Russian is considered one of the most beautiful and richest languages in the world. How expressive and beautiful. With ease, you can use a variety of visual means for the pomp and brightness of phrases. The descriptive turn, examples of which are presented in the article, is one of such means.
What is a descriptive phrase?
When talking about any object, phenomenon or person, it is important not to abuse repetitions. Descriptive turns help to avoid them. This is the name of an oral expression or a written statement used instead of a specific word. In this case, the subject is not directly named. The fact that we are talking about it is made clear by images with features characteristic of this subject, which gives a descriptive turn. Examples: a river is a fresh artery, snowflakes are winter midges, spring is a time of awakening.
Distinguish figurative and non-figurative turns of description. If the figurative ones carry an aesthetic load, then the non-figurative ones only expand the idea of the subject. For example, flowerslife (children), the Blue Planet (earth), the Third Rome (Moscow) are figurative descriptive phrases; author of "Anna Karenina" (L. N. Tolstoy), the city on the Neva (St. Petersburg), the fashionable capital of Europe (Paris) - ugly turns.
Periphrase
The expressive possibilities of descriptive phrases have long attracted poets and writers. Such constructions were widely used in the era of classicism, when they were especially careful in the selection of words in works of high style. For example, M. V. Lomonosov used a descriptive turn in his "Letter on the Benefits of Glass": "The art by which Apelles was glorified, And to which Rome has now raised its head." So the poet called painting. Literary scholars call such an expression a paraphrase. This is a descriptive phrase used in a work of art. Examples from poetic texts: "a sad time" (autumn), "Peter's creation" (St. Petersburg), "free elements" (sea). Paraphrase, along with metaphor, epithet, comparison, is defined as a trope, that is, an expression that enhances the imagery and expressiveness of the language.
Descriptive phrases in riddles
Such constructions broaden their horizons, develop erudition and verbal-logical thinking, therefore they are often used in riddles for children. Descriptive sentences (examples from riddles):
- Sends birds to the south, undresses trees;
- dry in the summer sun, it will be taken out of the pods;
- chik-chirp - jump to the grains;
- cunning and dexterous red-haired cheat.
When guessing riddles, the child's vocabulary is activated, the ability to highlight significant features of objects is consolidated. The significance of riddles, which are sentences with descriptive turns, in the development of the child is very great. It reflects the essence of phenomena or objects, their special features through simple words understandable to the child, which is of great pedagogical importance. Riddles affect the development of children's curiosity, their interest in the language.
Descriptive sentences
Descriptive phrases are necessary to create the greatest imagery, as well as to prevent tautologies. Descriptive sentences, examples of which are presented in the table, are sometimes expressive, overly figurative, businesslike.
| Example | Meaning of descriptive phrase |
| Recently, missing the sun and the warm sea, he returned from foggy Albion. | from London |
| The festival will be held in the southern capital of Kazakhstan. | in Almaty |
| The creator of the image of Juliet put into it the features of a truly loving Italian. | Shakespeare |
| The Land of the Rising Sun started celebrating Hanami - cherry blossom viewing. | Japan |
Descriptive phrase in the text
As noted above, description constructions perform an expressive function insentences, they are used in riddles and poetic works to create more imagery. In journalistic texts, a descriptive phrase is widely used as a lexical means of communication.
Within the text, the sentences are connected logically, grammatically, structurally and in meaning. When transmitting information about any phenomenon, object, event, it is important not to get carried away using the forms of the same word. It must be replaced with a pronoun or a descriptive phrase. Examples:
- The painting "Italian noon" is filled with the colors of sunny Rome. It depicts the life of Italians. The masterpiece of world painting was recognized as one of the best works of Karl Bryullov and presented to the Empress, the wife of Nicholas I. (The painting is a masterpiece)
- Africa is considered the hottest continent on the planet. About 90% of its soils are unsuitable for agriculture. Arid regions and deserts of the Black Continent occupy more than half of its entire territory. (Africa - Her - Black Continent)
- Abu Dhabi is considered to be the most comfortable place to live in the world. The city in the desert is clean and beautiful. Eighty million palm trees and a little less date trees are planted on its territory. (Abu Dhabi - City in the desert - on it)
Along with pronouns, conjunctions, introductory words and other grammatical means of communication, descriptive phrases are a way of connecting sentences in a text. Especially often they are contained in a journalistic descriptive text. Examples: Sicily attractstourists with its unique nature, thousand-year history and original culture. The largest island in the Mediterranean keeps a long history: Syracuse is a museum city open to the public, representing many architectural monuments. The birthplace of Mount Etna invites guests to hike to the crater, which is safe as it is monitored around the clock. Surrounded by three seas, a piece of natural grace and its capital, Palermo, are attractive for tourists and other attractions: fishing, beaches, shopping, amusement parks.
Descriptive phrase in graduation papers
Examination work in the Russian language is designed for students who have confidently mastered the rules and norms of the language. It also contains tasks for finding a descriptive turnover. These are tasks of increased difficulty, where from the list of visual means you need to select only those that were used in the text.
