Today we have another entry of the rubric " Literacy Minute”, and it will focus on a very common difficulty: setting or not setting a comma before the union . I think you, like me, have found yourself in a quandary more than once, wondering if a comma is needed before the union or not. Today we will learn once and for all when this unfortunate comma is put, and when it is not. So...
A comma is placed.
Let's start with those cases where a comma occurs. There are not so many of these cases and, in principle, they are not difficult to remember.
1. A comma is placed if if union connects parts of a complex sentence. Everything is easy and clear here, in this case you simply cannot do without a comma.
Example: We enjoyed watching our friend reach the finish line first..
2. When the union enters revolutions close in value to introductory words . There are few such turns in Russian, here are the main ones: as an exception, as a consequence, as always, as on purpose, as, for example, as now, as now, as a rule, etc.
For example: In the morning before leaving, as if on purpose, it began to rain.
3. If if the sentence contains a circumstance expressed by a comparative turnover that begins with a union .
Example: The people inside were like herring in a barrel.
I draw your attention to the fact that if, after a turnover with the union the sentence continues, then it is necessary to put one more comma at the end of the turnover (to separate it). For example: In the distance, like a mirror, the water shone.
The comma is NOT included.
Now I propose to decide on those cases when the union not separated by a comma.
1. If eif unionstands between subject and predicate, Awithouthimthere would be a need to put a dash.
For example: Nose like a beak. Night is like day.
2. If turnover with unionincluded in phraseology. As we well know, phraseological units are separate integral language constructions, as a rule, unchangeable.
For example: Duringconversationhe was sitting on pins and needles.
3. Whenturnover with the unionin the sentence acts as a circumstance of the mode of action.
For example: The path twisted like a snake.
In such cases, our turnover with the union can be replaced with an adverb ( like a snake) or a noun in the instrumental case ( snake). However, the problem is that the circumstances of the course of action cannot always be distinguished with complete certainty from the circumstances of comparison. These are the situations that cause the most trouble for writers.
4. In those cases, eif turnover with unionis part of the predicate and the sentence without such a turn has no complete meaning.
Example: Young womanholdingalaslike a hostess.
5. If the comparative turnover is preceded by negationNot orone of the following particles: quite, absolutely, almost, exactly, like, just, exactly. In this case, instead of a comma, there is, as it were, a particle ( not, like, just, etc..), so such moments, as a rule, do not cause much doubt.
For example: These two don't act like good friends. In this light, her face was exactly like her mother's.
Composite unions.
Do not forget that the word may be part of a compound union … So And… or because, as well as revolutions: since, as, since, as little (more) as possible, etc.. It is quite natural that in such cases the comma before not set.
For example: All windows as inthe house itself, as well as inannex werewide open.
That's all for today. I hope we have brought the necessary clarity to the issue of putting commas before the union , and this knowledge will be useful to you in everyday writing activities. Don't forget to follow the blog for updates! See you soon!
1. In combinations “nothing else but”, “nothing but” - a comma is required.- None other than my friend came to the rescue.
2. Pointing words: so, such, such, that.
- As beautiful as last time, she failed to dance.
3. A comma is always placed before the combination "like and".
- The room, like the rest of the house, was comfortable.
4. It is always isolated “as one”, “as a rule”.
- All, as one, rose to his defense.
5. If the sentence has the meaning of the reason, then from one part of it you can make a question, and from the other - the answer.
- Peter, as the best hunter, was chosen by the elder.
Why was Peter chosen as the elder? Because he is the best hunter.
6. Comparison - always put a comma.
- She is as beautiful as a rose.
No comma before "how":
1. As.- The play was perceived as a call to fight.
2. The expressions "as possible", "as always" never
stand apart.
- Cross must be run as fast as possible
3. We write the union “as ..., and” without a comma before how, but a comma is always placed before “so and”.
- I like to relax here both in winter and in summer.
4. In phraseological units, a comma is never put.
- Wait like manna from heaven. Goal like a falcon. White as snow.
5. Compound unions at the beginning of a sentence are not separated by a comma. "Since", "Until", "Since".)
- While we are working, many are resting.
6. There cannot be a comma between the subject and the predicate.
- She's like a rose.
When is a comma placed before “how”, and when is it not necessary to put it?
The conjunction "how" often causes difficulties in writing. The reason is that this union is used in many cases, and sometimes a comma is placed, and sometimes not. This article will be devoted to the rules for the design of turnovers and sentences starting with the union "how".
When a comma is placed before "as"
1 With the union "as" a comparative turnover begins.
Airplane(like who?) , like a bird, has wings and a light elongated body.
(comparison of an airplane with a bird).
2 The union "as" is included in the introductory sentence, as well as such turns of speech as:
- "as if on purpose";
- "like before";
- and etc.
The sun went down earlier than usual today, as you can see.
In May, as a rule, there are both snowfalls and hot days with temperatures around 30 degrees.
3 The union is part of a turnover that begins with the words "as well as ...".
To us today, as well as last weekend, grandparents will come.
Outside, as in the basement, it was cold and damp.
4 The main part of the sentence contains the words:
- "so";
- "That".
In the spring, there are many such beautiful flowers in the forest as snowdrops, kandyks, honeydews.
5 The union "as" is present in the composition of revolutions:
- "none other than";
- "nothing but";
- "such as";
- "as well as".
Looking up at the sky, he saw nothing but a military aircraft.
Domestic cats love raw meat as much as their wild counterparts.
6 The union "as" is part of an application that has the meaning of reason for another part of the sentence:
Antonina Petrovna, as a mother of three boys, was very tired of endless household chores.
7 With the union "how" begins as part of a complex sentence. The union “how” in this case acts as a subordinating union.
I look out the window and see tree branches and grass swaying in the wind on this warm spring day.
When there is no comma before "how"
1 A turnover with the union “how” matters the circumstance of the course of action. To make it easier to understand this rule, the union “how” can be replaced by a noun in the instrumental case (answers questions "By whom?" or "How?") or an adverb (answers the question "How?").
The hawk, like a stone, rushed to the ground for prey.
You can say: "The hawk with a stone (with what?) Rushed to the ground for prey."
2 A turnover with the union “how” is part of the predicate or is very closely related to it in meaning. If you remove this turnover, then the sentence will lose or change its meaning.
This dark-haired woman looks with Ivan Petrovich like his wife.
In this example, the predicate "looks like his wife." If you remove the turnover with the union "how", then the sentence turns out to be meaningless:
This dark-haired woman looks with Ivan Petrovich.
3 The union "as" means "as" or characterizes the subject from some side.
You definitely have appendicitis, that's me to you(like who?) as a doctor I say.
We remember our class teacher(like whom?) as a hardworking, sympathetic and very talented teacher.
4 Turnover with the union "as" acts in the sense of identity or equating to something.
He presented this to his listeners as the only thing that could give confidence.
5 Union "how" is part of the phraseological turnover. Phraseologisms- these are very expressive and stable, lexically indivisible combinations of words, to which, according to the meaning, one can pick up synonyms consisting of one or two words. Such turns with the union "as" are not separated by commas.
He was doing things like clockwork .
Can be replaced by: "Things were going very well for him."
Multiplication table you need to know like the back of your hand .
Can be replaced by: "The multiplication table must be known by heart."
Important! There is no clear and exhaustive list of phraseological units, you just need to learn how to recognize them in the text.
6 Union "how" is part of a compound compound union: "like...and so..." or "because", as well as revolutions:
- "since";
- "since the time";
- "as";
- “as little/more as possible”;
- "meanwhile";
- "after";
- "similar to".
Mom cooked dinner for the whole family, while dad played board games with the children.
We hurried home as it was already raining.
Both guppies and zebrafish live in our aquarium.
7 The union “how” connects homogeneous members of a sentence in the subordinate part of a complex sentence:
You can endlessly watch how the fire burns and how the waterfall runs.
Katya gradually sank into sleep, listening to the wind howl outside the window and how it knocks rain on the roof.
8 Before “how” there is a negative particle “not” or the words:
- "almost";
- "like";
- "Just";
- "exactly the same";
- "absolutely";
- "exactly".
You sound exactly like your grandmother.
Now I am talking to you not as a teacher, but as a mother.
9 In revolutions "as possible", "as impossible", as well as in some other cases, giving the sentence a brighter meaning, expressiveness.
In warm weather, walk as much as possible.
Today we have worked hard as never before.
This article described the rules for putting a comma before the union "as".
Proper placement of commas in a sentence is the problem that is most often faced not only by schoolchildren, but also by people who have already received a general education.
Teachers note that most often errors occur when placing punctuation marks in front of unions that connect.
In contact with
When to use commas
- When the union is included in speech turns, which are close in meaning to introductory words.
- When a union connects two parts of a complex sentence.
- If the union that is part of the application takes on the value of causality.
Let's consider each of these cases in more detail.
Union as part of a comparative speech
There are not so many such turns in the Russian language, they are easy to remember and learn to distinguish automatically in the text. The rule for highlighting such constructions with punctuation marks is very simple: commas are placed both before the turnover and after its closing.
1. In comparative turnover union has the meaning of the word "like".
How frozen river bed.
In such phrases, the union is easily replaced by other conjunctions of comparison. The meaning does not change.
For example, you can write like this:
The road was smooth and winding like frozen river bed.
2. There are demonstrative words in the main part of the sentence.
The Silver Age in Russian literature gave the world works such great poets, How Marina Tsvetaeva, Igor Severyanin.
Usually pronouns act as demonstrative words: that, such, such.
3. With the phrase "like" begins a comparative turnover.
Some people, like birds , in winter they fly to the southern countries.
4. Union is part of the introductory construction.
He left the house how could you understand tormented by conflicting feelings.
Such phrases not separated by commas if they are included in the predicate or have a very close semantic connection
5. In revolutions, which include the following structures:
- none other;
- nothing else;
- such;
- Also.
Came on stage none other than famous theater and film actor.
Union connects two parts of a complex sentence
As you can learn from the Russian language course, we are talking about sentences in which there is a main and subordinate part, related in meaning. In these sentences, the main part implies the obligatory continuation of the thought.
He jumped out from under the table how a devil jumps out of a snuffbox, deciding whether to scare or make us laugh.
Conjunction included in application with cause value
In these sentences, the union can be replaced by other subordinate unions. The meaning of the sentence will not change from this, and commas in the sentence are placed on both sides.
Our maid as an extremely curious person, loved to eavesdrop at the door.
In this case, you can ask a clarifying question: Why did the maid like to eavesdrop at the door? Because she was a curious person.
When an application does not have any additional value, then it must also be separated by commas.
Such a thing, like paint, is in the workshop of every artist.
When Commas Are Not Necessary
1. If the union located between the subject and the predicate can be replaced by a dash.
Eyes How diamonds. (Eyes are diamonds)
2. The turnover, which includes the union, is a stable phraseological unit.
By the evening he was fresh like a cucumber.
Unfortunately, there are no rules that help to recognize phraseological units. Usually they are distinguished intuitively.
3. If the turnover plays the role of the circumstance of the course of action.
like hail buckshot rained down.
Very often, instead of turnover, you can put a noun or adverb. For example: buckshot rained down in hail. The meaning will remain the same.
Such turns can be difficult to distinguish from the circumstances of comparison, before which you need to put commas. It is these cases that cause the most difficulties in writing. Therefore, only regular practice and performance of exercises will help to automatically recognize what we see before our eyes: the circumstance of the mode of action or the comparative turn.
4. If turnover is part of the predicate.
We have already considered this case when we talked about introductory sentences preceded by commas. Find out if the union is a part of introductory sentence, or is it part of the predicate, is quite simple. The proposal simply doesn't make sense without it.
He looked How Greek god.
If words are removed from the phrase "like a Greek god" then it becomes meaningless. Therefore, such a turnover becomes an integral part of the predicate.
It is worth noting that, unlike the previous example, in this case it is impossible to paraphrase without losing the meaning.
5. If there is a negation in the sentence.
You do not need to put a comma if the sentence contains the following particles:
- Exactly;
- Exactly the same;
- Absolutely;
- Almost;
- At all;
- Just;
- Like.
Everything in the Addams family house not like in people.
Do I need a comma before the word "how" in all cases? Not at all. Whether a comma is used before "as" depends on the context in which the word is used.
The word "how" is separated by commas
Before the word
1. A comma before the word “how” is placed if the lexeme is used in the phrases “nothing else but” and “nothing else but”.
- Nothing but snow fell on the street in May.
- None other than my old friend came to me for dinner.
- None other than the teacher nurtured in me a love of literature.
2. When it comes to comparison.
- Her skin was as white as alabaster.
- She was beautiful like a rose.
- He was rich like Croesus.
3. If the sentence contains demonstrative words: so, such, such, that.
- Write everything as shown in the example.
- Such cold winter Like last year, it didn't exist today.
- People like you will always find a way out of a difficult situation.
4. Before the phrase "like" a comma is also always placed.
- The bedroom, like the living room, was cozy.
- In the village, as in the city, the Internet is always available.
- At school, as at the university, you need to study diligently.
5. A comma is placed before "as" in the phrases "as one" and "as a rule." In this case, the entire phrase is separated by commas.
- Schoolchildren, as one, were in the same uniform.
- People are generally divided into two types: optimists and pessimists.
- All, as one, came out in her defense.
6. If the sentence has the meaning of the reason, then from one part of it you can make a question, and from the other - the answer.
- She, as a prima ballerina, was chosen for the main role.
- Sasha, how best student, represented the school at the Olympiad.
- Masha, as the best employee, was awarded the prize.
No comma needed
1. A comma is not put before the word "as" if the lexeme is used in the meaning of "as".
- His speech at the meeting was taken as a call to fight.
- As a surgeon, she was superbly versed in anatomy.
- He, as a teacher, was responsible for these children.
2. At the beginning of sentences, compound conjunctions with the word “how” are not separated by commas.
- Since you joined us, the firm has flourished.
- Until he stopped smoking, his health was not very strong.
- Since Lisa came to visit her grandmother, the house has come to life.
3. In phraseological units with the word “how”, a comma is also not put.
