Incorrect punctuation is one of the most common mistakes made in writing. The most complex punctuation rules usually include the placement of commas in sentences where there are heterogeneous or homogeneous definitions. Only a clear understanding of their features and differences helps to make the entry correct and well read.
What is a definition?
This is a minor member of the sentence, denoting a sign, property or quality of the object denoted by the noun. Most often expressed as an adjective (white scarf), participle (running boy), pronoun (our house), ordinal number (second number) and answers the questions "what?" "whose?". However, there may be cases of using a noun as a definition of a noun (plaid dress), an infinitive verb (a dream of being able to fly), an adjective in a simple comparative degree (an older girl appeared), an adverb (a hard-boiled egg).
What are homogeneous members
The definition of this concept is given in syntax and concerns the structure of a simple (or predicative part of a complex) sentence. Homogeneous members are expressed by words of the same part of speech and the same form, depend on the same word. Therefore, they will answer a general question and perform the same syntactic function in a sentence. Homogeneous members are interconnected by a coordinating or non-union connection. It should also be noted that it is usually possible to rearrange them as part of a syntactic construction.
Based on the above rule, we can say that homogeneous definitions characterize an object on the basis of common (similar) features, qualities. Consider the sentence: " In the garden, white, scarlet, burgundy buds of roses that had not yet blossomed proudly towered over their fellow flowers." Homogeneous definitions used in it denote color, and therefore characterize an object on the same basis. Or another example: “Soon, low, heavy clouds hung over the city, languishing from the heat.” In this sentence, one feature is logically related to another.
Heterogeneous and homogeneous definitions: distinguishing features
This question is often difficult. To understand the material, let's take a closer look at what features each group of definitions has.
Similar |
Heterogeneous |
|
Each definition refers to one word being defined: « From all sidesthere was a cheerful, unbridled laughter of children » |
The closest definition refers to the noun, and the second to the resulting combination: “On this frosty January morning, I didn’t want to go outside for a long time” |
| All adjectives, as a rule, are of high quality: “A beautiful, new bag hung on Katyusha’s shoulder” | Combination of a qualitative adjective with a relative or with a pronoun, participle, numeral: big stone castle, my good friend, third intercity bus |
| You can insert a connecting union AND: “For crafts, white, red, (AND) blue sheets of paper were needed” | Impossible to use with I: “In one hand Tatyana had an old straw hat, in the other she held a string bag with vegetables” |
| Expressed in one part of speech. Exception: adjective + participial phrase or inconsistent adjectives after a noun | Relate to different parts of speech: “Finally, we waited for the first light frost (numeral + adjective) and set off on the road” |
These are the main features, the knowledge of which will allow you to easily distinguish between sentences with homogeneous definitions and heterogeneous ones. So, correctly punctuate.
In addition, when parsing and punctuation of a sentence, you need to remember the following important points.
Definitions that are alwayshomogeneous
- The adjectives standing next to each other characterize an object according to one attribute: size, color, geographical location, assessment, sensations, etc. “Zakhar bought reference books on German, Italian, French culture in advance at the bookstore.”
- A group of synonyms used in the sentence: they call the same feature differently. “Since early morning, everyone in the house has been in a cheerful, festive mood caused by yesterday's news.”
- Definitions following a noun, with the exception of terms such as overhead clamshell crane. For example, in A. Pushkin's poem we find: "On the winter road, a boring three greyhound runs." In this case, each of the adjectives refers directly to the noun, with each definition logically distinguished.
- Homogeneous members of a sentence represent a semantic gradation, i.e. designation of the sign in ascending order. “The sisters, seized with a joyful, festive, radiant mood, could no longer hide their emotions.”
- Inconsistent definitions. For example: “A tall man in a warm sweater, with shining eyes, a bewitching smile entered the room cheerfully.”
Combination of single adjective and participial construction
We should also dwell on the next group of definitions. These are adjectives and participial phrases used side by side and related to the same noun. Here the punctuation depends on the positionlast.
Definitions corresponding to the scheme "single adjective + participial phrase" are almost always homogeneous. For example, "In the distance one could see dark mountains towering above the forest." However, if the participial turnover is used before the adjective and refers not to the noun, but to the whole combination, the rule “punctuation marks with homogeneous definitions” does not work. For example, “Yellow leaves swirling in the autumn air smoothly descended onto the moist ground.”
One more thing to consider. Consider this example: “In the midst of the thick, spreading fir trees that darkened at dusk, one could hardly see a narrow path leading to the lake.” This is a sentence with isolated homogeneous definitions, expressed by participial phrases. Moreover, the first of them is located between two single adjectives and clarifies the meaning of the word "thick". Therefore, according to the rules for the design of homogeneous members, it is distinguished in writing by punctuation marks.
Cases where a comma is optional but preferred
- Homogeneous definitions (examples can often be found in fiction) denote different, but usually accompanying causal features. For example, "On the night, (you can insert BECAUSE) deserted streets, long shadows from trees and lanterns were clearly visible." Another example: “Suddenly, deafening, (because) terrible thunderclaps reached the old man’s ears.”
- Sentences with epithets that give a diverse descriptionsubject. For example, "And now, looking at Luzhin's big, pale face, she … was filled with … pity" (V. Nabokov). Or A. Chekhov: “Rainy, dirty, dark autumn has come.”
- When using adjectives in a figurative sense (close to epithets): "Timofey's big, fish eyes were sad and carefully looked straight ahead."
Such homogeneous definitions - examples show this - are an excellent means of expression in a work of art. With their help, writers and poets emphasize certain significant details in the description of an object (face).
Exceptional cases
Sometimes in speech you can find sentences with homogeneous definitions, expressed by a combination of qualitative and relative adjectives. For example, “Until recently, old, low houses stood on this place, now new, high ones flaunted.” As this example shows, in such a case there are two groups of definitions related to the same noun, but having the opposite meaning.
One more case concerns definitions linked by explanatory relations. “Completely different sounds, strange to the boy, were heard from the open window.” In this sentence, after the first definition, the words “namely”, “that is”, will be appropriate.
Rules for punctuation marks
Here it all depends on how homogeneous definitions are interconnected. Commas are placed atunionless connection. Example: “A short, wrinkled, hunchbacked old woman was sitting on a chair on the porch, silently pointing to the open door.” In the presence of coordinating unions ("as a rule", "and") punctuation marks are not needed. “The women in white and blue homespun shirts peered into the distance, hoping to recognize the horseman approaching them.” Thus, these sentences are subject to the punctuation rules applicable to all syntactic constructions with homogeneous members.
If the definitions are heterogeneous (their examples are shown in the table), a comma is not placed between them. The exception is sentences with combinations that allow a double interpretation. For example, "After much debate and deliberation, it was decided to resort to other proven methods." In this case, it all depends on the meaning of the sacrament. A comma is placed if "namely" can be inserted before the word "verified".
Conclusion
Analysis of all of the above leads to the conclusion that punctuation literacy is more dependent on knowledge of specific theoretical material on syntax: what is a definition, homogeneous members of a sentence.
