“Of course”, “including”, “first of all” - a comma, like all other punctuation marks that exist today, allows you to most correctly convey the meaning of written speech. After all, it is quite easy to write a sentence, but it is much more difficult to make it so that in the end it is perfectly understandable for readers. There are a lot of vivid examples of absurdities due to punctuation.
For example, tin makers in England in 1864 were able to bribe proofreaders and eventually deceive the American government out of almost $50 million. was eventually classified as tin and then levied a low duty for 18 years.
That is why, first of all, a comma requires special attention, and you need to know all the rules for placing this sign in a sentence.
Separation and selection
Immediately it is worth noting the fact that commas can be placed one at a time or incouple. Single commas allow you to divide a whole sentence into several parts, while separating these parts from each other and providing an opportunity to mark the boundaries between them. For example, in a complex sentence, first of all, a comma is used to separate several simple parts from each other, while in a simple sentence, homogeneous members of a sentence are separated by a punctuation mark.
Double commas are usually used to highlight an independent part of a sentence, as well as to mark the boundaries of this part. In the overwhelming majority of cases, on both sides, first of all, such a part is highlighted with commas in the case of address, participial and participial turns, or the use of introductory words.
Some Features
Many people find comma placement too complicated, and therefore simply do not want to understand all the intricacies. But you can actually make it easier if you know a few rules to help you decide where to put the comma.
Meaning
You always need to delve into the meaning of the sentence that you write, because punctuation marks are used for a reason, but have a direct connection with the meaning inherent in a particular sentence. Here are some examples of incorrect placement:
- We met with a friend with whom we had a very strong fight yesterday with cheerful faces.
- I started to improve my he alth so I wouldn't get sick running in the evenings.
Unions
Besides the meaning of the sentence, you still need toknow a few words and phrases that stand out or are preceded by a comma. Including almost every union is highlighted with commas, and allied words. The latter are not so difficult to remember: what, where, when, since, because, that is, there are some others. In complex sentences where these words are used, they must be preceded by a comma.
Independent parts
Quite often, many people have various difficulties with separating any parts of a sentence from the main one. Including separated by commas and an independent part, so you need to understand how to define it. In fact, checking this is quite simple - just read the sentence without this part, and if it eventually does not lose its meaning, the removed part can be called independent.
It is necessary to use commas to highlight introductory words and sentences, adverbial phrases. The following sentence can be used as an example: “Recently, I saw that Kupriyanov, while relaxing in Egypt, got a good tan.” In this case, if we remove the adverbial phrase “having a rest in Egypt” from this sentence, the sentence will not lose its meaning at all, since the following will turn out: “Recently, I saw that Kupriyanov had a good tan.” Of course, it is the section “resting in Egypt” that is highlighted with commas, because if you remove some other elements of this sentence, it will absolutely lose its intent.
But in fact, with gerunds, everything is far from being so simple. You can meet various situations when gerunds adjoina certain predicate, that is, a verb, as a result of which their meaning is close to the adverb. In such situations, participles will no longer need to be separated by commas. Example: "Dance in clover!". If you remove the gerund from such a sentence, the sentence will eventually become incomprehensible, as a result of which commas are not needed here.
Special attention should be paid to introductory words, since there are a huge number of them. We use most of them every day: first of all, fortunately, by the way, imagine, by the way, of course - each of them is separated by commas. They are not difficult to find in the offer - just try to remove them.
Appeals
Regardless of who is being addressed, it is always separated by commas. It is worth noting that the appeal is especially difficult to distinguish if it is not at the beginning of the sentence, especially since the comma must be placed correctly. For example: "Come, I will feed you, dog, and you, kitty, do not be afraid, I will give you too." In such a sentence, several appeals appear at once - a dog and a cat.
Comparative turnovers
Comparative turnovers must be separated by commas. They are also quite easy to detect, since they use conjunctions: exactly, as, as if, what, as if, as and, as well as many others. Here it is more important to remember that there are also several exceptions and rules that must be taken into account. In fact, remembering them is not so difficult. Moreover, the comma is not put inin the case of the use of comparative turns, which have become phraseological units, that is, unchangeable turns of speech: it pours like a bucket, pale as death, goes like clockwork.
Homogeneous members of a sentence
Homogeneous members of a sentence are always separated by commas from each other, while it is quite difficult to make a mistake here, because here the intonation of the enumeration is an indicator. It is also worth noting that they help determine where it is better to put a comma, unions that are repeated before homogeneous members of a certain sentence.
If we talk about some more difficult cases, then we can distinguish homogeneous and inhomogeneous definitions. For example, if the definitions are homogeneous (for example: an interesting, exciting performance), then a comma must be put without fail. For heterogeneous definitions, such as "Please (comma) watch this interesting Italian performance", the comma will no longer be placed, because here the word "Italian" is used to convey a personal viewing experience, while "Italian" indicates who exactly is the author or performer of this piece.
Coordinating conjunctions
Before coordinating conjunctions, you should always put a comma in a complex sentence. In this case, you need to be able to determine where one simple sentence ends and the next begins. Again, in this case, reading the sentence and determining its meaning will greatly help you, or you can simply determine the subject andpredicate.
For example: "Please, (comma) stop talking about this case, and in general, I'm pretty tired of such stories."
Opposing conjunctions
For many people, the simplest rule is that opposite conjunctions should always be preceded by a comma. In other words, words like “but, ah, yes (which equates to “but”) signal us to use a comma in a sentence. For example: “The group was about to leave, but Grisha, unfortunately, (highlighted by commas) still wanted to look at the giraffe. The group still had to leave. More than (in this case, the comma is placed after “more”, and not after “than”) Grisha, no one wanted to look at the giraffe.”
Participial phrases
In this case, the situation is somewhat more complicated compared to adverbial phrases, because commas should be used only in situations where the phrase is after the word being defined. In this case, the word being defined is the one from which the question will be asked to this turnover:
- seat candidate;
- bus stop located on the side of the house;
- the man who saved my life.
In principle, remembering all these features is quite simple, so there are no big problems with their use.
Interjections
If we talk about interjections, then in this case it is necessary to put commas after the "emotional" phrases. Examples:
- Alas, he could not justifyour expectations.
- Oh, how hard this guy does his job.
- Eh, we can't see the beauties of this whole world.
Do not forget that interjections must be distinguished from the usual particles "oh", "ah" and others, which are used in a sentence to enhance the shade, as well as the particle "o", which is used in case of address.
Between subordinate and main clauses
A comma must be placed between the subordinate and main clauses, but if the subordinate clause is located directly inside the main clause, it will need to be separated by commas on both sides. First of all, a comma is placed between the parts of a complex sentence precisely in order to highlight the subordinate clause.
"He put a comma in the sentence to make it conform to the rules of the Russian language."
If the subordinate clause comes after the main one, then in this case, both with simple and complex subordinating unions, you will need to put a comma only once immediately before the union itself.
"He stood still because he was afraid and couldn't do anything to himself."
A complex subordinating conjunction cannot be divided into parts using a comma in the situation when the subordinate clause that begins with this conjunction comes directly before the main one.
"As I was talking, he gradually fell asleep."
But depending on the features of the meaning, a complex union can be divided into two parts, the first of which will be included directly in the main sentence, whiletime as the second and will play the role of the union. First of all, it is not the sentence itself that is separated by commas, but the punctuation mark is placed only before the second part.
"He gained strength for this because it was about his freedom."
If there are two unions next to each other, a comma between them should be placed only if the omission of the subordinate clause does not require the restructuring of the main one.
"The decision to stay was made by the tourists, who, although it was quite cold, wanted to enjoy the beauty of this place, on the basis of (a comma before "on") what the guide decided to set up camp."
At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that if the subordinate clause consists of only one conjunction or a relative word, it will not need to be separated by a comma.
Where to? I showed where.”
Repetitive words
A comma must be placed between the same words that are repeated in order to indicate the duration of the action, more persons, phenomena or objects, as well as enhancing the degree of quality. In addition, it must be placed before words that are repeated to reinforce agreement.
"Hurry, quickly finish here and move on to the next one!", "More than (comma before 'than') last time, you can't go wrong.".
Defining turns
Commas must be used to distinguish adjectives and participles that have explanatory words with them, and at the same time stand after the definednoun, with the exception of those that are quite closely adjacent to the verb in meaning.
"A few snowdrifts covered with ice especially attracted the attention of passers-by."
Adjectives and participles that are placed after the noun they define in order to give them a more independent meaning. This also applies to cases where there are no explanatory words, especially if there is a defining word before the noun.
"Tomorrow Monday will come, and my life will go on, gray and measured, as usual."
Also, adjectives and participles are separated by commas, regardless of whether they are with explanatory or without them, if they are placed before the noun being defined, and at the same time, in addition to the meaning of the definition, they also have a circumstantial connotation.
"Closed in himself, Vanya did not want to talk to anyone at that moment."
If adjectives and participles refer to a noun and come before it, but are separated by other members of the sentence, they should also be separated by commas.
"If, having gained strength, our honorable employee does not return to work after sick leave, he will be fired."
Detailed phrases
Commas are used in the following cases:
If gerunds are used with or without explanatory words. The exceptions in this case are single gerunds and all kinds of gerunds, adjoining directly to the predicate word and in their meaning close to the adverb.
Driving up to thiswonderful place, we decided to stop to get a better look.”
But at the same time, it should be noted that commas are not put if a gerund with explanatory words is used, and they represent whole expressions, such as: carelessly, with bated breath, arms folded, and so on.
In addition, a comma is not put between the union "a" and the adverbial phrase, or the adverb in the event that when omitting this turnover or the word itself, you need to rebuild the sentence.
"He stopped, often looked back, and guiding me through this jungle, he allowed me to get acquainted with the local fauna, in connection with which I got an inexpressible pleasure from the trip."
A noun in the indirect case with prepositions, and in some situations also without prepositions, if they have a circumstantial meaning. This is especially true when nouns have explanatory words, and at the same time they come before the predicate.
"Unlike the other soldiers, this one was one of those people who kept moving forward."
Indefinite forms of the verb with any related words that are attached to the predicate with conjunctions "to" (in order to; so that, etc.)
"I decided to do morning runs to get back in shape."
Clarifying and limiting words
Commas must be used to mark groups of words or individual words that clarify or limit the meaning of previous (subsequent) words, as well asattached to them directly or with the help of the words "including", "including", "excluding" and others.
"Ten years ago, in winter, on the way from St. Petersburg to Rostov, I had to sit all day at the station, also because of the lack of trains."
Introductory sentences and words
Commas should always mark introductory words and sentences.
"This is a rather simple and, unfortunately (separated by commas), unnecessary thing in the work."
In the vast majority of cases, as introductory words can be found: it happened, most likely, without a doubt, apparently, firstly, secondly, and others.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that you need to be able to correctly distinguish introductory words from detailed ones that answer the questions “when?”, “How” and others.
"He said it casually."
You should also be able to correctly distinguish between the use of the same phrases and words as introductory or as amplifying.
"You, of course, (punctuation - comma) consider this the most optimal solution." In this case, the introductory word is used.
"You will certainly get to this place much earlier than me." Here, the same “of course” acts as an amplifying word.
Among other things, if the words "say", "for example", "suppose" come before a word or group of words intended to clarify the preceding ones, no punctuation marks should be placed after them.
Negative,affirmative and interrogative words
A comma should always be placed after the words "of course", "yes" and others, if they indicate confirmation, and after the word "no" if it indicates a denial.
"Yes, I'm the person you met at the local bakery."
"No, I haven't been to work today."
"What, are you afraid to compete with equal opponents?"
Commas with separate phrases
- "First of all". Does not require punctuation, but there are examples in fiction where the words "first of all" are isolated.
- "Including". If the connecting turns begin with the union "including", they are separate.
- "All the more." If this is a particle (similar to the meaning of “especially”), then punctuation marks are not required, but if it is a union (similar to the meaning of “and besides”), then constructions with this union must already be distinguished.
- "Please." Does not require punctuation.
- "More than". Depending on how this phrase is used, a comma can be placed before the word "greater than" or "than".
- "Unfortunately." As an introductory word, it must be separated by commas.
- "Due to." A comma is needed, and it is placed before this phrase.
Conclusion
Of course, it is impossible to cover absolutely all options for placing commas, because you should not forget that there are copyright punctuation marks that cannotfit into certain rules and have only one explanation - the creative intent of the writer himself. However, some "experts" try to explain their own ignorance of punctuation in this way.
Commas should always be treated carefully, and this is taught to children in elementary grades - how to place commas correctly. After all, a word that is spelled with spelling errors can be understood by everyone, while the omission of one comma can significantly distort the meaning of the sentence.
But, remembering these simple rules, you will be able to understand whether a comma is needed in a particular case.
The correct placement of commas is important in any field of activity of a modern person. Of course, this is important for those people who work with manual filling of paperwork or writing text, but it is especially important for those who are directly involved in the preparation of economic contracts and other responsible documents, where an incorrectly placed comma can result in serious financial losses.
