Where is the correct place to put commas? Comma or colon? Commas are used in a simple sentence

You already know that union– this is an auxiliary part of speech, with the help of which a connection is drawn up between parts of sentences, individual sentences in a text, or between words in a simple sentence.

Union"HOW"very often requires the isolation of different syntactic structures.

To understand when to put a comma before a conjunction " HOW", and when not, look at the following examples.

Comma before the conjunction "HOW" is put

1. Commas highlight or separate phrases beginning with a conjunction"HOW"

1) if they denote assimilation , without other shades of meaning (" HOW" matters " like»).

For example: Below it is the Caucasus , like the edge of a diamond, shone with eternal snow. Her voice rang , like a bell. Her green eyes sparkled , like gooseberries. And he saw himself rich , like in a dream. (Krylov) His hands were shaking , like mercury. (Gogol) The air is clean and fresh , like kissing a child...(Lermontov) Like a seagull , the sail there is white in height.

Comparative phrases in our language not only convey similarities or differences, but also give beauty and expressiveness to the language.

The punctuation rule about the comparative phrase is not so complicated: it is always separated by commas on both sides.

For example: Down , like a mirror , the water glistened. Around the tall brow , like clouds , the curls turn black. (Pushkin) Below , like a steel mirror, The lake streams turn blue. (Tyutchev) Sparkled brightly in the sky , like a living eye , first star. (Goncharov) Anchar , like a menacing sentry, stands alone in the entire universe (A.S. Pushkin).

What are the difficulties and where do the mistakes come from?

First difficulty- insufficiently thoughtful attitude to the text. If you do not understand that the sentence is comparing something with something else, you will not notice the comparative phrase. Here's a simple conclusion: always try to understand the text you are writing down.

Second difficulty is that among comparisons there are syntactic “dwarfs” and syntactic “giants”. This is what “dwarf” comparisons can look like; they can be accidentally overlooked.

For example: I myself , like a beast , was alien to people and crawled and hid , like a snake(M. Yu. Lermontov).

And here’s what “giants” comparisons might look like: in front of them , like ocean waves petrified during a storm, mountain ranges stretched out.

What kind of trouble can be caused with such a proposal?

First, just forget to close the turn with a comma. This misfortune happens with all common phrases: having “caught” its beginning, many do not retain it in memory until the end - and then goodbye, second comma!

Secondly, without thinking about the meaning of the phrase, cut the “giant”, hastening to put a comma ahead of time, for example after the word petrified, and thereby turn the sentence into complete nonsense.

2) If there is an indicative word in the main part of the sentence so, so, so, so.

For example: The Lyceum gave Russia such people , like Pushkin, Pushchin, Delvig. The coachman was equally amazed at his generosity , like the Frenchman himself from Dubrovsky’s proposal. (Pushkin) Nowhere else at a mutual meeting do they bow so nobly and naturally , like on Nevsky Prospekt. (Gogol) His facial features were the same , just like my sister. (L. Tolstoy) Laevsky is certainly harmful and just as dangerous to society , like a cholera microbe... (Chekhov) Everything around is somehow churchy, and the oil smells as strong as in a church. (Bitter)

3) If the turnover begins with the combination like.

For example: Trees , just like people , have their own destiny. To Moscow , like the whole country, I feel my sonhood , like an old nanny(Paustovsky). In her eyes , as well as throughout the face, there was something unusual. Just like at last year's competitions, the athletes of the Russian Federation were ahead;

4) If union "HOW" included in the introductory sentence . The following expressions are most often used as introductory sentences:

As I remember now, how they spoke, how we learned, how some people think, as well as combinations like now, as one, as a rule, as an exception, as usual, as always, as before, as now, as now, as on purpose etc.

For example: It was , as you can guess, our heroine. Residents everyone is home, as one , poured out into the yard. I see , how now , the owner himself... (Pushkin) Classes have begun , as usual , at nine o'clock in the morning. I remember , like now , my first teacher at school. How on purpose , there was not a penny in my pocket. Commas , as a rule , stand out participial phrases. Spartakiad , as usual , takes place in the summer.

But! The indicated combinations are not separated by commas if they are part of the predicate or are closely related to it in meaning.

For example: Classes start as usual. Snowfalls occur in December as a rule (=usually). Yesterday went as usual(i.e. as usual);

5) in revolutions none other than and none other than; the same as and the same as.

For example: Rhine Falls in front nothing else , How low water ledge (Zhukovsky). But in front of her was none other , How traveling Aigle, a famous collector of legends, fairy tales, tales. It was none other , How Rylov.

2. If the application is with a union"HOW"has the meaning of causality, it is separated by commas.

For example: Like a true Frenchman, Triquet brought a verse to Tatyana (A.S. Pushkin) in his pocket. Why did he bring the verse to Tatyana? - like a true Frenchman.

If the application has no additional values, it is separated by a comma.

For example: Such a tool , like a screwdriver , always useful on the farm. Neither one nor the other question can be raised here.

3. B complex sentence when adding a subordinate clause:"HOW"acts as a subordinating conjunction and connects the subordinate clause with the main one.

For example: He sees , like a field father cleans up. Love jumped out in front of us , like it jumps out of the ground murderer, and amazed us both at once. I looked for a long time , how a candle burns.

(Reminder: how to distinguish a complex sentence from a complex sentence? In a complex sentence, you can ask a question from one part of the sentence to another. Using the example above: " I looked for a long time- for what? - how the candle burns". In complex sentences, the parts are equal).

Comma before conjunction"HOW" not placed

1. Turnovers with a union"HOW"are not separated by commas

1) If the meaning of the circumstance of the course of action comes to the fore in circulation (to the question How?); Usually such phrases can be replaced by the instrumental case of a noun or an adverb.

For example: Buckshot rained down like hail.(Lermontov) (Compare: rained down like hail .) Dreams disappeared like smoke. (Lermontov) Like a demon is insidious and evil(Lermontov) (Compare: demonically insidious.)

The ring burns like heat.(Nekrasov) In anger, he thundered like thunder and sparkled like steel. The horse flies like a snowstorm, like a blizzard hurries. They flared like lightning in the sky, like fiery rain fell from the sky.

2) If the main meaning of the phrase is equating or identifying.

For example: ...You loved me as property, as a source of joy, worries and sorrows...(Lermontov) (Compare: ...loved me, considering me his property.) …He[Judas] handed over his stone as the only one what he could give(Saltykov-Shchedrin);

3) If union "HOW"has the meaning "as" or turnover with the union "HOW" (application) characterizes an object from any one aspect.

For example: Rich, good-looking, Lensky was accepted everywhere as a groom. (Pushkin) I speak like a writer. (Gorky) My ignorance of the language and silence was interpreted as diplomatic silence. (Mayakovsky) We know India as a country ancient culture . The public appreciated the early Chekhov as a subtle humorist. We know Lermontov more as a poet and prose writer and less as a playwright. I will keep this letter as a memory. Yuri Gagarin made history as the world's first astronaut. The environmental issue arises as the main question of today.

4) If the turnover forms the nominal part of the compound predicate or the meaning is closely related to the predicate (usually in these cases the predicate does not have a complete meaning without a comparative phrase).

For example: Some are like emerald, others are like coral. (Krylov) She herself walked like wild. (Goncharov) I became like a child in soul. (Turgenev) Father and mother are like strangers to her. (Dobrolyubov) I watched how. (Arsenyev)

She behaves like a mistress.(If we take the predicate “ holds on» without turnover « like a mistress", then it turns out " she's holding on", and you might think that she is holding on to something.)

Compare also: to feel as if in one’s own element, behaves as if insane, to understand as a hint, to perceive as praise, to recognize as danger, to look at as a child, to greet as a friend, to evaluate as an achievement, to consider as an exception, to take for granted, to present as a fact, to qualify as a violation of the law, mark as great success, interest as a novelty, put forward as a project, justify as a theory, accept as inevitable, develop as a tradition, express as a proposal, interpret as a reluctance to take part, define as a case stand-alone application, characterize as a type, stand out as a talent, design as official document, used as a phraseological turn, sound like a call, enter like component, appear as a representative, feel like a foreign body, exist as an independent organization, arise as something unexpected, develop as a progressive idea, complete as an urgent task etc.;

5) If comparative phrase is preceded by negation Not or words completely, completely, almost, like, exactly, exactly, directly, simply etc.

For example: I cultivated in myself this feeling of holiday not as rest and simply a means for further struggle, but as a desired goal, the completion of the highest creativity of life. (Prishvin) It was almost as bright as day. Children sometimes think just like adults. The girl's hair curls exactly like her mother's. The newspaper was not published as always. He just like a child.

6) If turnover has the character of a stable combination .

We have come to the very interesting case- To phraseological units. Our speech is permeated with phraseological units. These are stable phrases, colored with irony, cunning, and slyness.

For example: I need a fifth leg like a dog, it will help like a poultice for a dead person.

Phraseologisms bring into our speech not only imagery, but also mischief and a smile. And what is very important is that they do not require a comma before the conjunction" HOW"!

For example: He's everywhere felt at home. Brother and sister similar as two peas in a pod. At the lion's It was like a mountain had been lifted off my shoulders.(Krylov) Tell the doctor to bandage his wound and took care of him like the apple of his eye. (Pushkin) The young couple were happy, and their life flowed like clockwork. (Chekhov)

There are no strict grammatical rules to help distinguish phraseological units from ordinary comparative phrases. You just need to be able to “recognize when you meet” as many phraseological units as possible.

Among the stable phrases that are not separated by commas, there are also “dwarfs”: works like an ox(or like a horse), tired or hungry as a dog, stupid as a plug, white as a harrier, mad, crazy, rooted to the spot etc. There is no comma before " HOW"in combinations no how no And right there. A phrase of impressive size is not separated by commas either. as if nothing had happened.

Compare also: white as a harrier, white as a sheet, white as snow, pale as death, shines like a mirror, the disease is gone, feared like fire, wanders like a restless person, rushed like crazy, mumbles like a sexton, ran in like crazy, spins like a squirrel in a wheel , squeals like a pig, I see like in the daytime, everything is as if on selection, jumped up as if stung, looked like a wolf, stupid as a cork, naked like a falcon, hungry like a wolf, as far as the sky from the earth, trembling as if in a fever, trembling like an aspen leaf, he's like water off a duck's back, waiting like manna from heaven, fell asleep like the dead, healthy as an ox, knows like the back of his hand, walks next to him like a man sewn, rolled like cheese in butter, sways like a drunk, swayed like jelly, red as a lobster, strong like an oak tree, screams like a catechumen, flies like an arrow, beats like Sidorov's goat, bald as a knee, pours like a bucket, waves his arms like a mill, rushes about like a madman, wet like a mouse, gloomy like a cloud, people like herrings in a barrel, not to be seen like your ears, dumb as a grave, running around like crazy, needed like air, stopped dead in your tracks, remained like a stranded lobster, sharp as a razor, different as heaven from earth, turned white as a sheet, repeated as if in delirium, you'll go like a dear, remember what was the name, hit like a butt on the head, looked like two peas in a pod, sank like a stone, loyal like a dog, stuck like a bath leaf, fell through the ground, disappeared as if sank into water, just like a knife to the heart, burned like in fire, dissipated like smoke, grew like mushrooms after rain, fell out of the blue, fresh as blood and milk, fresh as a cucumber, sat as if on needles, sat as if on coals, sat as if chained, listened as if spellbound, looked as if enchanted, slept like the dead, slender like a cypress, hard as a stone, dark as night, skinny like a skeleton, cowardly like a hare, died like a hero, fell like a man knocked down, rested like a ram, stubborn like a donkey, tired like a dog, whipped like a bucket, walked like being submerged in water, cold as ice, black as hell, feeling at home, staggering like a drunk, walking as if to execution etc.

2. In addition, the word "HOW" can be part of a compound union both... and... or because, as well as revolutions since, since, as much as possible, as little as possible or more. In such cases, a comma is placed either before " HOW", or before the whole complex union.

For example: He has excellent grades in both Russian and mathematics. This topic is touched upon in both poetry and prose. Both children and adults love fairy tales. Avoid empty speeches, as their outcome is repentance.

He finished the story as they reached the place. Larisa worked in a hairdresser while Ivan was finishing college.

Since the eternal judge
He gave me the omniscience of a prophet,
I read in people's eyes
Pages of malice and vice.
(M. Yu. Lermontov)

3. In a complex sentence with homogeneous subordinate clauses after coordinating conjunctions.

For example: It’s nice to listen in a warm room to how angry the wind is and how the taiga groans.

4. Union"HOW" can be present in a sentence without attaching absolutely any semantic-syntactic block, but only as a means of expressiveness of speech.

For example: We have worked hard; I tried not to be separated from my friends as long as possible; The weight of the luggage seemed to lessen; I was just about to go to the skating rink etc.

First, let’s be clear: the conjunction itself and (as, indeed, other conjunctions) are not a reason for the inclusion or absence of a comma.

For some reason, some people firmly believe: before the union And There is no comma. And therefore they skip it everywhere: both with homogeneous members and in complex sentences. I have also encountered the opposite opinion: people who once heard about placing a comma between simple sentences in complex sentences began to put it everywhere - even where it was not required at all.

Fortunately, punctuation is based on rules, not opinions. Fortunately - because otherwise we, like builders Tower of Babel, would cease to understand each other. Let us at least remember the notorious “execution cannot be pardoned”…

Generalized rules for placing or not using a comma before And can be represented in the form of a diagram like this. Figure it out. ?

And now a little theory.

When to use a comma before a conjunction And?

Comma before And necessary between parts of a complex sentence. In this case, it separates one simple sentence from another, one thought from another, that is, its formulation is quite natural from the point of view of logic. At the same time, the union And can be either single or repeating.

There was a storm coming And clouds covered the sky.

AND the storm was approaching And clouds covered the sky.

You need to put a comma before the conjunction And between parts of a complex sentence– in the event that the conjunction is repeated:

I remember how the storm was coming And how the clouds covered the sky, And as it grew darker.

Comma before And can also be placed in simple sentence– if the conjunction is used with homogeneous terms and at the same time repeats itself:

AND in winter, And in spring, And Our garden is beautiful in summer.

When to not use a comma before a conjunction And?

No comma needed before And with homogeneous terms, if the union is single:

In summer And In spring our garden is especially beautiful.

A comma is also not used when homogeneous members are arranged in pairs:

In summer And spring, autumn And Our garden is good in winter.

In such cases, commas separate pairs of homogeneous members.

In a complex sentence- complex and complex - situations are possible when a comma before And not installed.

A comma is not required in a complex sentence if there is a minor member common to its two parts:

Yesterday a thunderstorm was approaching And clouds covered the sky.

The same logic applies in cases where both parts of a complex sentence apply one introductory word or sentence.

Unfortunately , a storm was approaching And clouds covered the sky.

As eyewitnesses say, a thunderstorm was approaching And clouds covered the sky.

There is no need to put a comma in a complex sentence if there is a question or exclamation mark:

Who is this man And where did he come from ?

Connected by a conjunction are not separated by a comma And one-piece impersonal and nominal sentences, if there are two of them:

Must be on time And you need to prepare everything in advance.

Freezing And Sun.

There is no comma in complex incentive sentence, consisting of two simple ones:

Let summer come soon And the holidays will begin.

Complex sentences do not need a comma with homogeneous subordination, that is, when two subordinate clauses refer to one main part (from one main clause you can ask a question to two subordinate clauses):

I remember as the storm was approaching And how the clouds covered the sky.

However, there is a condition: the union should not be repeated.

We know Russian: the insidious comma - when to put it

You often read news and large serious materials from reputable, respected publications on the Internet and catch yourself thinking: who is the author of these illiterate lines, where did they study, who taught them to use written Russian so ineptly. In addition to spelling, in which, unfortunately, even specialist philologists make mistakes, many errors in syntax and punctuation began to be found in the texts of would-be journalists.

Simply put, the question of where to put a comma, whether it is needed here or not, and if it is needed, then why, causes enormous difficulties for most writers. One gets the impression that they did not study this section of the Russian language either at school or at university, and they put punctuation marks where there is a pause in the language - that’s where they try to “stick” their “hook”. But in language, not everything is so simple - it has its own rules. MIR 24 decided to recall some of the punctuation features of the Russian language.

Punctuation refers to the system of punctuation marks in a written language, the rules for their placement in written speech, as well as the section of grammar that studies these rules. Punctuation makes the syntactic and intonation structure of speech clear, highlighting individual sentences and members of sentences. This greatly facilitates oral reproduction of what has been written.

The comma (along with the colon and dash) is the most complex sign punctuation. In order to understand whether a given sentence uses a comma, you need to remember a few simple rules. In writing, this sign is used to highlight and isolate participial and participial phrases, definitions, isolations, addresses, interjections, interjections, clarifications and, of course, introductory words.

Also, a comma is used to separate between direct and indirect speech, between parts of a complex, complex and compound sentence, homogeneous members of a sentence.

This punctuation mark is used either singly or in pairs. Single commas serve to divide a whole sentence into parts, separating these parts by marking their boundaries. For example, in a complex sentence it is necessary to separate two simple parts, and in a simple one - homogeneous members of the sentence that are used in the listing. Paired commas highlight independent part sentences, marking the boundaries on both sides. On both sides, participial and adverbial phrases, introductory words, and addresses in the middle of a sentence are most often distinguished. To understand where commas are placed, remember a few rules.

The main thing is the meaning

The most important thing is to understand the meaning of the sentence to understand the meaning of the sentence. One of the functions of punctuation marks is to convey correct semantics. If a comma is placed in the wrong place, the meaning is instantly distorted and a comic effect appears. For example: “Yesterday I entertained my sister, who was sick, playing the guitar.”

To highlight an independent part of a sentence, you need to read the sentence without this part. If the meaning of the sentence is clear, then the removed part is independent. As a rule, commas are always used to highlight adverbial phrases, introductory sentences and words. For example: “The other day it became known that a friend of mine, returning from vacation, forgot her phone in the train car.” If we remove from this sentence participial phrase, then its meaning will remain almost unchanged: “The other day it became known that a friend of mine forgot her phone in the train car.”

However, there are cases when the gerund adjoins the predicate and in its meaning becomes similar to an adverb. In such cases, single participles are not separated by commas. “Why, sir, are you crying? Live your life laughing” (A.S. Griboyedov). If the gerund participle is removed from this sentence, it will become incomprehensible.

Insidious treatment

Addresses are always separated by commas in sentences. If it is in the middle or end of a sentence, it is not very easy to identify. For example: Tell me, boy, how far is it to the city? You are wrong, wife, when you say that Lionel Messi is not a football genius. Well, haven’t you noticed, sister, that the clock hanging on the wall has stopped?”

In almost all cases a comma is used if we're talking about about comparative turnover. It is easy to find in a sentence, mainly thanks to conjunctions as if, exactly, as, as if, as, rather than than, etc. However, there are exceptions. Comparative phrases are not highlighted if they are phraseological units. For example: It was as if he had disappeared into the ground. It rains cats and dogs and so on.

Between homogeneous members

Between homogeneous members a comma is used, but not always. A comma is necessary for conjunctions such as a, yes, but, but, however. Also, a comma is needed between homogeneous members that are connected by repeating conjunctions (and ... and, or ... or, not that ... not that, either ... or). There is no need to put a comma between homogeneous members that are connected by single conjunctions yes, and, either, or. In addition, repeating conjunctions before homogeneous members of the sentence will help determine where commas are placed.

Difficulties arise when homogeneous and heterogeneous definitions come across. Between homogeneous definitions comma is necessary. For example: interesting, fascinating book. At heterogeneous definitions There is no need to put a comma: interesting philosophical novel. The word “interesting” expresses the impression in this phrase, and “philosophical” means that the novel belongs to a certain genre.

Boundaries of simple sentences

In complex sentences before coordinating conjunctions a comma is added. These are unions like and, yes, or, either, yes and. The main thing here is to correctly determine where one simple sentence ends and another begins. To do this, you need to find a grammatical basis in each of them (subjects and predicates) or divide a complex sentence according to its meaning.

Defined word in participial phrase

A comma is placed in sentences with a participial phrase, but also not always. The main thing here is to remember that participles are separated only if they appear after the word they define. The word being defined is the one from which the question is asked to the participial phrase. For example: The bus standing at the bus stop broke down. If this does not happen, a comma is not needed: The bus standing at the stop has broken down.

A comma is always placed before contrastive conjunctions - but, yeah, uh.

Oh those interjections

Affirmative, interrogative, negative words, as well as interjections, require commas. There is always a comma after the interjection: « Competent speech, alas, these days it’s very rare.”. But not everything is so simple here. The interjection must be distinguished from particles such as oh, ah, well– they are used for reinforcement, as well as particles O, used when addressing. “What are you like!”, “Oh, close your pale legs!” (V. Brusov).

Here, of course, everything is very schematic and brief - Russian punctuation is much more complex and richer. But even these tips, I hope, will help you write correctly and put commas where they are justified by the rules, and not use them where they are not needed. I wish you success in mastering the “great and mighty” and remind you:

How to pronounce, speak and write correctly - the “We Know Russian” program will test your knowledge and teach you. New season on air on the MIR TV channel from September 3. The program will air on button 18 on Sundays at 7:20.

Every week, TV viewers will be able to learn new and interesting facts about the “great and mighty.” The program will continue to be hosted by the charismatic Sergei Fedorov, who promises to fill the program not only with intelligence, but also with sparkling humor.

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Placing a comma before the conjunction HOW

A comma is placed before the conjunction HOW in three cases:

1. If this conjunction is included in phrases that are close in their role in the sentence to the introductory words, for example: AS A RULE, AS AN EXCEPTION, AS A CONSEQUENCE, AS ALWAYS, AS NOW, AS ON PURPOSE, AS FOR EXAMPLE, AS NOW: In the morning, as if on purpose, it started to rain;

2. If this conjunction connects parts of a complex sentence, for example: We watched for a long time as the coals of the fire smoldered;

3. If the sentence contains a circumstance expressed by a comparative phrase that begins with the conjunction HOW, for example: Her voice rang like the smallest bell;

Please note: if the sentence continues after the phrase with the conjunction HOW, then you need to put another comma at the end of the clause. For example: Below, the water shone like a mirror; We watched for a long time as the coals of the fire smoldered, unable to tear ourselves away from this spectacle.

The phrases with the conjunction HOW are not isolated in five cases:

1. If the phrase with the conjunction HOW in a sentence acts as an adverbial circumstance of the course of action, for example: The path twisted like a snake. In such cases, the phrase with HOW can be replaced with an adverb (IN SNAKE) or a noun in the instrumental case (SNAKE). Unfortunately, the circumstances of the course of action cannot always be distinguished with complete confidence from the circumstances of comparison.

2. If the phrase with the conjunction HOW is part of a phraseological unit, for example: During lunch she sat as if on pins and needles;

3. If a phrase with the conjunction HOW is part of the predicate and a sentence without such a phrase does not have a complete meaning, for example: She behaves like a mistress;

4. If the conjunction HOW stands between the subject and the predicate (without this conjunction a dash would have to be placed there), for example: The lake is like a mirror;

5. If the comparative phrase is preceded by the negation NOT or the particle AT ALL, COMPLETELY, ALMOST, LIKE, EXACTLY, EXACTLY, SIMPLY, for example: They don't do everything like neighbors or Her hair is curly just like her mother's;

In addition, we must remember that the word HOW can be part of the compound conjunction AS... SO AND... or SO AS, as well as phrases SINCE AS, SINCE TIME AS, AS LESS (MORE) POSSIBLE, etc. In this case, naturally, a comma is not placed before HOW, for example: All the windows, both in the manor's house and in the servants' rooms, are wide open.(Saltykov-Shchedrin). He didn’t take cutlets with him for breakfast and now he regretted it, since he was already hungry(According to Chekhov).

Comma before "and"

We put and do not put a comma before “and” in several cases

Between two simple sentences, a comma is usually placed before "and".

Examples: It was a windy day and it was raining. (It was a day, it was raining)

There is no comma before “and” between two simple sentences if there is a common word.

Examples: Yesterday it was a windy day and it was raining. (The general word is yesterday)

A comma before “and” is also not written in an exclamatory or interrogative sentence.

Examples: Was it really a windy day and was it raining?

Between two simple sentences, a comma is placed before “and”.
We do not write a comma in 2 cases:
Common element.
Exclamation, interrogative.

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Comma before the conjunction and: to put or not to put?

We all remember well from school that in sentences before conjunctions A And But A comma is always used, and it does not matter whether the sentence is complex or simple with homogeneous members. With the union And everything is much more complicated. Let's try to figure it out.

In the very general view the rule looks like this: simple in sentences with homogeneous members, a comma before And not placed, if this union single: I remember the dacha And swing… If union and repeats itself, comma is put between homogeneous members before the union: I remember the dacha And swing, And bonfire over the river... In complex(complex) sentence with a comma before the conjunction And, as a rule, is put: I remember the dacha And I still remember my childhood swing...

Thus, we summarize: in a complex sentence between its parts before the conjunction And a comma is placed; in a sentence with homogeneous members it is placed if the conjunction And repeats itself. To avoid mistakes, it is enough to correctly determine which sentence we have in front of us - a simple one with homogeneous members or a complex, complex one. To do this, you need to look at how many grammatical bases there are in the sentence (the grammatical base is the subject and the predicate). If one is a simple sentence, two or more are complex. In our examples in the sentence I remember the dacha and the swing... one subject - I, and one predicate - I remember, that is, one grammatical basis, which means the sentence is simple ( dacha And swing- homogeneous additions). In a sentence I remember the dacha, and my childhood swing remains in my memory... two grammatical bases ( I remember; the swing remains in my memory), which means the sentence is complex.

Let's go back to compound proposal. In what cases is there a comma before And in it not placed? There are several such cases, namely:

1) If parts compound sentence united somehow general element: a common minor member, a common introductory word, phrase, sentence or general subordinate clause:

This morning the wind died down And . (Complex sentence, This morning- common minor term for both parts; comma before And is not placed.)

When dawn broke, the wind died down And the long-awaited silence came. (Offer with different types communications; for parts 2 and 3, which are connected by a coordinating connection, subordinate clause When it dawned is common, meaning a comma before And is not placed.)

2) If each part of a complex sentence is an interrogative, imperative or exclamatory sentence:

What is this show about? And Who is it intended for?(Parts - interrogative sentences. Compare: What is this program talking about? Who is it intended for?)

How beautiful is this picture And it brings back so many memories!(Parts are declarative exclamatory sentences.)

Violinist, play And rejoice, people!(Parts are exclamatory sentences.)

3) If the parts of a complex sentence are nominal or impersonal sentences:

Summer evening And slight coolness.(Parts are denominative sentences.)

The house is flooded And It's warm on the veranda.(Parts are impersonal sentences.)

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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 constructed and structured, what meanings appear and disappear if the comma is placed incorrectly. Of course, in a short article it is impossible to describe in what cases a comma is used and list absolutely everything; we will focus only on the most common and simple ones.

Enumeration and homogeneous members

Correct placement 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 conjunction “and” between homogeneous members of the sentence. The rule here is simple: if the conjunction is single, a comma is not needed:

I love dogs, cats and horses.

If there is more than one conjunction, then a comma is placed before the second conjunction and further:

I love dogs, cats, and horses.

Otherwise, a comma is placed before the conjunction “a”. The rule dictates the placement of the sign in any case and also applies to the conjunction “but” and the conjunction “yes” in the meaning of “but”:

My neighbor doesn't like dogs, but cats.

Cats love cautious people, but avoid noisy and angry people.

Definition with personal pronoun

Difficulties with where a comma is needed also arise when it comes to definition. However, everything is simple here too.

If a single adjective refers to a personal pronoun, it is separated by a comma:

Satisfied, she entered the room and showed the purchase.

I saw this dog then. She, joyful, wagged her tail, trembled and jumped on her owner all the time.

Separate definition

If you are memorizing the rules about when to use a comma, then the third point should be a separate definition.

Under separate definition it is implied 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 a store with tents and lanterns.

The cat, who had barely waited for the treat, was now purring and looking affectionately at its owner.

A boy who has read books about travel will never pass indifferently past a travel agency or a store with tents and lanterns.

The cat, which had barely waited for the treat, was now purring and looking affectionately at its owner.

Special circumstances

Commas in both simple and complex sentences separate a single gerund and a participial phrase:

The cat purred and lay down on my lap.

The dog, after growling, calmed down and let us talk.

After making a number of comments 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 could potentially be expanded into a sentence:

This artist, of course, won the hearts of all his contemporaries.

Natasha doesn't seem to have any intention of taking care of her father.

Leonid, apparently, does not suspect why there are people around him lately so many people showed up.

Appeals

If there is an address in the sentence, and it is not a pronoun, then it must be separated by commas on both sides.

Hello, dear Leo!

Goodbye, Lidiya Borisovna.

Do you know, Masha, what I want to tell you?

Linda, come to me!

Unfortunately, ignorance of in what cases a comma is used when addressing, often leads to illiterate formatting business letters. Among these errors are the omission of a comma when addressing, and the insertion of an extra comma when pronouncing:

Good afternoon Pavel Evgenievich!(Need to: Good afternoon, Pavel Evgenievich!)

Svetlana Borisovna, we have also prepared our new samples for you. ( Need to : Svetlana Borisovna, we have also prepared our new samples for you.)

How do you think it is advisable to conclude this agreement? ( Need to : Do you think it is advisable to conclude this agreement?)

Comma in a complex sentence

In general, all the rules regarding the cases in which 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 has come, the sun is shining, sparrows are fussing, children are running around triumphantly.

They bought him a new computer because the old one could no longer work due to the small amount of memory and incompatibility with new programs.

What else can you do if not 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 a 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 complex 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 perked up.

Wed: Spring has come, the birds have flown in, and our company has somehow become more lively.

This word can be not only at the very beginning of a sentence:

We will go to this meeting only as a last resort, only if all the conditions are agreed upon 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 got down to the most important thing: he was making a gift for his mother.

The dog no longer wanted to go for walks: the owners had so intimidated her with training that it was easier to sit under the table.

Sentences containing "how"

Many mistakes 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:

The aspen leaf, like a butterfly, rose higher and higher.

The second meaning is an indication of identity. In such cases, the phrase with “how” is not separated by commas:

The butterfly as an insect is of little interest to people who are accustomed to seeing animals as a source of warmth and communication.

Therefore the sentence: " I, like your mother, will not allow you to 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 "mom" are the same thing), so there is no need for commas.

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 allow you to ruin your life.

If “how” is part of the predicate, the comma is also omitted:

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?

Special features of sentences will help you pay attention to when a comma is used. However, you should not trust them too much.

So, for example, this primarily concerns whether a comma is placed before “so that.” The rule seems to be unambiguous: “A comma is always placed before “so that”.” However, any rule should not be taken too literally. For example, a sentence with "so" could be:

He wanted to talk to her to find out the truth and to talk about how he lived his life.

As you can see, the rule works here, but the second “so” does not require a comma. However, this error is quite common:

We went to the store just to study the prices and to see what we could buy for lunch in this city.

Right : We went to the store just to study the prices and to see what we could buy for lunch in this city.

The same goes for the word “how”. It was already said above that, firstly, the word has two meanings, and secondly, it can be part of different members sentences, so you should not trust the common formulation “There is always a comma before “as”.”

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 his brushes and went to paint.

The jackdaws and crows flocked in, but the titmice were still missing.

Such formal signs should rather be treated as potentially “dangerous” places. Words like “so that”, “what would”, “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 placing commas, you should rather focus not on the “rules”, but on the meaning of 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.). The rules only specify each case. This even applies to the formula “you need a comma before “to”.” This rule actually specifies general principle punctuation In general, of course, when writing you need to think!

I already told you about three rules comma placements. Today I will remind you about other punctuation rules. Maybe someone will learn something new for themselves!

So, where and when is a comma placed?

4. A comma is always placed before conjunctions a, but, then, yes (meaning “but”)

We always put a comma before conjunctions a, but, but, yes (meaning “but”)

5. Commas separate homogeneous members of a sentence

Homogeneous members of the sentence answer the same question, refer to one member of the sentence and perform the same syntactic function. Between each other connected by a coordinating or non-conjunctive syntactic connection.

Comma between homogeneous members of a sentence

Homogeneous members of the sentence characterize an object on one side.

Red, yellow, blue flowers decorated the meadow (color).

Bloomed in the front garden big red ones tulips (large - size, red - color). This heterogeneous members of a sentence, you cannot put the conjunction “and” between them, so we don’t put a comma.

♦ No comma in integral phraseological combinations with repeated conjunctions and... and, neither... nor(they connect words with opposing meanings): day and night, old and young, laughter and grief, here and there, this and that, here and there...

♦ No comma with paired combinations of words, when there is no third option: both husband and wife, and earth and sky.

Love is when you want to sing day and night. No fee or manager.
Frank Sinatra

6. A comma separates two or more simple sentences within one complex sentence.

These suggestions could be:

A) Non-union.

Hatred does not solve any problems, it only creates them.
Frank Sinatra

Here are two sentences: 1. Hate does not solve any problems. 2. She only creates them.

B) Compound (sentences with coordinating conjunctions a, but, and...).

The more unusual something is, the simpler it appears, and only the wise can understand its meaning.
Paulo Coelho "The Alchemist"

Here are two sentences connected by the conjunction “and”: 1. The more unusual something is, the simpler it looks. 2. Only the wise can understand its meaning.

To avoid mistakes in punctuation, always try to break down complex sentences into simple ones.

Important! A comma is not used if the sentences have a common member or a common subordinate clause.

By nightfall the rain stopped and it became quieter.

By nightfall the rain stopped.

By night it became quieter.

By nightfall - a common member.

7. A comma separates the main and subordinate clauses in complex sentences.

The subordinate clause is added to the main one:

Subordinating conjunctions(what, so that, as if, since, because, than that...):

Comma between allied words

Union words(who, which, whose, how many, where, when, why...). Conjunctive words are members subordinate clauses(including may be subject):

If the subordinate clause is inside the main one, then it is separated by commas on both sides.

Life doesn’t always give you a second try; it’s better to accept the gifts it gives you.
Paulo Coelho "Eleven Minutes"

8. Comma for complex subordinating conjunctions

A. The comma is placed once if there are conjunctions: thanks to the fact that; due to the fact that; due to the fact that; due to the fact that; because; because; instead of; in order to; in order to; while; after; before; since; just like others.

B. However depending on the meaning, a complex union can be divided into two parts: the first is part of the main sentence, and the second serves as a conjunction. In these cases, a comma is placed only before the second part of the combination.

Comma for complex subordinating conjunctions

IN. The comma is not used in irreducible combinations: do it properly (as it should, as it should), do it as it should (as it should, as it should), grab whatever comes along, appear as if nothing had happened, etc.

This general rules placement of commas in sentences with subordinating conjunctions, but there are particulars that require special attention (the conjunction “despite the fact that”, two conjunctions in a row, etc.).

9. Participles, participial phrases, adjectives with dependent words and applications are highlighted with a comma

A comma is placed between participial phrases

Sometimes commas highlight not only participial phrases and adjectives with dependent words, but also single participles and adjectives.

Only small children, street children, are left without a caretaker.
Ilya Ilf, Evgeny Petrov “Twelve Chairs”

Participles and adverbial phrases are set off with a comma

Participles are set off with a comma

♦ If the participial phrase has turned into stable expression(phraseologism), no commas are used.

He said with his hand on his heart. He ran headlong. He worked carelessly (rolling up his sleeves).

Not separated by commas and gerunds that turned into adverbs (joking, lying down, silently, reluctantly, slowly, standing, etc.).

He got up reluctantly; walked slowly; I read while lying down.

10. Comparative phrases are highlighted with a comma

They are joined by conjunctions: as, as if, exactly, as if, as if, that, rather than, etc.

Comparative phrases are highlighted with a comma

Is there a comma before “or”? You will find the answer to this question in the materials of this article. In addition, you will learn whether to use commas before “what” and “how”.

General information

Surely you know that a union is called service part speech. Thanks to it, the connection between individual sentences in the text, its parts or words is formed. However, not everyone knows when a comma is placed in front of them and when not. In order to master this information, we present to your attention a few basic rules.

When is a comma placed before “or” and when not?

The conjunction "or" is a disjunctive conjunction. Sometimes it is preceded by a comma, and sometimes not. Let's look at both cases in more detail:

Now you know when a comma is placed before “or” and when it is not. The presented rules will help you correctly compose a letter or any text.

Other unions

It should be especially noted that problems with punctuation arise not only when using the conjunction “or”, but also when using the words “what” and “how”. Let's consider these cases in more detail.

When should you not use a comma before "what"?

When is a comma used?

When should you put a comma before "as"?

A comma is placed before “how” in 3 cases:

1. If this conjunction is included in expressions that in their role are close to as a rule, as a consequence, as an exception, as now, as always, as now, as on purpose, as for example. Let's give an example: “In the evening, as if on purpose, a snowstorm began,” “This, as a rule, does not happen very often,” “He, as always, was late for the meeting.”
2. If all parts are connected by this union. Let's give an example: “We watched the water flow for a long time,” “They watched the coals smolder in the fire for a long time.”
3. If the sentence contains a circumstance that is expressed beginning with this conjunction. Let's give an example: “The boy’s voice rang like a bell,” “The girl sang like a nightingale.”

Important to remember!

If any sentence continues after the turn with this conjunction, then it must be isolated. For example: “He watched the water flow for a long time, unable to tear himself away from such a spectacle.”

When should you not use a comma?

Sentences with such a conjunction are not separated by commas in 5 cases:

Important to remember!

The presented word can be used as a compound conjunction “both... and”, “since” and phrases “since”, “since”, etc. In these cases, a comma should not be used. Let us give examples: “All the windows, both in the palace and in ordinary houses, are open,” “He did not take food with him and now he greatly regretted it, since he was already hungry.”