Punctuation marks are very important components of the text. A person who does not use them in written speech runs the risk of making sure that those to whom the text is addressed simply do not understand the point. Yes, and it will be impossible to read such a message. Therefore, it is simply necessary to check punctuation as soon as the text is written. This is not only respect for the recipients, but also for oneself, because literate writing is an indicator of high culture. In the article we will analyze why punctuation is necessary, what are the main punctuation marks, and what function each of them performs.
The history of punctuation marks
Punctuation marks did not appear immediately. Initially, the texts were difficult to understand, because they were written without them. The fact that it is necessary to make written messages readable was the first to be understood by the French in Europe. They adopted special stops, commas, from the Greeks in the 15th century.
As for Russia, he formulated the idea of why punctuation is needed, for the first time Mikhailo Lomonosov. The rules were put forward by him in the XVIII century. Moreover, he spoke not only about the use of commas, but also exclamation points. Karamzin introduced the dash and colon.
The meaning of punctuation marks
What is the purpose of punctuation marks? Knowing this is a good help when you need to check the text for punctuation.
The most important sign is the dot. She is used to separate one sentence from another, it means the end of the minimum message and the beginning of a new one. Sometimes instead of a period, signs are used, interrogative or exclamatory. The first is used in those sentences that contain a question, the second - in emotionally colored, incentive.
For example, it is enough to compare three sentences: Natalya Pavlovna is an outstanding surgeon. (calm intonation, the goal is a message of fact). - Natalya Pavlovna - an outstanding surgeon? (question). - Yes, Natalya Pavlovna is an outstanding surgeon! (enthusiastic feelings).
Sometimes a special sign is put at the end of a sentence - ellipsis, it indicates the incompleteness of thought.
We often use commas. These signs separate one logical segments from others, create transfers. Without commas, it’s very difficult to understand the meaning of the sentence. The famous phrase “you cannot execute mercy” is a vivid example of this.
In order to clarify any facts, use a colon. It may also indicate a number of homogeneous members.
A dash (by the way, this is the only punctuation mark having a foreign language origin - French) is necessary when a union or a word is omitted. It also indicates that in a sentence one thought is opposed to another.
Using a semicolon is extremely rare. This sign connects parts that are completely not logically connected with each other.
Homogeneous members
Now we will deal with the basic rules that will help verify punctuation. One of the most common is commas for homogeneous sentences. Recall that they are those that answer one question and relate to one member of the proposal. Any component of a syntactic unit can be homogeneous.
To check the punctuation marks with them, you need to pay attention to the unions that connect them. If there are none, a comma is always set. In the meadow grew red, bright yellow, white flowers.
It is also necessary to put a punctuation mark if homogeneous members are connected in pairs. Red and yellow, blue and white flowers grew in the meadow. As you can see, in this case, the comma separates two homogeneous definitions with the union and.
With repeated unions, the punctuation mark is placed after the first. In the meadow, red, and bright yellow, and blue, and white flowers grew.
With homogeneous terms, a generalizing word can stand. In this case, to determine the correctness of punctuation will help determine where it is. If up to a number of homogeneous terms, then you need to put a colon. After that - a dash. For example: In the meadow all kinds of flowers grew: red, bright yellow, blue and white. The generic word flowers is used before homogeneous definitions. Red, bright yellow, blue, white - all kinds of flowers adorned the meadow.
Isolation
Separation is a special emphasis with punctuation marks and intonation. Check punctuation when it helps search for a specific word. This is necessary if we are talking about separate definitions. Here are some examples:
Swifts scurrying between trees caught insects on the fly. The defined swift word is used before a separate definition (it is expressed in the participle turnover).
Tourists, tired and hungry, soon approached an abandoned hut. The defined word tourists faces a separate definition (it is expressed by homogeneous definitions connected by means of a union).
It is always necessary to put commas when highlighting:
- Communion of turns. Having recovered, she was able to escape from urgent problems.
- Separate members relate to a personal pronoun. Satisfied and enthusiastic, we arrived at the venue.
- An application is always isolated in two cases: when it refers to a personal pronoun and when it refers to a common noun. For example: She, a doctor of the highest category, was forced to back down. - A doctor of the highest category, she was forced to back down. Another example: My aunt, a doctor of the highest category, instantly lost her job. - A doctor of the highest category, my aunt instantly lost her job.
Introductory words and addresses
Punctuation in a sentence with introductory constructions and references is quite simple. You just need to know what these elements are.
When we appeal to someone, his name or what we call him at the same time, attracting attention, will be an appeal. In a sentence, it is always highlighted with commas. Olga Petrovna, bring me a book about plants. - Dear grandfather, how are you? - Dear brothers, let's defend our homeland to the end!
You can verify punctuation in syntactic units with introductory constructs by correctly selecting them from the context. It should be remembered that their purpose is to pay special attention to a statement, to separate it from others. Listen, is it so important to come tomorrow? - I'll go, finally, I’ll figure it out. - According to employees, it has long been necessary to change the interior of the office.
Punctuation in compound sentences
As for complex sentences, setting a comma between their parts is always necessary. Complicated subjects are easier because they are difficult to confuse with any others. What is their punctuation (Grade 5 is already the time when the topic is being studied)? Here are some examples.
- I want you to move to a new apartment as soon as possible.
- She knows where all the mushrooms are hiding in the forest.
- Katerina, as soon as the first birds began to sing, got out of bed and took care of the household.
Punctuation in compound sentences
It is much more difficult to define a complex sentence. Most often it is confused with a simple one, which has homogeneous predicates in its composition. It is very important to highlight the grammatical basis and understand how many of them.
Let's look at two examples. Swallows flew around the house and painted bizarre figures in the air. - Swallows flew around the house, and those present looked with admiration at their bizarre aerial figures. The first sentence is simple, in it homogeneous predicates flew, wrote out connected by a union, and therefore a comma is not needed. The second example is a compound sentence, there are two grammatical foundations: swallows flew, those present watched. A comma before and is necessary.
Punctuation in unionless compound sentences
Inside a complex sentence, there may be a union-free connection. In this case, a comma, a dash or a colon is most often set, less often a semicolon. We will analyze such cases. We note immediately that a lot depends on the intonation and the general meaning of the sentence.
The library was closed, all the staff had already gone home. - The library was closed - all the staff went home. - All employees went home: the library was closed.
- If the usual enumeration of a certain sequence of actions takes place, a comma will be put (the first example).
- When the second part points to the corollary of the first, it is necessary to put a dash (second sentence).
- To reveal the contents of the first part in more detail, a colon (last sentence) is used.
The semicolon is less common. Its use is necessary when in the simple parts there are many complicating elements (they are very common).
The library, located in the park, closed to keep a record of books; employees stayed to work overtime.
Here in the first part is not only the sacrament involved, but also this block is a complex sentence. You must use a semicolon.