Is a comma necessary before as? Is there a comma before the word how or not? Difficult cases of punctuation. Comma before the conjunction "HOW"

It is known that the sign that performs the function of a comma was invented back in the third century BC by the philosopher Ancient Greece Aristophanes of Byzantium. Already in those distant times, humanity felt the need to clarify writing. Aristophanes of Byzantium invented a system of signs that was not very similar to current punctuation marks. The system had special points that were placed, depending on the pronunciation of the phrase when reading, at the top, middle or bottom of the line. The dot in the middle of the line served as a comma and was called “comma”.

The sign we now use to denote a comma is derived from the fraction sign; it is also called the “straight slash”. This sign was used from the 13th to 17th centuries AD to indicate a pause. But the modern comma is a mini-copy of the forward slash.

How can you tell if a comma is used in a given sentence? In Russian, as in many other languages, a comma is a punctuation mark. In writing it is used for highlighting and isolation:

• circumstances;
• participial and participial phrases;
• definitions;
• appeals;
• interjections;
• clarifications, introductory words.

In addition, commas are also used for separation:

• between direct and indirect speech;
• between parts of a complex, complex and compound sentence;
• homogeneous members of the sentence.

Comma - very interesting sign punctuation. This is proven by numerous funny and not so funny situations that actually happened. To prevent such situations from happening to you, take the trouble to learn some rules for placing commas in sentences.

Commas are placed either in pairs or alone. Single commas divide a whole sentence into parts, separating these parts by marking their boundaries. For example, in complex sentence you need to separate two simple parts, or simple sentence– homogeneous members of the sentence used in listing. Paired or double commas highlight an independent part of it, marking boundaries on both sides. Usually, introductory words, adverbial and participial phrases, and appeals are highlighted on both sides if they are in the middle of the sentence and if all the necessary conditions for this are met. Understanding where commas are placed is quite difficult. But you can simplify this by remembering a few simple rules.

First rule

The main thing is to understand the meaning of the sentence. After all, punctuation marks are placed in sentences precisely to convey the correct meaning. When a comma is placed in the wrong place in a sentence, the meaning is distorted. For example: “In the evening I entertained my brother, who was sick, by reading aloud”; “Masha, with whom I quarreled yesterday, ran towards me with a cheerful face.”

Second rule

It is important to remember which conjunctions are preceded by a comma. Such conjunctions include: since, because, where, what, when, which and many others. For example: “I’ll stop by when I’m free”; "He said he'd be late."

Third rule

To highlight an independent part of a sentence, you need to read the sentence without this part. If the meaning of the sentence is clear, then the removed part is independent. Participial phrases, introductory sentences and words must be highlighted with commas. For example: “I recently learned that my neighbor, returning from London, fell ill.” Remove the adverbial phrase “returning from London” from the sentence; its meaning will remain virtually unchanged. That is, the meaning of the sentence is preserved - “I recently found out that my neighbor got sick.”

But this does not always happen with participle phrases; there are sentences in which the participle adjoins the predicate, and in meaning it becomes very similar to an adverb. In such cases, single gerunds are separated by commas. For example, Griboyedov’s phrase: “Why, sir, are you crying? Live your life laughing." If you remove a gerund from a sentence, it will become incomprehensible, so there is no need to put a comma.

Regarding introductory words, they are always separated by commas on both sides. There are a lot of them: of course, fortunately, firstly, by the way, imagine, by the way, etc. It’s not difficult to find them in a sentence, you just have to try to remove them from the sentence.

Fourth rule

Addresses are always separated by commas in sentences. When it is in the middle or at the end of a sentence, it is not very easy to identify. For example: “Alas, Margarita, but you are wrong. Because I was there too. And I saw everything. And you, Lida, I saw among those people who sang in the choir.”

Fifth rule

In what cases is a comma used in comparative phrases? Almost all of them! It is very easy to find a comparative phrase in a sentence using conjunctions: exactly, as, as if, that, as, rather than, than, and so on. But there are exceptions. Comparative phrases are not highlighted if they are stable figures of speech or phraseological units. For example: it pours like a bucket, it cuts like clockwork.

Sixth rule

Between homogeneous members a comma is used, but not always. A comma is necessary for the conjunctions a, yes, but, but, however.

Also, a comma is needed between homogeneous members that are connected by repeating conjunctions (and ... and, or ... or, not that ... not that, either ... or).

There is no need to place a comma between homogeneous terms that are connected by single conjunctions yes, and, either, or.

Also, repeating conjunctions before homogeneous members of a sentence will help determine where commas are placed. Complexity is created only by homogeneous and heterogeneous definitions. A comma must be placed between homogeneous definitions. For example: “an interesting, exciting film.” For heterogeneous definitions, a comma is not needed. For example: "exciting Hollywood action movie." The word "exciting" is an expression of impression, and "Hollywood" in turn means the film belongs to the place where it was made.

Seventh rule

Coordinating conjunctions in complex sentences must be preceded by a comma. These are such conjunctions: and, yes, or, either, yes and. The main thing is to correctly determine where one sentence ends and another begins. To do this, you need to find the subjects and predicate in each sentence or divide a complex sentence according to its meaning.

Eighth rule

A comma is always placed before contrastive conjunctions: but, yes, and.

Ninth Rule

When is a comma used in sentences with a participial phrase? Understanding this rule is somewhat more difficult than with the adverbial phrase. It is important to remember that participles are separated by commas only when they come after the word they define. The rule being defined is the word from which the question is asked to the participial phrase. For example: “a friend (what?) who was delighted at my arrival.” It is worth understanding the difference: “a pear grown in the garden” – “a pear grown in the garden.”

Tenth Rule

Affirmative, interrogative, negative words and interjections are separated by commas. An interjection is always followed by a comma. For example: “Life, alas, is not an eternal gift.” But we should distinguish the interjection from the particles oh, ah, well, which are used to enhance the shade, and the particle o, which is used when addressing. For example: “Oh, what are you!”; "Oh field, field!"

Commas must be treated very carefully, because a misspelled word can be mistaken for a typo, and missing a comma, as linguists say, can greatly distort the meaning of the written text.

Is there a comma before “or”? You will find the answer to this question in the materials of this article. You'll also learn whether to use commas before "what" and "how."

general information

Surely you know that a conjunction is the auxiliary part of speech. Thanks to it, the connection between individual sentences in the text, its parts or words is formed. However, not everyone knows when a comma is placed in front of them and when not. In order to master this information, we present to your attention a few basic rules.

When is a comma placed before “or” and when not?

The conjunction "or" is a disjunctive conjunction. Sometimes it is preceded by a comma and sometimes not. Let's look at both cases in more detail:

Now you know when a comma is placed before “or” and when it is not. The presented rules will help you correctly compose a letter or any text.

Other unions

It should be especially noted that problems with punctuation arise not only when using the conjunction “or”, but also when using the words “what” and “how”. Let's consider these cases in more detail.

When should you not use a comma before "what"?

When is a comma used?

When should you put a comma before "as"?

A comma is placed before “how” in 3 cases:

1. If this conjunction is included in expressions that in their role are close to as a rule, as a consequence, as an exception, as now, as always, as now, as on purpose, as for example. Let's give an example: “In the evening, as if on purpose, a snowstorm began,” “This, as a rule, does not happen very often,” “He, as always, was late for the meeting.”
2. If all parts are connected by this union. Let's give an example: “We watched the water flow for a long time,” “They watched the coals smolder in the fire for a long time.”
3. If the sentence contains a circumstance that is expressed beginning with this conjunction. Let's give an example: “The boy’s voice rang like a bell,” “The girl sang like a nightingale.”

Important to remember!

If any sentence continues after the turn with this conjunction, then it must be isolated. For example: “He watched the water flow for a long time, unable to tear himself away from such a spectacle.”

When should you not use a comma?

Sentences with such a conjunction are not separated by commas in 5 cases:

Important to remember!

The presented word can be used as a compound conjunction “both... and”, “since” and phrases “since”, “since”, etc. In these cases, a comma should not be used. Let us give examples: “All the windows both in the palace and in ordinary houses open”, “He didn’t take any food with him and now he really regretted it, since he was already hungry.”

IN high school is the comma before "what", "how" and in other words in structures that are connected with them. This is because some school textbook authors refer to comparative turnover all designs with these words.

In fact, "How" can act as a conjunction or particle. And such a construction is not always a comparative turnover. In some cases it is a circumstance.

The design acts as:

Predicate: The whole world is like an exciting adventure.

Definitions or applications: The crocodile, as a rare animal, is listed in the Red Book.

Comparative turnover or circumstances: Life seethed like a waterfall of passions.

Introductory design: I decided to change my shirt, or chemise, as my mother would say.

Subordinate part of the sentence: Living in a village is as difficult as conveying in words the unusual smell of a field..

Difference between comparative revolutions and other combinations

Comma before "How" is placed in the following cases:

1) If the combination means exclusively likening, i.e. stands for "like" and no longer has any other meanings. This construction is called a comparative phrase and acts as a circumstance in a sentence. For example: Vasily, like a hero, defended his friend. But it is necessary to pay attention to the point that the comparative phrase is not separated by commas if it is in the middle of the sentence. In this case, the part of the sentence to which this construction relates is emphasized. For example: At the ball, Anna, in love like a passionate girl, looked into the eyes of her chosen one. In this sentence, comparative turnover is not separated from "lover" a comma only because these words have a semantic connection. If there is a comma before the word "How", then it will come out “looked like a passionate lioness”, but the sentence has a completely different meaning.

2) If the combination is used together with the conjunction “and”. This construction is also called a comparative phrase and acts as a circumstance in a sentence: Peter, like everyone else in the class, treated me well.

Applications

In order to prevent another mistake, it is necessary to decide which member of the sentence the combination we are interested in is and what words it is associated with:

1) In the case when used before a combination of words “so”, “that”, “such”, “so” and many others. Such constructions are applications, and in a sentence they act as a definition. For example: He usually did not watch films such as horror or thrillers.

2) The combination has the meaning of causality. Usually it is an application, and in a sentence it acts as a definition. For example: The doctor, as a good specialist, paid a lot of attention to sick patients. This sentence shows the reason in combination "good specialist". The doctor paid a lot of attention to sick patients because he was good specialist. But do not confuse the application with comparative turnover. A comparative phrase is the likening of one object to another. And an application is when an object is called completely differently .

3) The conjunction is part of the expression "nothing else"; "no one else". For example: This event is nothing more than a pre-planned action. The construction given in this sentence is a nominal compound predicate. And we see that this member of the sentence is separated by a comma.

Introductory structures

In some sentences, combinations are not parts of the sentence, but act as introductory words. They must be separated by commas on both sides.

1) The union is combined with in the following words: “now”, “now”, “before”, “always”, “usually”, “exception”, “rule”, “on purpose” and others. These combinations act as introductory words that are not any members of the sentence. For example: As if on purpose, they were in no hurry to go home.

2) The conjunction is part of the introductory sentence. For example: As Katerina correctly noted, the road was especially difficult. This sentence is simple, despite the presence of two grammatical stems. It’s just complicated by the introductory structure. In this case, the construction in which this conjunction is present is an introductory sentence. The narrator names the source of the information. The combination is separated by commas.

Comparative phrase and incomplete subordinate clause

Before deciding whether a comma is needed before "How", you need to understand exactly what the difference is between a comparative clause and an incomplete subordinate clause. It can be seen in the following example: Nowhere have I felt as good as at home. In this case, the second part is an incomplete subordinate clause. Also, do not confuse the subordinate clause with the comparative phrase component, which is a one-part sentence: Write stories like thisIt’s as difficult as describing the sound of music in words. The second part is a one-part impersonal subordinate clause.

Connection with the predicate

There are many examples where a comma comes before "How" not put:

1) The combination is part of the predicate: Time flew by very quickly, the day felt like one hour. The comparative particle is part of the predicate and is emphasized along with it.

2) The word has a semantic connection with the predicate: The meeting flew by in a flash, and I didn’t even have time to come to my senses. In this case, the comma before "How" is not placed because the entire combination with it is a predicate, and the word itself is a comparative particle. Without it, the predicate would lose its true meaning. This award was like a gift from above. This combination also acts as a predicate, because without it the sentence completely loses its meaning. And a comma before "How" that is why it is not installed.

Persistent expressions

Comma before conjunction "How" is not included if it is part of a fixed expression. There are a great many such examples. After the meeting, we gained confidence in the future, because everything went like clockwork. In this case, the combination is part of a compound predicate, which in this sentence is expressed by a phraseological unit. Life should be valued and cherished like the apple of your eye. The combination is also part of a predicate, which is a persistent expression. That is why the use of different punctuation marks is unacceptable here.

A few more features of the use of punctuation marks...

To make the right decision, before "How" whether a comma is needed or not, you need to pay attention to some more nuances. Is there a particle in front of this word? "Not" or these words: “simple”, “exactly”, “exactly”, “absolutely” or "almost". If they are used, then there is no need to put a comma. In this case, such a construction will be called a comparative phrase, and in the sentence it will act as a circumstance. For example: Nikolai always behaved with dignity, he acted exactly like a real man. If the combination means "in role", then the comma is also omitted: He spoke at the meeting as a mathematics teacher. This sentence means that the person acted as a mathematics teacher. In fact, he may not be one.

Thus, we see that there are quite a lot of nuances in the use of the comma. They need to be addressed Special attention, and then it’s quite easy to avoid serious mistakes.

You can select three most dangerous alliances, when meeting with which you need to be especially careful: and, yes (in meaning And ), or. And if they appear alone, then you need to keep your eyes open.

Moreover, unions or yes (in meaning And ) are not as common as the conjunction And. This union is truly omnipresent. Try to experiment: open any text (fiction, journalistic, scientific) and find a page on which there is not a single conjunction And . You will have to work hard, spend a lot of time, and it is unlikely that your search will be crowned with success.

If you encounter a dangerous alliance, this is a signal: "Danger! Take your time! Think!”

So, we see: we have a sentence in which we need to place punctuation marks. What should you do first? Right! Determine how many grammatical stems there are. If a sentence is simple, it has one punctuation mark; if a sentence is complex, it has another.

“Non-dangerous” conjunctions and allied words are creatures that carry a poster: “We demand a comma! (or some other punctuation mark)". For example, a, but, so that, what, which, because, therefore, if etc.

But “dangerous” unions shout that they special, so for them There are separate rules for punctuation!

Let's try to put these rules together to make the work easier for all of us studying Russian.

The first group is complex sentences. Second group - simple sentences with homogeneous members(subjects, predicates, additions, definitions, circumstances). Each group has its own list of punctuation rules for “dangerous” conjunctions.

Let's look at them in order.

When the sentence is complex

The rule for placing a comma in a complex sentence is very simple: if the sentences have some common grammatical or semantic elements, a comma between simple sentences is not placed before a single “dangerous” conjunction.

Such common elements could be:

1) Common minor member of a sentence.

At Ivan Ivanovich's large expressive tobacco-colored eyes and a mouth somewhat similar to the letter Izhitsa. (N.V. Gogol)

Who has big eyes? At Ivan Ivanovich's. Whose mouth looks like the letter Izhitsa? Also from Ivan Ivanovich. The general addition applies equally to both the first sentence and the second.

Be careful! The minor part of the sentence really should be general!

Compare. At the pier, loaders slowly do their work, and huge liners smoothly sail into the ocean.

You might immediately think that at the pier– common minor member. But then it turns out that the liners are sailing into the ocean at pier, but this is not so: the liners are sailing from pier, and the movers do their job at pier. There is no common minor term, so a comma is necessary.

2) General subordinate clause.

If it didn't rain, all the greenery would have dried up long ago and the earth would have been covered in wrinkles and cracks.

3) General main sentence.

Swallow said goodbye to Thumbelina, as soon as the sun warmed up and the earth melted.

If a “dangerous” union repeats itself, then no common members of the sentence are important - the comma is still placed.

There was once a taiga here, And there were bears And the centuries-old mighty trees rustled.

The conjunction is repeated, therefore, despite the presence of a general circumstance here, simple sentences are separated by commas.

When the sentence is simple

The rule for placing a comma with homogeneous members is also simple: a comma is not placed if the conjunction is single; if a “dangerous” conjunction is repeated, a comma is necessary.

Examples:

1. Pines grew in the forest And birch trees

2. Grew up in the forest And pine trees, And birch trees

3. Pines grew in the forest, And birch, And aspen.

4. Pines grew in the forest And birch, aspen And Oak trees.

Is it that hard to remember? When there are examples, diagrams and rules before your eyes, probably not. But sometimes there are sentences in texts in which punctuation marks can cause difficulties.

1. The temptation to put an unnecessary comma is especially great in cases where homogeneous members of a sentence, connected by a “dangerous” conjunction, are not side by side, but are separated by other words. The more words like this, the more you want to put a comma. And if we have a poetic text in front of us, then the intonation also pushes us to insert an extra comma.

Look at the following sentences and think about where you would like to put a comma.

1. A messenger rides with a letter
AND finally arrived.

2. The moon moved across the darkness
From cloud to cloud And mound
Illuminated with an instant brilliance.
(A.S. Pushkin)

Punctuation marks are placed correctly, commas are not needed.

2. Pairs of homogeneous members can be homogeneous and heterogeneous.

Compare the two sentences.

In summer And in winter, in the rain And in hail, at night And During the day they go to save people.

Pairs of homogeneous adverbials refer to one member of the sentence - the predicate, and therefore are separated by a comma.

Serbian writers And poets carefully And carefully collected And recorded in villages And folk songs and fairy tales.

All pairs of homogeneous members refer to different members of the sentence and are heterogeneous in relation to each other, therefore they are not separated by commas.

3. There can be several “dangerous” conjunctions in one sentence, so you need to find out what work each conjunction does, then put punctuation marks.

AND the heart beats in ecstasy,
AND rose again for him
AND deity and inspiration
AND life, and tears, and love. (A.S. Pushkin)

Before us is a complex sentence, simple sentences are connected by a conjunction And; in the second part we see homogeneous subjects with a repeating conjunction And.

In the grammar of the Russian language there are cases when we, without hesitation, quickly and accurately place punctuation marks, for example, a comma before adversative conjunctions A And But. However, there are times when you need slowness and attentiveness and you need to think about how the sentence is structured, what the semantic relationships of the parts are, and only then place punctuation marks. Don't forget the Russian proverb: If you hurry, you will make people laugh.

Good luck in learning Russian!

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We all remember well from school that in sentences before conjunctions A And But A comma is always used, and it does not matter whether the sentence is complex or simple with homogeneous members. With the union And everything is much more complicated. Let's try to figure it out.

In the very general view the rule looks like this: simple in sentences with homogeneous members, a comma before And not placed, if this union single: I remember the dacha And swing… If union and repeats itself, comma is put between homogeneous members before the union: I remember the dacha And swing, And bonfire over the river... In complex(complex) sentence with a comma before the conjunction And, usually, is put: I remember the dacha And I still remember my childhood swing...

Thus, we summarize: in a complex sentence between its parts before the conjunction And a comma is placed; in a sentence with homogeneous members it is placed if the conjunction And repeats itself. To avoid mistakes, it is enough to correctly determine which sentence we have in front of us - a simple one with homogeneous members or a complex, complex one. To do this, you need to look at how many grammatical bases there are in the sentence (the grammatical base is the subject and the predicate). If one is a simple sentence, two or more are complex. In our examples in the sentence I remember the dacha and the swing... one subject - I, and one predicate - I remember, that is, one grammatical basis, which means the sentence is simple ( dacha And swing- homogeneous additions). In a sentence I remember the dacha, and my childhood swing remains in my memory... two grammar basics (I remember; the swing remains in my memory), which means the sentence is complex.

Let's go back to compound proposal. In what cases is there a comma before And in him not placed? There are several such cases, namely:

1) If parts compound sentence united somehow general element: common minor member, common introductory words, phrase, sentence or general subordinate clause:

This morning the wind died down And . (Complex sentence, This morning- common minor term for both parts; comma before And is not placed.)

When dawn broke, the wind died down And the long-awaited silence came. (Offer with different types communications; for parts 2 and 3 which are connected coordinating connection, subordinate clause When it dawned is common, meaning a comma before And is not placed.)

2) If each part of a complex sentence is an interrogative, imperative or exclamatory sentence:

What is this show about? And Who is it intended for?(Parts are interrogative sentences. Compare: What is this program about? Who is it intended for?)

How beautiful is this picture And it brings back so many memories!(Parts are declarative exclamatory sentences.)

Violinist, play And rejoice, people!(Parts are exclamatory sentences.)

3) If the parts of a complex sentence are nominal or impersonal sentences:

Summer evening And slight coolness.(Parts are denominative sentences.)

The house is flooded And It's warm on the veranda.(Parts are impersonal sentences.)