him could. The teacher gave him the highest score.
Let's say that the sentence contains the union "because". Where to put commas? It is easy to give examples in this case as well. Let's say: "Alexander was not at the meeting because he is on a business trip"; “Elena did not cope with the task, because everyone refused to help her”; "Nikolai refused to marry a rich bride because he didn't like her at all." A comma can also be placed between the words "because" and "what". For example: "The windows were wide open because the voices heard in the street were clearly audible in the apartment." This offer confirms that the windows are indeed open. There is another example: "The windows were open because the apartment was very hot." This sentence explains the reason for opening them.
Independent part of the sentence
How do you know where to put commas in a sentence? With the help of this punctuation mark it stands out independent part. How to find it? If the meaning of the sentence is preserved after some part is removed from it, then it is independent. introductory sentences, adverbial phrases must be separated by commas.
For example: “Yesterday I was told that my brother Dmitry, returning from Paris, felt unwell.” If cross out participial turnover"returning from Paris", the meaning of the sentence will not change much.
What other example can be given? “Today Stanislav learned that his girlfriend, passing by his house, did not come to visit him.”
Introductory words
Where should commas be placed if the sentence contains introductory words? By the way, imagine, fortunately, of course, by the way - just a few of them. The rules of the Russian language tell them to be separated by commas on both sides.
For example: “I, by the way, always knew that this would happen”; “Dmitry, fortunately, has already overcome his illness”; “Anastasia, imagine, she decided not to come to visit us”; “Marina, by the way, has been working in this sports club for several years now.”
Appeal
The appeal is also always separated by commas in a sentence. It is not always at the beginning, it can be in the middle or even at the end.
For example: "Are you coming to visit us this week, Lydia?"; “More than anything, Margarita, I love to read”; "Alexandra, how do you feel about this plan?"
Comparative turns
Where to put commas? The rules of the Russian language tell us to use these punctuation marks to highlight comparative phrases. As if, how, exactly, what, than, than - unions, thanks to which they are easy to detect in a sentence.
For example: "I play the guitar better than she"; “He runs like he’s been training for a marathon for the last few years”; “It was safer to drive at night than during the day”, “In Moscow, as in many other Russian cities, I often visit.”
We must not forget about the existence of exceptions. Comparative turns are not indicated with commas if we are talking about phraseological units set expressions. For example: "Cuts like clockwork"; “It pours like a bucket”, “Stuck like a bath leaf”; "Make yourself at home".
Between homogeneous members
Homogeneous members of the sentence will not always share this punctuation mark. How do you know where to put commas and where not? However, but, but, but, yes - conjunctions in which this means of punctuation is necessary.
A comma is placed between homogeneous members if they are connected by repeated unions (either ... or, or ... either, and ... and, not that ... not that). For example: “In the apartment, the light went out, then it turned on again.” This punctuation mark is not needed when single conjunctions are used or, or, yes, and.
Complexity is capable of creating heterogeneous and homogeneous definitions. A comma is used if the sentence contains homogeneous definitions. Let's say: "an exciting, interesting action movie." However, this punctuation mark is not needed if heterogeneous definitions are used. For example: "Hollywood thriller." "Hollywood" refers to the location of the painting, while "captivating" allows you to express the impression.
Participial
Where is it correct to put commas when talking about sentences with participial turnover? Participles are indicated by this punctuation mark only in cases where they are located after the word being defined. This is a word from which participle turnover a question is asked. Let's say: "a brother who was surprised at my arrival", "a friend who was delighted with the news", "a mother who learned everything", "an apple tree that grew in the garden."
Coordinating conjunctions
This punctuation mark is necessary in a complex sentence in which there are coordinating conjunctions. The rules say to put it in front of them. Yes and, or, and, or, yes are examples of such unions.
The most important thing is to correctly understand where the beginning of one sentence and the end of another. This is easy to do by defining the subject and the predicate. Separation by meaning will also help.
For example: “It rained all day, and the wind continued to make noise outside the window”; "They worked hard, but they finished all the work."
Contrastive conjunctions
Before oppositional conjunctions (a, yes, but), this punctuation mark is necessary in all cases. For example: “His relatives and friends had high hopes for Eugene, but he failed to justify them”; “It rained in the morning, but the weather improved by afternoon”; "Your friend wants to talk to you, and you need this conversation."
What else do you need to know
What else can you tell about where to put commas in accordance with the rules of the Russian language? With the help of this punctuation mark, interjections, negative, interrogative and affirmative words are distinguished. Let's say: “Life, alas, does not last forever, sooner or later a person dies”, “Of course, Alexander will join us for dinner today, as he promised me to do it”; “Isn't it true that Victoria is very pretty? After all, do you like this girl too? ”,“ Undoubtedly, Anatoly will go to trip around the world this week. I learned about it from himself”, “I hope Timothy did not hold a grudge.”
Interjections should not be confused with particles ah, oh, well, which serve to enhance the connotation. For example: “Oh, what a!”; "Well, why does Alexander behave so badly!"; "Oh, how tired I am, I worked all day today without rest." It is also necessary to be able to distinguish the particle o, which is used when addressing. Let's say: "O mountains, mountains!"; "O fields, boundless fields."
Conclusion
Punctuation errors capable of distorting the meaning of the text more than spelling. The latter can always be passed off as a typo, while the omission of a comma or its use in the wrong place will not allow the reader to understand what the author wanted to say.
It is the understanding of the meaning that allows you to punctuate correctly. Of course, it is important to remember the rules regarding the placement of commas in a sentence.
The comma is the simplest and most prosaic, but at the same time the most insidious sign. Its formulation implies an understanding of how speech is built and structured, what meanings appear and disappear if a comma is incorrectly placed. Of course, in a small article it is impossible to describe in which cases a comma is placed and list absolutely everything, we will focus only on the most common and simple ones.
Enumeration and homogeneous members
The correct setting of commas in a simple sentence begins with knowing the rule that homogeneous members of a sentence must be separated by a comma:
I love, adore, idolize cats.
I love cats, dogs, horses.
Difficulties arise if there is a union "and" between homogeneous members of the sentence. The rule here is simple: if the union is single, the comma is not needed:
I love dogs, cats and horses.
If there are more than one union, then a comma is placed before the second union and further:
I love dogs, cats and horses.
Otherwise, a comma is placed before the union "a". The rule dictates the placement of the sign in any case and also applies to the union “but” and the union “yes” in the meaning of “but”:
My neighbor does not like dogs, but cats.
Cats love cautious people, but shun noisy and angry people.
Definition with a personal pronoun
Difficulties with where a comma is needed also arise when it comes to a definition. However, here everything is simple.
If a single definition refers to a personal pronoun, it is separated by a comma:
Satisfied, she entered the room and showed her purchase.
I saw this dog then. She, joyful, wagged her tail, trembled and jumped all the time at the owner.
Separate definition
If you are memorizing the rules for when a comma is used, then the third paragraph should be a separate definition.
By a separate definition is meant first of all It is separated by commas in the case when it follows the word to which it refers:
A boy who has read books about travel will never pass indifferently past a travel agency or past a shop with tents and flashlights.
The cat, barely waiting for a treat, now purred and looked affectionately at the owner.
A boy who has read books about travel will never pass indifferently past a travel agency or past a store with tents and flashlights.
The cat, which had barely waited for the treat, was now purring and looking affectionately at the owner.
Separate circumstances
Commas in both simple and complex sentences separate single gerund and adverbial turnover:
Purring, the cat lay down on my lap.
The dog, growling, still calmed down and let us talk.
Having made a number of remarks about the new project, the boss left.
Introductory words
Introductory words are words that show the reliability of information, its source or the speaker's attitude to this information.
These are words that can potentially be expanded into a sentence:
This artist, of course, won the hearts of all his contemporaries.
Natasha doesn't seem to be going to take care of her father.
Leonid, apparently, does not suspect why around him in recent times so many people showed up.
Appeals
If there is an appeal in the sentence, and this is not a pronoun, then it must be separated by commas on both sides.
Hello dear Leo!
Goodbye, Lydia Borisovna.
Do you know, Masha, what I want to tell you?
Linda, come to me!
Unfortunately, ignorance of the cases in which a comma is used when addressing often leads to illiterate formatting of business letters. Among these errors are the omission of a comma when addressing, and the setting of an extra comma in a pronoun:
Good afternoon Pavel Evgenievich!(Need: Good afternoon, Pavel Evgenievich!)
Svetlana Borisovna, we have also prepared our new designs for you. ( Need : Svetlana Borisovna, we have also prepared our new samples for you.)
How do you think this agreement should be concluded? ( Need : Do you think it is expedient to conclude this agreement?)
Comma in a compound sentence
In general, all the rules regarding when a comma is placed in a complex sentence essentially boil down to one thing: all parts of any complex sentence must be separated from each other by a punctuation mark.
Spring came, the sun shone, sparrows began to fuss, children ran triumphantly.
They bought him a new computer, since the old one could no longer work due to the small amount of memory and incompatibility with new programs.
And what else to do if not to have fun, when there is nothing else left to do?
At the head of the procession was some red-haired boy, he was probably the most important.
A comma in a complex sentence is placed in all cases, except for the unifying word, and if another sign is not needed at the junction of parts of the sentence, first of all, a colon.
Exception: unifying word
If parts of a compound sentence are combined by a single word (for example, then a comma is not placed between these parts of the sentence:
and the birds flew in, our company somehow revived.
Wed: Spring came, the birds flew in, and our company somehow revived.
This word can be not only at the very beginning of the sentence:
We will go to this meeting only as a last resort, only if all the conditions are agreed and the text of the agreement is agreed upon.
Comma or colon?
Instead of a comma, there should be a colon if the meaning of the first part is revealed in the second:
It was a wonderful time: we drew what we wanted.
Now he proceeded to the most important thing: he was making a gift for his mother.
The dog no longer wanted to walk: the owners intimidated her by training so much that it was easier to sit under the table.
Sentences with "how"
Many errors regarding when to use a comma arise from a misunderstanding of the difference between the two meanings of the word "as".
The first meaning of this word is comparative. In this case, the sentence is separated by commas:
Aspen leaf, like a butterfly, rose higher and higher.
The second meaning is an indication of identity. In such cases, the turnover with "as" is not separated by commas:
A butterfly as an insect is of little interest to people who are accustomed to seeing animals as a source of warmth and communication.
So the suggestion is: I, like your mother, will not let you ruin your life.» can be punctuated in two ways. If the speaker is really the listener's mother, then the word "how" is used as a word indicating identity ("I" and "mother" are the same), so commas are not needed.
If the speaker compares himself with the mother of the listener (“I” and “mother” are not the same thing, “I” is compared with “mother”), then commas are needed:
I, like your mother, will not let you ruin your life..
In the event that “how” is part of the predicate, the comma is also not put:
The lake is like a mirror. ( Wed .: The lake, like a mirror, sparkled and reflected the clouds).
Music is like life. (Music, like life, does not last forever.)
Formal signs of the need for a comma: to trust or not?
To pay attention to the cases in which a comma is placed, special signs of sentences will help. However, don't trust them too much.
So, for example, it primarily concerns whether a comma is placed before "to". The rule, it would seem, is unambiguous: “A comma is always placed before “to””. However, any rule should not be taken too literally. For example, a sentence with "to" might be:
He wanted to talk to her to find out the truth and to tell her about how he lived his life.
As you can see, the rule works here, but the second "to" does not imply a comma. this error is quite common:
We went to the store just to look at the prices and to see what you can generally buy for dinner in this city.
Correctly : We went to the store just to look at the prices and to see what you can generally buy for dinner in this city.
The same goes for the word "how". It has already been said above that, firstly, the word has two meanings, and secondly, it can be part of different members of the sentence, so you should not trust the common wording “There is always a comma before “how”.
The third common case of a formal sign of the need for a comma is the word "yes". However, it should also be treated with great caution. The word "yes" has several meanings, including - "and":
He took the brushes and went to paint.
Jackdaws and crows flocked, but there were no titmouses, and no.
Such formal signs should rather be treated as potentially "dangerous" places. Words like “to”, “what”, “how”, “yes” can signal that there may be a comma in this sentence. These “signals” will help you not to miss commas in sentences, but the rule regarding these signs themselves should never be overlooked.
At the same time, when arranging commas, it is necessary, rather, to focus not on the “rules”, but on the meaning of setting the sign. The comma, in general, is intended to separate homogeneous members of a sentence, parts of a complex sentence, as well as fragments that do not fit into the structure of the sentence, which are alien to it (addresses, introductory words, etc.). Rules only specify each case. This even applies to the formula “need a comma before “to””. The rule actually specifies general principle punctuation In general, of course, when writing, you need to think!
