“Of course”, “including”, “first of all” - a comma, like all other punctuation marks that exist today, allow you to most correctly convey the meaning of written speech. After all, writing a proposal is quite simple, but it is much more difficult to make it so that in the end it is extremely clear to readers. Vivid examples of the absurdities due to punctuation are a great many.
For example, tin manufacturers in England in 1864 were able to bribe proofreaders and ultimately trick the American government by almost $ 50 million. In this case, proofreaders simply had to remove the only comma in the process of printing the customs tariff, as a result of which tin iron was eventually ranked as tin , and then for 18 years he was charged a low fee.
That is why, first of all, the comma requires special attention, and you need to know all the rules for placing this sign in the sentence.
Separation and selection
Immediately it is worth noting the fact that commas can be placed one at a time or in pairs. Single commas allow you to divide the whole sentence into several parts, while separating these parts from each other and providing the ability to mark the boundaries between them. For example, in a complex sentence, first of all, a comma is used to separate several simple parts from each other, while in a simple sentence, homogeneous members of a sentence are separated by a punctuation mark.
It is customary to use double commas in order to highlight an independent part of a sentence, as well as mark the boundaries of this part. In the predominant majority of cases, on both sides, in the first place, such a part is highlighted with commas in the case of circulation, participles and participles, or the use of introductory words.
Some features
Many consider the placement of commas to be too difficult, and therefore simply do not want to understand all the intricacies. But in fact, you can simplify this task if you know a few rules that help determine where to put a comma.
Meaning
You always need to delve into the meaning of the sentence you are writing, because punctuation marks are used for a reason, but have a direct connection with the meaning embedded in a specific sentence. Here are some examples of improper placement:
- We met with a friend with whom we had a very bad argument yesterday with funny faces.
- I began to improve my health so as not to get sick running in the evenings.
Unions
In addition to the meaning of the sentence, you still need to know a few words and phrases that stand out or are preceded by a comma. Including almost every union, and allied words are highlighted with commas. The latter are not so difficult to remember: what, where, when, since, because, that is , there are some others. In complex sentences where these words are used, a comma must be placed before them.
Independent parts
Quite often, many have various difficulties with separating any parts of the proposal from the main one. In particular, an independent part is highlighted with commas, so you need to understand how to define it. In fact, it’s quite simple to check - just read the sentence without this part, and if it does not ultimately lose its meaning, the removed part can be called independent.
Be sure to use commas to highlight introductory words and sentences, adverbial sentences. As an example, you can use the following sentence: "Recently I saw that Kupriyanov, while relaxing in Egypt, got a good tan." In this case, if you remove from this sentence the participial circulation of “resting in Egypt,” the sentence will not lose its meaning at all, as the following will turn out: “Recently I saw that Kupriyanov got a good tan.” Of course, it is the “resting in Egypt” section that stands out with commas, since if you remove some other elements of this proposal, it will absolutely lose its purpose.
But in fact, with the participles everything is far from so simple. You can meet various situations when germs are adjacent to a certain predicate, that is, a verb, as a result of which their meaning is close to the adverb. In such situations, the participle will no longer need to be highlighted with commas. Example: “Dance happily ever after!” If you remove the participle from such a sentence, the sentence will ultimately become incomprehensible, as a result of which commas are not needed here.
Special attention should be paid to introductory words, since there are a huge number of them. Most of them we use predominantly every day: first of all, fortunately, by the way, imagine, by the way, of course - each of them stands out with commas. They are not difficult to find in the proposal - just try to remove them.
Appeals
Regardless of who you are contacting, it is always highlighted with commas. It is worth noting that the treatment is especially difficult to distinguish if it is not at the beginning of the sentence, especially since the comma must be placed correctly. For example: "Come, I will feed you, dog, and you, kitty, do not be afraid, I will give you too." In this sentence, several appeals appear at once - a dog and a cat.
Comparative speed
Comparative revolutions must be highlighted with commas. They are also quite simple to detect, because they use alliances: exactly, as if, as if, like, like, as well as many others. It is more important to remember that there are also a few exceptions and rules that need to be considered. In fact, remembering them is not so difficult. Moreover, the comma is not put in the case of using comparative turns, which have become phraseological units, that is, unchanged turns of speech: it pours like a bucket, pale as death, goes like clockwork.
Homogeneous members of the proposal
Homogeneous members of a sentence are always separated by commas from each other, and it is rather difficult to make a mistake here, because here the indicator is the intonation of the enumeration. It is also worth noting that they help determine where it is better to put a comma, unions that are repeated in front of the homogeneous members of a particular sentence.
If we talk about some more difficult cases, then we can distinguish homogeneous and heterogeneous definitions. For example, if the definitions are homogeneous (for example: an interesting, fascinating performance), then you need to put a comma without fail. In case of heterogeneous definitions, such as, for example, “I ask you (comma) to watch this interesting Italian performance”, the comma will no longer be placed, because here the word “Italian” is used to convey personal impressions of the viewing, while "Italian" indicates who is the author or performer of this work.
Composing Unions
Writing unions should always be preceded by a comma in a complex sentence. In this case, you need to be able to determine where one simple sentence ends and the next begins. Again, in this case, reading the sentence and determining its meaning will greatly help you, or you can simply determine the subject and predicate.
For example: “I’m asking you, (comma) stop talking about this case, and indeed, I’m tired of such stories a lot.”
Opposing Unions
For many people, the simplest rule is that you must always put a comma before opposing unions. In other words, words like “but, a, yes (which equates to“ but ”) signal us that we need to use a comma in the sentence. For example: “The group was about to leave, but Grisha, unfortunately (stands out with commas) still wanted to look at the giraffe. The group still had to leave. More than (in this case, the comma is placed after “more”, and not after “than”) Grisha, nobody wanted to look at the giraffe. ”
Participles
In this case, the situation is somewhat more complicated in comparison with the participles, because you need to put commas only in those situations if the turnover is after the word being defined. In this case, the determined word is the one from which the question will be asked for this turnover:
- candidate who has taken the place;
- a bus stop located on the side of the house;
- the man who saved my life.
In principle, remembering all these features is quite simple, so there are no big problems with their use.
Interjection
If we talk about interjections, then in this case, you need to put commas after the "emotional" turns. Examples:
- Alas, he could not live up to our expectations.
- Oh, how persistently this guy is doing his job.
- Oh, do not see us the beauties of this whole world.
Do not forget that interjections must be distinguished from ordinary particles “oh”, “ah” and others, which are used in the proposal to enhance the shade, as well as particles “o”, which is used in case of treatment.
Between the subordinate clause and the main clause
A comma must be placed between the subordinate clause and the main clause, but if the clause is directly inside the main clause, it will need to be separated by commas on both sides. First of all, a comma between the parts of a compound sentence is placed precisely in order to highlight the subordinate clause.
“He put a comma in the sentence so that it matches the rules of the Russian language.”
If the subordinate clause is after the main one, then in both case with simple and complex subordinate unions it will be necessary to put a comma only once directly in front of the union itself.
“He stood motionless because he was afraid and could not do anything with himself.”
A complex subordinate union cannot be divided into parts with a comma in the situation when the subordinate clause that begins with this union is immediately before the main one.
“In the process of how I spoke, he gradually fell asleep.”
But depending on the peculiarities of meaning, it is possible to divide a complex union into two parts, the first of which will be included directly in the main proposal, while the second will serve as the union. First of all, it is not the sentence that stands out with commas, but the punctuation mark is placed only before the second part.
"He gained strength on this because it was about his freedom."
If there are two unions next to each other, a comma between them must be placed only if the omission of the subordinate clause does not provide for the need to restructure the main one.
“The decision to stay was for the tourists who, although it was cold enough, wanted to enjoy the beauty of this place, on the basis of (the comma before“ on ”) which the guide decided to set up camp.”
It should be noted that if the subordinate clause consists of only one union or a relative word, it will not need to be separated by a comma.
"Where to? I showed where. ”
Duplicate words
A comma must always be placed between the same words that are repeated in order to indicate the duration of the action, a greater number of persons, phenomena or objects, as well as enhancing the degree of quality. In addition, it must be put before words repeated to reinforce agreement.
"Faster, finish here faster and get down to the next!", "More than (the comma before the" what ") last time, you won’t be mistaken.".
Defining momentum
Commas must include adjectives and participles, which have explanatory words with them, and at the same time stand after the defined noun, with the exception of those that are closely related to the verb in meaning.
“Several snow-covered snowdrifts attracted the attention of passers-by.”
Adjectives and participles, which are placed after a definable noun in order to give them a more independent meaning. This also applies to cases where there are no explanatory words, especially if a defining word is present before the noun.
“Monday will come tomorrow, and my life, gray and measured, will take its course.”
Adjectives and participles are also highlighted with commas, regardless of whether they stand with explanatory or without them, if they are placed before a definable noun, and in addition to the meaning of the definition, they also have a thorough connotation.
"Closing in himself, Vanya at that moment did not want to talk to anyone."
If adjectives and participles are related to a noun and stand before it, but are moved away by other members of the sentence, they should also be highlighted with commas.
“If, having gained strength, our honorable employee does not go to work after the sick-list, he will be dismissed.”
Extensive revolutions
Commas are placed in the following cases:
If participles are used with explanatory words or without them. An exception in this case are single germs and all sorts of gangs that are directly adjacent to the predicate word and in their meaning are close to the adverb.
“Having approached this wonderful place, we decided to stop to look at it better.”
But at the same time, it should be noted that commas are not put if the participle is used with explanatory words, and they are integral expressions, such as: after the sleeves, with bated breath, with folded arms and so on.
In addition, a comma is not put between the union “a” and the participle turnover, or the participle in the event that when the omission of this turn or the word itself is necessary to restructure the sentence.
“He stopped, often looked around, and guiding me through this jungle, he allowed me to get acquainted with the local fauna, and therefore I received unspeakable pleasure from the trip.”
A noun in an indirect case with prepositions, and in some situations also without prepositions, if they have a circumstantial meaning. This applies especially to situations where nouns have explanatory words, and at the same time they are facing the predicate.
“In contrast to the other soldiers, this one was one of those people who constantly moved forward.”
Indefinite forms of the verb with any words related to them that join the predicate with the help of the conjunctions “in order” (in order to; in order to, etc.)
“I decided to do morning runs to get in shape again.”
Clarifying and restricting words
Commands must necessarily be groups of words or individual words that clarify or limit the meaning of previous (subsequent) words, as well as join them directly or by using the words “including”, “including”, “except” and others.
“About ten years ago, in the winter, on the road from St. Petersburg to Rostov, I had to sit all day at the station, including due to the lack of trains.”
Introductory sentences and words
Introductory words and sentences should always be highlighted with commas.
“This is a rather simple and, unfortunately (highlighted by commas), unnecessary thing in the work.”
In the overwhelming majority of cases, you can meet as introductory words: it happened, most likely, no doubt, apparently, firstly, secondly and others.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that you need to be able to correctly distinguish introductory words from detailed ones that answer the questions “when?”, “How” and others.
“He uttered this phrase by the way.”
You should also be able to correctly distinguish between the use of the same turns and words as introductory or as amplifying.
“Of course, you (the punctuation mark is a comma) consider this the most optimal solution.” In this case, the introductory word is used.
"Of course you will get to this place much earlier than me." Here the very same “course” is an amplifying word.
Among other things, if the words “say”, “for example”, “suppose” are faced with some word or group of words intended to clarify the preceding, no punctuation marks should be placed after them.
Negative, affirmative and interrogative words
You must always put a comma after the words “of course,” “yes,” and others, if they indicate confirmation, and also after the word “no,” if it means negation. ”
“Yes, I'm the person you met at the local bakery.”
“No, today I have not been at work.”
“What, are you afraid to compete with equal rivals?”
Separate Commas
- "First of all". It does not require punctuation, but there are examples in fiction where the words “in the first place” are separate.
- "Including". If the connecting turns begin with the union “including”, they are separate.
- "Especially". If it is a particle (similar to the meaning of "especially"), then punctuation marks are not required, but if it is a union (similar to the meaning of "and also"), then it is already necessary to highlight structures with this union.
- "I ask you to". It does not require punctuation.
- " ". , , «» «».
- " ". , .
- " ". , .
Conclusion
, , , , – . «» .
You must always be careful about commas, and this is taught to children in the lower grades - how to place commas correctly. After all, everyone can understand the word that is written with spelling errors, while skipping one comma can significantly distort the meaning of the sentence.
But, remembering these simple rules, you can understand whether a comma is needed in a particular case.
The correct placement of commas is important in any field of activity of modern man. Of course, this is important for those people who work with manual filling of papers or writing text, but it is especially important for those who are directly involved in the preparation of economic agreements and other responsible documents, where an incorrectly placed comma can result in serious financial losses.