In this article we will talk about punctuation marks with homogeneous members and in which cases it is necessary to pose one or another of them. First of all, let's define the very concept of “homogeneous members”.
Members of the proposal who are:
- perform the general syntactic function in the work;
- depend on one word;
- answer one question.
Non-union homogeneous members
As you know, an exception has any rule. Punctuation marks with homogeneous members, for example, may be set, or may not. A comma is placed between non-unionized homogeneous members. However, there are a few exceptions. No comma needed:
- in stable expressions (for example, talk about this and that);
- between two verbs, used in the same form, which indicate the purpose of the movement or the movement itself and at the same time form a single semantic unity (for example, sit down, write, I’ll go find out, we’ll sit and talk, etc.).
Common members, especially if there are commas inside them, can also be separated using not a comma, but a semicolon.
An example is as follows: long ago entertained disgraced steamers for excursions were left behind; train station bubbling with shudders; floating boards, shimmering with metal rings, into which were inserted, as if in a box, slightly flattened egg-shaped hulls of ships.
What is a uniform definition?
Considering punctuation marks with homogeneous members, one cannot help but talk about homogeneous definitions. A definition is a minor member of a sentence denoting a feature of an item. It answers questions such as “which?”, “Which?”, “Whose?” Example: green dense fir tree by the road; fluffy deep forests.
Definitions are explained by sentence members that are expressed by nouns (as well as other parts of speech that have the meaning of a noun). They are homogeneous in the case when they denote signs characterizing on the one hand the given subject. Example: everything slept in a healthy, motionless, sound sleep. In this example, all 3 definitions indicate sleep quality. What punctuation marks should be used for homogeneous terms that are definitions? We will answer this question.
Commas between homogeneous definitions
According to the rules of grammar, commas are placed between unrelated unions with homogeneous definitions.
Each of these homogeneous definitions is directly related to a definable noun; a creative union can be made between them . They can characterize the subject from various sides, while in the context of being united by a common attribute (causal relationship, similarity of the impression that is made, appearance, etc.). Example: thin, morning, spring ice (the common sign here is “fragile, weak”); inflamed, red eyelids (they are red precisely because they are inflamed).
Epithets (artistic definitions) are usually homogeneous. For example: the old woman closed her dull, lead eyes. Homogeneous are usually a single definition and located behind it, expressed by the participle turnover. The following example: it was the first joy of discovery, not obscured by fears.
Homogeneous, as a rule, agreed definitions, which are located after the defined word. Definitions can be considered homogeneous if they are united by some common feature. An example is as follows: a large, stone building was allocated for the tourist camps (the unifying concept here is "comfortable").
Commas between heterogeneous definitions
We looked at punctuation marks for homogeneous terms that are definitions. However, the definitions may also be heterogeneous. This is characteristic of a situation if they characterize in different respects, from different sides, an object. An example is as follows: in a corner of the living room there was a pot-bellied bureau (material and form); The magical underwater islands quietly pass and quietly float round white clouds (shape and color). Commas between definitions are not heterogeneous.
Usually heterogeneous definitions are expressed by a combination of relative and qualitative adjectives, as they express different attributes. Example: The bright summer sun looked out the window.
Non-repeating unions and homogeneous members under them
Do you need punctuation between homogeneous members that are connected by connecting non-repeating unions "and" and "yes" (if its meaning is similar to the meaning of "and"), as well as separating unions, such as "either" and "or"? No, no comma is needed between them.
Nevertheless, if the union has the meaning "and, moreover," (connecting), or it combines two predicates, the second of which indicates a consequence of something or expresses a quick change of action, a sharp contrast, then a dash or comma is placed in front of it .
For example: he wanted to go around the whole world - and he did not go around even a small fraction; but I give you a job, and a very interesting one. A comma is also written before the yes and the union (affiliation): It remains to read the last book, and even then it is small in volume.
A comma is not needed before the connecting "and" if the indicative pronoun "that", "that", "that", "those" is behind it. Example: a sister and she would not do more for me.
A comma is not needed before the union "yes", if we are talking about combinations like "I would take it and do it", "I will take it and tell it."
Now consider the punctuation between homogeneous members, which are connected by the unions “yes” (in the meaning of “but”), “but”, “a” (these are opposing unions). A comma between them is needed. Example: Answer me with a call, not a telegram, and tell me the date of departure.
What other than a comma can punctuation be placed? Unions with homogeneous supply terms (opposing) are sometimes omitted. When one of them is omitted, a dash is written between them. Example: not a small fishing sail - I dream of ships.
Duplicate unions and homogeneous members with them
Repeating unions and punctuation marks with homogeneous members connected by them have their own peculiarity. A comma is needed between homogeneous members connected by such unions. Unions can be: yes ... yes, and ... and, neither ... not, either ... or, not ... not that, or. .. or "," then ... then "and others.
A comma is not put when connecting with repeated unions "and", "that", "or" before the first of them, if the enumeration starts with it. Example: he went to the mountains, and sat 2 times in prison, and fought with the Russians. However, the comma must be placed before the first of the unions in the case when a homogeneous member with it continues the transfer that has already begun. The following example: he fell in love with dense groves, silence, solitude, and stars, and night, and the moon.
A comma is not set for 2 homogeneous members with the same union, if this forms a unity that is closely related in meaning. Usually similar homogeneous members do not have explanatory words. The following example: he breathed and lived with it. A comma is usually set when explanatory words are provided. Example: in your heart there is direct honor and pride.
Paired groups of homogeneous members
The union can connect homogeneous members in pairs, in which case a comma is placed between the paired groups. Inside these pairs, on the contrary, it is not needed. Example: we have come from the abyss of time of suffering and human joy, tears and laughter, anger and love, unbelief and faith. In turn, paired groups can be interconnected by a repeating union. We give the following example: among the rivers there are violent and calm, and large and small, and slow and fast. However, a comma is not needed if 2 homogeneous members have unions and form a group that is closely related in meaning, which is also connected by a union with the 3rd homogeneous member. The following example: Maria was a fearless and direct girl, and in her own way even cruel in cases when she did not love anyone (the pair group here is “direct” and “fearless”).
A comma is not put inside whole expressions, which are formed by two words having the opposite meaning, interconnected by repeated unions of "neither", "and". Examples: old and young, and laughter and sin, and cold and hunger, and so on, neither fish nor meat.
Double alliances and homogeneous members in them
If double unions, such as "not so ... how", "both ... and", "not only ... but also", "so ... how much", "not so much ... how much" , "if not ... then", "although ... but" homogeneous members are connected, then only before the 2nd part of the union is a comma. An example is as follows: Siberia has many features both in human mores and in nature.
What is a generic word?
A generalizing word is a word that is broader in meaning, uniting homogeneous members. Most often, generalizing words are pronouns such as "everyone", "everyone", "all", "no", "nothing", "nobody", "always", "everywhere" and others. Example: everywhere: below and above - they sang birds. A generalizing word is usually the same member of a sentence as homogeneous members are. Punctuation with homogeneous members, if any, has its own laws.
Colon in generalizing words
Before listing various homogeneous terms after a generalizing word, a colon is needed. Example: in the depths of the forest the sounds of labor were reflected: a rustle of sand, a rattle of stone, screaming, clanging, beeping machines.
If words such as “for example,” “namely,” “like that,” etc. appear after the generalizing word, then a comma should be placed between them, followed by a colon. Example: good people understood life only as the ideal of inaction and peace, at times disturbed by unpleasant accidents, such as losses, illnesses, quarrels.
If the generalizing word is ahead with homogeneous terms, the punctuation marks in this case have one feature. Typically, a colon is not set. But in scientific and business speech, it can be stated even if the generalizing word is absent. Example: attended the meeting (further names are listed); It is necessary to take to obtain this mixture (the components are listed).
Setting a dash with a generalizing word
Before the generalizing word, after all the homogeneous terms in the sentence, a dash is needed. Example: the guards badge, the Order of the Red Star, the belt of the sword belt, the tunic - all this went to her.
In the case when the generalization word is followed by an introductory word (“in short”, “in one word”, “word” , etc.), a dash must be placed before the last, and a comma after. Example: in dry grass, among insects, birds - in a word, the approach of autumn was everywhere felt.
If the homogeneous terms after the generalizing word do not end the sentence, then a colon is placed before them, and after the dash. Example: everywhere: under your feet, over your head - rumbles, iron lives.
A dash is used instead of a colon if a group of homogeneous members expresses a clarifying remark or explanation. Thus, with the help of the dash, homogeneous members are selected on both sides. Example: millions of people - Czechs, French, Ukrainians, Russians, Yugoslavs - walked up and down Europe and saw fascism.
If, according to the conditions of the context, after homogeneous members with a generalizing word preceding them, a comma is needed, then after listing the dash is often omitted. An example is the following: people have experienced many natural disasters: drought, floods, fires, but this did not break our will to fight nature.
So, we examined homogeneous sentence members, generalizing words, punctuation marks with them. This topic is best studied in practice by looking at various examples. So you work out the punctuation marks between the homogeneous members of the sentence, and their statement will no longer cause difficulties.