Punctuation marks are very important components of the text. A person who does not use them in writing runs the risk of making those to whom the text is addressed simply not understand the meaning. 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 competent written speech is an indicator of high culture. In the article, we will analyze what punctuation is for, what are the main punctuation marks and what function each of them performs.
History of punctuation marks
Punctuation marks didn't appear right away. Initially, the texts were difficult to understand, because they were written without them. The need to make written communications readable was first understood in Europe by the French. The setting of special stops, commas, they adopted from the Greeks in the 15th century.
As for Russia, Mikhail Lomonosov was the first to formulate the idea of what punctuation is for. The rules were put forward by him in the XVIII century. Moreover, he spoke not only about the use of commas, but alsoexclamation marks. Karamzin also introduced a dash and a colon.
Meaning of punctuation marks
What is the purpose of punctuation marks? Knowing this is a good help when you need to check text for punctuation.
The most important sign is the dot. It is used to separate one sentence from another, it marks the end of a minimal message and the beginning of a new one. Sometimes, instead of a period, signs, question marks or exclamations are used. The first is used in those sentences that contain a question, the second - in emotionally colored, motivating.
For example, it is enough to compare three sentences: Natalya Pavlovna is an outstanding surgeon. (calm intonation, the goal is to report a fact). – Is Natalya Pavlovna an outstanding surgeon? (question). – Yes, Natalya Pavlovna is an outstanding surgeon! (rapturous feelings).
Sometimes a special sign is put at the end of a sentence - an ellipsis, it indicates the incompleteness of a thought.
We use commas most often. These signs separate one logical segment from another, create enumerations. Without commas, it is very difficult to understand the meaning of the sentence. The famous phrase “execution cannot be pardoned” is a vivid example of this.
To clarify any facts, use a colon. It can also indicate a number of homogeneous members.
Dash (by the way, this is the only name of a punctuation mark that has a foreign origin - French) is necessary when a union or a word is omitted. It also indicates that insentence, one thought is opposed to another.
The use of semicolons is extremely rare. This sign connects parts that are completely unrelated logically to each other.
Similar members
Now let's look at the basic rules that will help you check punctuation. One of the most common is commas with homogeneous members of a sentence. Recall that these are those that answer one question and refer to one member of the sentence. Absolutely any components 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 placed. Red, bright yellow, white flowers grew in the meadow.
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, a comma separates two homogeneous definitions with the union and.
When repeating unions, a punctuation mark is placed after the first one. Red flowers, bright yellow flowers, blue flowers, and white flowers grew in the meadow.
With homogeneous members, there may be a generalizing word. In this case, determining where it is located will help to check the correctness of punctuation. If up to a number of homogeneous members, then you must put a colon. After that, a dash. For example: All kinds of flowers grew in the meadow: red, bright yellow, blue and white. The generalizing word flowers is used before homogeneous definitions. Red, bright yellow,blue, white - all kinds of flowers decorated the meadow.
Isolation
Isolation is a special emphasis on punctuation and intonation. To check punctuation with it, the search for a defined word will help. This is necessary if we are talking about separate definitions. Here are some examples:
Swifts, scurrying between the trees, caught insects on the fly. The defined word swifts is used before a separate definition (it is expressed by participial turnover).
Tourists, tired and hungry, soon came to an abandoned hut. The defined word tourists is in front of a separate definition (it is expressed by homogeneous definitions connected by a union).
Always use commas when highlighting:
- Gerential phrases. Withdrawing into herself, she was able to escape from pressing problems.
- Isolated members refer to the personal pronoun. Satisfied and inspired, we arrived at the competition site.
- The 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, suddenly lost her job. – A doctor of the highest category, my aunt suddenly lost her job.
Introductory words and addresses
Punctuation in a sentence with introductory constructions and appeals is quite simple. You just needknow what these elements are.
When we address someone, his name or how we call him at the same time, drawing attention, will be the address. In a sentence, it is always separated by commas. Olga Petrovna, bring me a book about plants. “Dear Grandpa, how are you?” – Dear brothers, let's defend our Motherland to the end!
You can check the punctuation in syntactic units with introductory constructions by correctly selecting them from the context. It should be remembered that their purpose is to pay special attention to any statement, to separate it from others. Listen, is it really that important to come tomorrow? - I'll go, finally, I'll figure it out. – According to the employees, the interior of the office should be changed a long time ago.
Punctuation in complex sentences
As for complex sentences, a comma between their parts is always needed. With complex subordinates, the situation is simpler, because it is difficult to confuse them with any others. What is the punctuation in them (grade 5 is already the time when the topic is being studied)? Here are some examples.
- I want you to move into a new apartment soon.
- She knows where all the mushrooms are hiding in the forest.
- Katerina, as soon as the first birds sang, got out of bed and did housework.
Punctuation in compound sentences
It is much more difficult to define a compound sentence. Most often it is confused with a simple one, which has homogeneous predicates in its composition. It is very important to correctly highlight the grammatical basis and understandhow many.
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, were written out connected by a union and, therefore, a comma is not needed. The second example is a compound sentence, there are two grammatical bases: swallows flew, those present watched. A comma before and is required.
Punctuation in non-union complex sentences
Inside a complex sentence there can be an allied connection. In this case, a comma, dash or colon is most often put, less often a semicolon. Let's take a look at such cases. We note right away that a lot depends on the intonation and the general meaning of the sentence.
The library has closed, all the staff have already gone home. - The library was closed - all the employees went home. – All employees have gone home: the library has closed.
- If there is a usual enumeration of a certain sequence of actions, then a comma will be placed (first example).
- When the second part indicates a consequence from the first, you must put a dash (second sentence).
- To expand on the contents of the first part, a colon is used (last sentence).
The semicolon is used less often. Its use is necessary when there are many complicating elements in simple parts (they are very common).
Library,located in the park, closed to conduct a book count; employees stayed to work overtime.
Here in the first part there is not only participial turnover, but also this block is a complex sentence. A semicolon is required.
