Unionless are such complex sentences in which the parts are connected only with the help of intonation. The main feature of such complex structures is the absence of unions. Instead, BSP punctuation marks are used.
General characteristics
Semantic relations are established between sentences in the BSP, similar to the relations in allied sentences: compound and complex.
For example:
- The night kept coming, the forest moved closer to the fire. The sentence reveals semantic relations of enumeration of simultaneously occurring events.
- One fine day pickets, knocked down from running around, bring the news: the fortress is surrendering. In this sentence, the semantic relations are similar to those in a complex sentence with an explanatory clause.
- He spoke the truth - they didn't believe him. The proposal combines temporary relationships,concessive and opposing.
Depending on how the parts relate to each other in meaning, there are BSPs with different punctuation marks. The examples given above serve as proof of this. Depending on this, non-union complex sentences are divided into three groups.
BSP with comma and semicolon
There are several punctuation features associated with non-union sentences. In particular, there are two rules governing the use of commas and semicolons in a sentence.
| BSP punctuation marks. Table with examples | |
| Rule | Examples |
| A comma is placed in the BSP, if there is a listing of certain facts, you can use the union and. In this case, the intonation during reading will be enumerative, and a short pause must be maintained before each comma. |
My head was spinning, stars were dancing in my eyes. My head was spinning and stars were dancing in my eyes. |
| If a sentence is common and has its own commas inside (homogeneous members, separate members, introductory words and plug-in constructions, appeals), then it is separated from the other part by a semicolon. |
Green frogs jump on stones near the stream; on the biggest stone lies, basking in the sun, a golden snake. |
Do I need to choose a comma or semicolon?
If the rule is well understood and learned, then you can easily deal withthe following exercises:
1. Explain the semicolon:
1) The sun is rising, cheerful and radiant from the cold; the window gleams golden.
2) All morning, clean and bright, the colors sparkled; frosty chrysanthemums were silvering on the window for half a day.
2. What are the missing punctuation marks in brackets in BSP?
Happy irretrievable time - childhood! How not to love the memories of her? They are so refreshing and uplifting to my soul.
You run up to your fill (…) you sit at the table on your chair (…) it’s already late (…) you have drunk a cup of milk for a long time (…) your eyes are covered with sleep (…) but you don’t move from your place (…) you sit and listen. Mom is talking to someone (…) her voice is so sweet (…) so friendly. The sound of my mother's voice speaks so much to my heart, so much to my soul!
With foggy eyes I look intently into her sweet face (…) suddenly she becomes all small - her face becomes no more than a button (…) but I still see him just as clearly. I love seeing her so tiny. I squint my eyes even more (…) she is no longer bigger than those boys (…) which are in the pupils (…) when you look closely into the eyes (…) but then I moved - and the miracle disappeared (…) I narrow my eyes again (…) I try my best to renew the vision (…) but in vain.
BSP with a dash
Punctuation marks in the BSP directly depend on the semantic relationship of its parts. To put a dash in non-union sentences, one of the conditions must be present,given in the table.
| BSP punctuation marks. Dash setting table with examples | |
| Conditions for using the dash | Examples |
| The content of one sentence contradicts the content of another sentence. You can put a comma and the union BUT. | I am glad to understand you - understand me too. (I am glad to understand you, but understand me too). |
| One sentence contains an indication of the time or condition of what is said in another sentence. You can put a comma and conjunctions IF and WHEN. | It will rain - we will cancel the trip. (If it rains, we will cancel the trip. When it rains, we will cancel the trip.) |
| The second sentence contains a conclusion or a consequence of what is said in the first sentence. You can put a comma and conjunctions THEREFORE or SO THAT. | There's a lot to do tomorrow - gotta get up early. (There's a lot to do tomorrow, so get up early.) |
|
If the sentence draws a quick change of events. You can put a comma and union I. |
There was a loud clatter - everything was silent. (There was a loud thud, and everything fell silent.) |
Dash or no dash?
Next, let's talk about examples in which different punctuation marks are allowed.
1. What punctuation marks are used in the BSPs below?
1) The teacher told me to submit a diary (…) I didn’t have a diary.
2) Worth itterrible stuffiness (…) there will be a thunderstorm by night.
3) She sat in a wagon near the hussar (…) the coachman whistled (…) the horses rushed off.
4) There was a shout (…) he started to run.
5) Chasing the big one (…) losing the little one.
2. The text has BSP with different punctuation marks. With what?
A song was heard (…) the voices immediately fell silent (…) the urgings subsided (…) and the whole convoy moved on in silence (…) only the clatter of wheels and the champing of mud under horse hooves could be heard at those moments (…) when the words of a sad song sounded.
3. Which sentence contains a dash?
1) The sun has already set, but it is still light in the forest (…) the air is so clean and transparent (…) the birds are chirping and whistling (…) the young grass is shining like emerald.
2) My soul is cheerful and festive (…) it’s spring in the yard (…) and the air is so clean and transparent (…) the birds are chirping crazy and joyfully (…) young grass is breaking through.
BSP with colon
Intonation plays a huge role in determining the connection between parts in BSP. If at the end of the first part it is necessary to raise the tone of the voice, then it is certainly necessary to put a colon. So it turns out that punctuation marks in BSP depend on intonation. But semantic relationships are of paramount importance. Consider the conditions for setting a colon.
| BSP punctuation marks. Table with colon examples | |
| Conditions for setting a colon | Examples |
| The second sentence says the reason for what the first sentence says. You can put a comma and union BECAUSE. | I didn't like rainy weather: it made me sad. (I didn't like rainy weather because it made me sad.) |
| One sentence serves to explain another, reveals its content. You can put a comma and the introductory word NAMELY, then the colon will be after this word. | A riot of colors reigns in the field: among the bright green grass, chamomile bushes turn white with fragrant snowdrifts, small stars of carnation redden, occasionally peeping shy eyes of cornflower. (A riot of colors reigns in the field, namely: among the bright green grass, chamomile bushes turn white with fragrant snowdrifts, small stars of carnation redden, occasionally peeping shy eyes of cornflower). |
| The second sentence complements the first one. In this case, you can put a comma and a union between sentences AS, WHAT or SAW WHAT. | I feel: carefully, as if fearing something, fingers slowly move up to the shoulder. (I feel my fingers moving slowly up towards my shoulder, as if in fear of something.) |
Colon or no colon?
This case also has its own rules.
1. What punctuation marks are missing in the sentence?
Somehow it happened (…) that Vera left ahead of schedule (…) but now it didn’t scare Sergey at all(…) he knew (…) that father and everyone else would be back by evening.
2. Place punctuation marks in the BSP. Sample sentences are given below.
1) The picture has changed (…) black spots and stripes of thawed earth were already visible here and there on the white tablecloth of the fields.
2) I really enjoyed listening to the girl (…) she described to me about a world unknown to me.
3) A little more (…) her eyes will come to life, a smile will bloom on her face.
4) I looked out the window (…) the cleared sky was full of bright stars.
5) How many years I have served (…) this has never happened to me before.
Summarize what we learned
BSPs are a complex system that includes four types of sentences, depending on the punctuation marks between the parts of a complex sentence - comma, semicolon, colon, dash.
| BSP punctuation marks. Table with examples | |||
| comma | semicolon | dash | colon |
| A shot slammed, then a machine gun crackled. | Near the door I saw a boy, blue from the cold; he was wearing wet clothes sticking to his body; he was barefoot, and his little feet were covered in mud, as if in socks; I shuddered from head to toe at the sight of him. |
In the summer, the trees merged into one green mass - in the fall, each stands separately, on its own. Dawn began to break - we woke up and went outside. Life withoutjoy - a day without the sun. If you give, I won't take. |
Here's what I'll do: I'll come with a squad at night, set fire to the explosives and blow up that house, that is, the research station, into the air. He thought to himself: call the doctor. The bird could not fly: its wing was broken. |
| BSP with punctuation marks. Rule | |||
| Put a comma if sentences with connecting relations. | A semicolon is used if sentences with connecting relations have their own commas inside them. | Put a dash if sentences with contrastive, temporary, comparative, concessive, investigative relations. | A colon is put if sentences with explanatory, additional, causal relationships. |
What is the difference between punctuation marks in SSP, SPP, BSP
Between the parts of the BSP, relations are established similar to the relations found in allied sentences: compound and complex.
| Unionless | Allied |
| A floorboard creaked in one corner, the door creaked. | A floorboard creaked in one corner, and the door creaked (SSP). |
| It was already evening, the sun had disappeared behind the pine grove behind the garden; her shadow lay endlessly across the fields. | It was already getting dark, the sun disappeared behind a pine grove,behind the garden, and its shadow cast endlessly across the fields. |
| He felt ashamed to kill an unarmed man - he thought and lowered his gun. | He felt ashamed to kill an unarmed man, so he thought and lowered his gun. |
| I entered the hut: two benches along the walls and a large chest near the stove made up its entire atmosphere. | I entered the hut and saw that two benches along the walls and a large chest near the stove made up its entire atmosphere. |
As you can see from the table, the punctuation marks in the BSP are much richer than in allied sentences, which use only commas. But in allied constructions, the semantic relations of the parts are clear and understandable, thanks to the unions:
- simultaneity, sequence - union AND;
- reason - union BECAUSE;
- consequence - union THEREFORE;
- comparison - conjunction HOW;
- time - conjunction WHEN;
- conditions - conjunction IF;
- addition - union WHAT;
- explanation - union IE;
- opposition - union A.
Punctuation marks in the BSP are needed to express semantic relationships between sentences, they play the role of conjunctions.
BSP Examples
Examples illustrate BSP options:
- with conditional relationship: Stay here for a day and you'll know.
- with temporary relationships: If you can handle it, we will transfer to the leaders.
- with the meaning of the consequence: The rain is over - you can move on.
- with conditionalrelationships: The sun is shining - we are working, it is raining - we are resting.
- with concessions: I would have such a dog - I don’t need a cow.
- with opposing attitudes: Beautiful urban - I like the country mile.
- with connecting relationships: A man sitting at a table talking on the phone; the child was still sleeping on the couch.
- with explanatory attitudes: I advise you: do not pick up other people's wallets.
- with relations consequences: Land was needed for crops: gardens had to be plowed.
- with explanatory relationship: Occasionally voices were heard: late pedestrians were returning home.
- with relationship reasons: We have to give him credit - he was very hot, brave and persistent.
- with relations of comparison: It is not the wind that makes noise in the open, it is not the sea that rages in a storm - my heart yearns for the Motherland, there is no peace and happiness in it.
Example of the OGE task
Among the sentences you need to find complex ones with an allied connection between the parts:
1) The Holy Sea - this is how Baikal has been called for a long time. 2) We will not assure you that there is nothing better in the world than Baikal: everyone is free to love something of their own, and for the Eskimo its tundra is the crown of creation. 3) From an early age we love pictures of our native land, they define our very essence. 4) And it is not enough to consider that they are dear to us, they are our part. 5) It is impossible to compare the icy Greenland with the hot sands of the Sahara, the taiga of Siberia with the steppes of Central Russiastripes, the Caspian Sea with Baikal, but you can convey your impressions of them.
6) But still, Nature has her favorites, which she creates with special care and endows with a special attraction. 7) Such a creation is undoubtedly Baikal.
8) If we don’t even talk about its we alth, Baikal is famous for others - for its wonderful strength, timeless reserved power.
9) I remember how my friend and I went far along the coast of our sea. 10) It was the beginning of August, the most fertile time, when the water warmed up, the hills rage with colors, when the sun makes the fallen snow shine on the distant Sayan mountains, when Baikal, having stocked up on water from melted glaciers, lies full and calm, gaining strength for autumn storms, when it’s fun splashing under the cries of seagulls fish.
