When is a semicolon in a sentence? The answer to this question is not as simple as it might seem. Russian grammar is considered one of the most difficult just because of such rules. In this article we will try to answer the question posed and consider all possible options for the statement in the sentence of this punctuation mark.
Semicolon: Rules
Such a punctuation mark is placed between two or more independent sentences, which are interconnected into one without auxiliary unions. At the same time, the probability of setting a semicolon increases if these sentences are widespread and have commas inside.
Examples:
"In the meantime, tea was drunk; long-harnessed horses froze in the cold; a month faded flickering in the west and prepared to plunge into gloomy clouds sitting on distant mountains, like pieces of a torn curtain."
"Around everything froze in an autumn dream; through the gray haze wide fields can hardly be seen under the mountains; they were cut by the Volga, spread through it and melted in the fog."
When is a semicolon put in compound sentences?
Complicated (MSS) are sentences related to each other through a compositional connection. The parts that make up such proposals are considered equal, that is, independent of each other.
So, we found out which sentences are called complex. But in what cases do you need to put a semicolon? So, this punctuation mark is appropriate in the following cases.
Firstly, if the independent proposals that are part of the MTP are connected by the unions “however”, “but”, “nonetheless”, “nevertheless”, etc.
Examples:
"I had only blue paint; but, despite this fact, I decided to portray the autumn hunt."
"It would seem that she had absolutely no need to go to him, and he himself was not very happy with her; however, she came and stayed with him for weeks, and sometimes much more."
Note! Before the union "a", our punctuation mark is placed only if the sentences that it combines are inside a few commas and are significantly widespread.
Example:
"It seemed to me that he began to cry; but you need to tell you that Vitka was a stubborn boy, and, sometimes, you couldn’t beat away tears from him, even when he was younger."
Secondly, if it were possible to put an end between the proposals that make up the BSC, if they were not connected by the unions “yes” (meaning “and”) and “and”.
Example:
"She read the book, thinking about what she was reading, pausing to listen to Nina Arkadyevna, who was chatting tirelessly; and at the same time, various pictures of her future life together and her household without any connection seemed to her inner gaze."
Offers with common homogeneous members
Now let's talk about when a semicolon is placed in a sentence with common homogeneous members. Typically, such punctuation marks are used when homogeneous members within themselves have one or more commas.
Example:
“In the darkness all the same vague outlines of objects were vaguely presented: in the distance a blue-black wall, the same spots on it; next to me is the croup of a horse, which, waving its tail, opened its mouth wide; the horse’s back in a white Circassian coat, on which was a whitish pistol head in a makeshift holster and a rifle in a dark case swayed; a light of cigarettes illuminating a reddish mustache, a beaver collar and a hand in a leather glove. ” (L. N. Tolstoy).
“People were here from the villages and from the farms and the city, detained on suspicion that they were Soviet workers, partisans, communists, Komsomol members; people who insulted German uniforms with a word or deed; people hiding their Jewish roots; people arrested for not having documents, and simply because they are people. ” (A.A. Fadeev).
Complicated sentences
Even when a semicolon is placed in a sentence? This punctuation mark is placed between the subordinate (common), if they are not connected by a union, and they are subordinated to one main thing. This rule becomes mandatory if there are other subordinate clauses within clauses.
Example:
“The difference is that, instead of the violent will that united them at school, they independently threw their mothers and fathers and fled from the fathers of their homes; that there were those who already had a rope around their necks and who, instead of a gloomy death, saw real life, and life in all their unbridled revelry; that there were those who, according to a long and noble custom, could not keep a penny in their pocket. ” (N.V. Gogol).
Specifying Boundaries between Sentences
We continue to describe cases when a semicolon is put in the sentence. If the semantic component requires that the reader accurately sees the boundary between the group of sentences and individual sentences, a semicolon is placed between:
- several independent proposals;
- several subordinate sentences related to a single main thing.
Example:
“There were a lot of crows in that garden, their nests covered the tops of trees, they circled around them and croaked loudly; sometimes, especially in the evening, they took off in hundreds, raising others and making noise; sometimes one of them will fly overnight from one tree to another, and everything will quiet down again. ” (A.I. Herzen).
Transfers
We examined in which sentences the semicolon is put, now let's talk about transfers.
Our punctuation mark is placed after the listing headings. But only if these sections can not be independent proposals, but at the same time they are quite common, and any other punctuation marks have already been put inside them.
Example:
“Because of the use of mines, the following requirements were made against them:
- so that a mine accidentally detached and freely floating on the surface of the water could not harm the vessel passing by it;
- so that at the time of installation of the barriers mines do not emerge, thus indicating to the enemy the place of the barrage;
- increased safety when installing mines (Academician Krylov).
Thus, a semicolon can be placed both in complex sentences and when listing something.