Homogeneous members of the sentence and punctuation marks with "and". Why do you need a colon in Russian?

11 simple rules, which will help you learn how to create correct and readable lists anywhere: in presentations, reports, documents or on websites.

When drawing up documents, we often come across all kinds of lists. There are simple and multi-level lists. How to arrange them? When to use numbering, letters and dashes? When is it appropriate to end each list item with a period, and when is a comma or semicolon appropriate?

When drawing up documents, we often come across all kinds of lists. At the same time, there are a great many rules for their design. Let's try to understand them.

Notation of list elements

The pre-list sentence and the elements of the subsequent list (listed after the colon) can be written as a single line. But in long and complex lists, it is much more convenient to place each element on a new line. And here you have a choice: you can limit yourself to using paragraph indentation (Example 1) or replace it with a number, letter or dash (Example 2).

Example 1

Example 2

There are lists:

    simple, those. consisting of one level of text division (see Examples 1 and 2) and

    composite, including 2 or more levels (see Example 3).

The choice of symbols that will precede each element of the list depends on the depth of division. When creating simple lists, you can use lowercase (“small”) letters, Arabic numerals or dashes.

The situation is much more complicated with composite lists. For greater clarity combinations various characters In the lists we give an example of the design of a 4-level list:

Example 3

From this example it can be seen that the heading numbering system looks like this: the first level heading is formatted using Roman numerals, the second level headings are formatted using Arabic numerals without brackets, third-level headings using Arabic numerals with brackets, and finally, fourth-level headings using lowercase letters with brackets. If this list assumed another, fifth level, then we would design it using a dash.

Numbering system for parts of a composite list can only consist of Arabic numerals with dots. Then the structure of constructing the number of each element of the list reflects its subordination in relation to the elements located above (there is an increase in digital indicators):

Example 4

If at the end of the list there is “etc.”, “etc.” or “etc.”, then such text is not placed on a separate line, but is left at the end of the previous list element (see Examples 3 and 4).

Punctuation of lists

In Example 3 you can clearly see that the headings of the first and second levels begin with capital letters, and the headings of subsequent levels are from lowercase. This happens because after Roman and Arabic (without brackets) numerals, according to the rules of the Russian language, a dot is placed, and after the dot, as we all remember with primary school, a new sentence begins, which is written with a capital letter. Arabic numerals with brackets and lowercase letters with brackets are not followed by a period, so the following text begins with a small letter. The last point, by the way, also applies to the dash, since it is difficult to imagine combining a dash with a dot after it.

pay attention to punctuation at the end headings of the list, as well as at the end of words and phrases in its composition.
If the title suggests subsequent division of the text, then a colon is placed at the end of it, but if there is no subsequent division, a period is placed.

Example 5

If parts of the list consist of simple phrases or one word, they are separated from each other by commas (see Example 5). If parts of the list are complicated (there are commas inside them), it is better to separate them with a semicolon (see Example 6).

Example 6

Finally, if parts of the list are separate sentences, they are separated from each other by a period:

Example 7

Sometimes the list is formatted in such a way that it is preceded by a whole sentence (or several sentences). In this case, the list uses only the so-called “lowest” levels of division (lowercase letters with a bracket or a dash), and dots are not placed at the end of each part of the list, because in this case, the list is a single sentence:

Example 8

It happens that some parts of the list that are phrases include an independent sentence starting with a capital letter. Regardless of the fact that according to the rules of the Russian language a period must be placed at the end of a sentence, each element of the list will be separated from the next by a semicolon:

Example 9

List Item Consistency

When compiling lists, you should always pay attention to the fact that the initial words of each element of the list are consistent with each other in gender, number and case. In Example 10 we presented a variant of incorrect formatting: the last element of the list is used in a different case compared to the rest. Errors like this usually occur in long lists with a large number of items.

Example 10

Also, all elements of the list must necessarily agree in gender, number and case with the words (or word) in the sentence preceding the list, followed by a colon. Let's look at the example of incorrect listing again to analyze the errors.

Example 11

This list may seem impeccable, if not for one “but”. The word “compliance” requires words after it in genitive case, which would answer the questions “who? what?". Therefore, each section should begin like this:

So, we have given the basic rules for constructing and formatting lists that will help make your documents even more literate.

For the past seven years, I have been working at the Budennovsky branch of the Poisk Center for Gifted Children as a methodologist in the Russian language department and at the same time as a teacher of the Russian language. Teaching a language at such a Center is both an art and a science. This is not a skill that, once mastered, a teacher can stop improving. It is necessary to expand your professional competence every day, and conduct classes in such a way as to equip children not only with knowledge and skills (the importance of which cannot be disputed!), but also to arouse in children sincere interest, genuine passion and a creative attitude towards reality.

The teaching of the Russian language from grades 5 to 11 is based on the textbooks “Russian Language” edited by Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor S.I. Lvova. According to the program of this complex Students have at their disposal reference books on the Russian language, diagrams and tables on spelling and punctuation, a schoolchild’s etymological dictionary, a dictionary “Let’s speak correctly”, a book “Russian Speech Miracles”. But, along with the use of ready-made methodological manuals and textbooks, I am developing my own courses in the Russian language for students aged 14-17 years.

For the Festival of Pedagogical Ideas “Open Lesson” 2011-2012, I offer a lesson from the course "Punctuation marks. Difficulties of Russian punctuation” on the topic "Colon. The use of colons in different syntactic constructions”, designed for 2 hours. This is the seventh lesson on this course in 9th grade. primary goal this course– highlight the most difficult and important issues of punctuation, both theoretically and practically. The classes cover the basics of Russian punctuation and the purpose of punctuation marks. The study of punctograms is in organic connection with the study of syntax and speech development. A special role is given to observing intonation. Attention is paid to particularly complex punctuation rules and their practical implementation in texts.

The lesson is based on the technology of critical thinking, which I have been using for many years in almost every lesson at the Center for Gifted Children.

Lesson type: learning new material based on previously learned material.

Type of lesson: research - explanatory.

Lesson Plan

  1. Theoretical questions. Colon.
  2. Express – question.
  3. Theoretical block. Tasks.
  4. Problem situation № 1.
  5. Have a good rest!
  6. Problem situation No. 2.
  7. Theoretical block. Tasks.
  8. Diagnostic test.
  9. Flash questions.
  10. Theoretical block. Tasks.
  11. Test.

The purpose of the lesson: to generalize, expand and systematize information about the placement of the colon in various syntactic constructions.

Progress of the lesson

It’s night in my huge city.
I’m leaving the sleepy house - away.
And people think: wife, daughter, -
But I remembered one thing: night.

M. Tsvetaeva

Hello, young literature expert!

You probably guessed, reading the lines of M. Tsvetaeva’s poem, that the objects of our further linguistic research will be such punctuation marks as colons and dashes.

Today we will talk about the colon. The thing is that everyone (at least once in their life) made mistakes associated with ignorance of the placement of this punctuation mark. What do you know about the colon?

I suggest you remember the definition.

A colon is a ____________ sign in the form of two _________ (:) located one above the other, used to indicate that the part of the text after it is connected by ________, explanatory, etc. semantic relations with the part of the text before it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: A colon is a punctuation mark in the form of two dots (:) located one above the other, used to indicate that the part of the text after it is connected by causal, explanatory, etc. semantic relations with the part of the text before it.

A little about the colon

It is known that the ancient Greek philosopher Plato sometimes ended entire sections of a book with a colon.

Did you know that in most languages ​​a colon is placed immediately after a word and requires a space after itself; in some (for example, in French writing) it is separated (separated by a narrow, unbroken space) from the previous word.

And in Church Slavonic writing, the colon as a whole was equivalent to the Russian semicolon, but is also used in the functions of ellipsis and even a period at the end of abbreviations.

The colon, as a sign of abbreviation, was generally inherent in old European writings (in Russian it was like this before mid-19th century). Among modern languages, this colon function is preserved in Swedish and Finnish, even in the middle of a word: H:ki (Helsinki).

My young friend, you know that a colon is placed in different syntactic constructions.

Task 1. Express – question.

The colon is placed:

1) in a simple sentence after a generalizing word before homogeneous members of the sentence;
2) in a simple sentence after the introductory word, which comes after the generalizing word, before homogeneous members of the sentence;
3) in a simple sentence before a generalizing word, if it comes after homogeneous members of the sentence;
4) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of reason;
5) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of a condition;
6) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of explanation.

___________________

Answer: 1,2,4,6

You have already completed the first task. To complete the rest, let's go on a journey through the pages of Knowledge.

Page one.

Let's consider the rules for using colons in simple sentences with generalizing words with homogeneous members of the sentence.

Of course, you know that generalizing are words or phrases that act as a member of a sentence, which serves as a more general designation of the homogeneous members that are attached to it.

Let's repeat punctuation for generalizing words and homogeneous members of a sentence.

1. If homogeneous members are preceded by a generalizing word or phrase, then a colon is placed in front of it, for example: Signs of autumn are associated with everything: with the color of the sky, with dew and fog, with the cry of birds and brightness starry sky(K. Paustovsky).

2. If after the generalizing word (phrase) there are words somehow, namely, for example, then a comma is placed before them, and a colon after them, for example: Khor understood reality, that is: he settled down, saved up some money, got along with the master and with other authorities (I. Turgenev).

Let's work on the assignments and try to resolve some problems.

Exercise 1.

Indicate a sentence with a generalizing word.

  1. The softest and most touching poems, books and paintings were written about autumn.
  2. Everything around sparkled, shimmered, and sparkled in the sun.
  3. The Azov Sea is home to pike perch and bream, mackerel and anchovy.
  4. Horse breeds based on their use can be divided into three groups: riding, light draft and heavy draft.

    5. Books, music, painting teach us to understand beauty.

Task 2.

Indicate a sentence that does not contain a generalizing word.

    The letters they write are various, tearful, painful, sometimes beautiful, more often useless.

  1. Dogs, horses, chickens are all wet, sad, timid.

    2. The sailor met many people, sometimes loud and mocking, sometimes timid and hospitable, sometimes pugnacious and hot-tempered, but no one could help him find the precious pouch.

    Vanya recognized old places: abandoned forest roads that led into aspen thickets, clearings overgrown with heather, immortelle and spike grass, and ant trails in the red grainy sand.

    Granite, iron, wood, harbor pavement, ships and people all breathe with the powerful sounds of a passionate hymn to Mercury.

Task 3.

Indicate a sentence that does not contain a colon.

    Through the milky blue haze, everything around the forest, rocks, islands was dimly blue, everything was dim, ghostly.

  1. In all the rooms in the servant's room, in the hall, in the living room it is cool and gloomy, this is because the house is surrounded by a garden, and the upper glass of the windows is colored.

    2. All these people were sailors of different nations, fishermen, stokers, cheerful cabin boys, port thieves, machinists, workers, boatmen, loaders, divers, smugglers - they were all young, healthy and saturated with the strong smell of the sea and fish.

    The noise from the flight of a night bird, the falling of snow from branch to branch, the rustling of a dried blade of grass swaying by the light breath of a weak breeze - all this together could not disturb the silence that reigned in nature.

  2. All these sounds and smells, clouds and people were strangely beautiful and sad, it seemed like the beginning of a fairy tale,

Problem situation #1

From under the hay one could see a samovar, a tub of ice cream and some other attractive bundles and boxes (L.N. Tolstoy).

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: From under the hay one could see: a samovar, a tub of ice cream and some other attractive bundles and boxes (L.N. Tolstoy).

Do you know why a colon is added to homogeneous parts of a sentence without a generalizing word?

My friend, a colon is also used when it is necessary to warn the reader that what follows is a list.

Have a good rest!

Did you know that this sign was used very often in the 18th century:

1) when contrasting, for example: We understand one thing clearly and in detail: although we clearly imagine others in our minds, we cannot depict them in detail (M. Lomonosov);

2) before a subordinating conjunction that begins a subordinate clause, for example: With this, the one who enriches himself will not offend anyone: because he acquires for himself an inexhaustible and common treasure (M. Lomonosov)

3) before an adversative conjunction, for example: The test of nature is difficult, Listeners: however pleasant, useful, holy (M. Lomonosov)

4) before the connecting clause, for example: It is known in Italy that recently it happened that thunderclaps sometimes came out of the cellars: and for this reason the cause of them, completely different from Electrical force, was assigned (M. Lomonosov)

It can be noted that the functions of this sign were formulated in a complex and contradictory manner. The process, as we see, was long, but definite - the sign steadily progressed through the accumulation of explanatory significance. In this sense, it is interesting to pay attention, for example, to the fact that in the works of M.V. Lomonosov quite often the colon is at the junction of the main part of the sentence and subordinate causal ones (with causal conjunctions). From a modern point of view, this sign is superfluous, since the meaning of the cause is conveyed lexically - by causal conjunctions.

And gradually, having gained a foothold in this position, the sign began to be associated with the meaning of reason, justification. That is why, already in a non-union sentence, it seemed to take on a causal meaning and became a meaningfully significant sign.

The explanatory function of the colon is firmly preserved, however, as we will see later, a young lover of literature, this sign begins to lose some (not all and not always!) positions and give way to another sign - the dash.

This is precisely the peculiarity of the fate of the colon: with a clear function, the loss of positions where this function is manifested.

Problem situation No. 2

Rewrite the sentence and find the place for the colon!

And, having done this, he felt that the result was the desired one, that he was touched and she was touched (L. Tolstoy).

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: And, having done this, I felt that the result was the desired one: that he was touched and she was touched (L. Tolstoy)

Just now you learned that a colon is placed before a subordinating conjunction in those rare cases when the preceding main clause contains a special warning about subsequent clarification (at this point there is a long pause and you can insert the words namely).

Page two

About the rules for using colons in simple sentences with direct speech.

My friend! Study the table carefully and understand the placement of punctuation marks in sentences with direct speech. Fill in the table with your examples.

If everything worked out for you, then you, of course, noticed that after the words of the author, located before direct speech, a colon is placed; the author's remark coming after direct speech is written with a small letter.

Attention! Question: does this always happen?

That's right, not always. If the author’s words do not contain designations of speech, thoughts, facial expressions and movements or feelings of the speaker and do not allow the insertion of verbs of speech after themselves, then after the author’s words a dot is placed before direct speech, and in cases where the author’s remark comes after direct speech, a capital letter is used . By the way, only under this condition can there be a dot before the dash.

He looked with a grin (and said):

- So I believed you!

I'm tired of the constant arguing.

- Leave me alone!

Task 4. Find and correct errors in the placement of punctuation marks that we have introduced into the text.

1. You spoke, and I thought - “What a strong machine the human body is!”

_____________________________________________________________________

Answer: There should be a colon in this sentence, not a dash before direct speech.

2. She said:

“It was probably a wonderful custom in the old days.” Now it is going out of fashion even in palaces.

And, to smooth out the harshness, she added, smiling

– However, palaces also seem to be going out of fashion.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Find the “third extra” sentence and explain your choice, for example: 1a, the remarks of different persons are next to each other, and in the other two sentences the remarks are separated by the words of the author. There are no punctuation marks.

1. ___________________________________________________________________

a) I think I stayed too long, he said with an embarrassed smile.
b) Why do you think that this is nonsense? Gavrilov asked with his quick grin, not at all offended.
c) Nikolai Ivanovich read the card again and asked what you actually want.

2. ___________________________________________________________________

a) The paramedic respectfully objected Dmitry Vasilyevich yes, you go to sleep.
b) Why did you say that? Sonya asked with a grin.
c) Once, in a moment of frankness, Vasily Gorlov told me By God, Dmitry Vasilyevich, I loved you so much.

Answer: 2b, direct speech comes before the words of the author, in the other two - vice versa.

3. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Tokarev remembered how Tanya asked “It won’t be hard for you” and burst out laughing.
b) Well, goodbye, gentlemen, he said, extending his wide hand to Natasha and Daev. I wish you all the best.
c) It’s a sin to complain about time, Daev seriously objected, time is good and extremely interesting.

4. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Sit on a chair and be silent, he furiously shouted so that I don’t hear your voice anymore.
b) Alexandra Mikhailovna said, breathless, Tanya, listen, don’t be afraid, I’ll arrange everything for you. Don’t be afraid, she repeated joyfully.
c) She repeated, sobbing, “Lord, Lord,” and without looking away, she looked at Tanya.

Answer: 4a, direct speech is interrupted by the words of the author, in the other two - vice versa.

5. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Suddenly, with his quick grin, the painter said loudly, “I think that you are talking about this incorrectly!” This is what the foundry worker asked about.
b) The painter decisively cut off. You can’t live in the city. Don’t meddle in the wrong place. Go to the village and manage. Why are you going to manage? - exclaimed the cabman.
c) Everyone is calling you, shouting, with a respectful smile he turned to Osokin. Let me not go, Osokin said beggingly.

Answer: 5c, in sentences with direct speech, the remarks of different persons are separated by the words of the author; in the rest, replicas of different persons stand side by side.

6. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Will your fellow countryman be sympathetic to you? asked the guy in the blouse. The fellow countryman muttered to the man without looking at the guy and sat down.
b) Varvara Vasilievna said Timofey Stepanovich, your tea is completely cold. Let me pour you some fresh one. But now I’ll finish this Baluev hastily finished his tea and handed the glass to Varvara Vasilievna.
c) Where did Tanya realize Varvara Vasilievna? Sergei chuckled. She went with the craftsman. (According to V. Veresaev).

Answer: 6b, replicas of different persons stand side by side, in the other two replicas are separated by the words of the author.

Page three

Test your knowledge of placing colons in different syntactic constructions by answering quick questions.

Question 1. Give the correct explanation for placing a colon in a sentence.

Throughout the morning, Olenin was completely immersed in arithmetic calculations: how many miles had he traveled, how many remained to the first station, how many to the first city.

1) The second part of a non-union complex sentence reveals the content of the first part.

2) Several parts of a non-union complex sentence reveal the content of the first part.

3) Subordinate parts of a complex sentence explain the content of the first part.

4) The generalizing word comes before homogeneous members.

Question 2. How to explain the placement of the colon in this sentence?

Don’t dig holes for others: you’ll fall into them yourself.

1) The second part of a non-union complex sentence indicates the reason for what is said in the first part.
2) The second part of a non-union complex sentence explains and reveals the content of the first part.
3) The first part of a non-union complex sentence is contrasted with the second part.
4) The first part of a non-union complex sentence indicates the conditions for performing the action indicated in the second part.

My young friend! You probably already realized that on this page of Knowledge we will talk about placing a colon in the SBP.

I suggest you remember the definition of a complex sentence.

A unionless complex sentence is _____________, the parts of which are interconnected by ___________ and _____________ and are connected without the help of _________ or allied words by intonation and _________________________.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: a non-union complex sentence is a complex sentence, the parts of which are interconnected in meaning and structure and are connected without the help of conjunctions or allied words by intonation and the order of the parts.

A little theory

A colon in a non-union complex sentence that splits into two parts is placed:

1) if the second part (one or more sentences) explains, reveals the content of the first part (the words “namely” can be inserted between both parts), for example: In fact, Akakiy Akakievich’s overcoat had some strange structure: its collar became smaller and smaller every year, because it served to undermine other parts(Gogol);

2) if in the first part through verbs see, look, hear, understand, know, feel etc. a warning is given that what will follow is a statement of some fact or some description (in these cases, a conjunction can usually be inserted between both parts What), For example: I crawled along thick grass along the ravine, I look: the forest is over, several Cossacks are leaving it into a clearing(Lermontov); But (without warning intonation before the second part): I hear the earth shake– comma instead of colon;

3) if the first part contains verbs look out, look around, listen etc., as well as verbs with the meaning of action, warning about further presentation and allowing the words “and saw that”, “and heard that”, “and felt that”, etc. to be inserted after them, for example : I looked up: on the roof of my hut stood a girl in a striped dress with her hair down.(Lermontov).

NB! Pay attention!

In these cases, a dash is also used instead of a colon to convey various additional shades of meaning, for example: I looked at the ice hole - the water was dozing(Shishkov); He looked out of the room - not a single light in the windows(V. Panova) - however, for the purpose of justified unification, it is preferable to put a colon.

4) if the second part indicates the basis, the reason for what is said in the first part (a conjunction can be inserted between both parts because, since, since), For example: And Zhilin became depressed: he saw that things were bad(L. Tolstoy);

5) if the second part is a direct question, for example: There’s only one thing I don’t understand: how could she bite you?(Chekhov).

So, our sixth lesson in the distance learning course “Difficulties of Russian Punctuation” is coming to an end. How much do you already know! I propose to conclude our meeting with a test. I wish success to all Russian language experts!

Test

1. What numbers should be punctuated in place?

1. I love Pushkin (1) for his fun (2) and wisdom (3) and sadness (4) and nobility.

a) 1, 2, 3
b) 2, 3, 4

2. Everything is included in the novel “Eugene Onegin” (1) mind (2) heart (3) youth (4) wise maturity (5) minutes of joy (6) and bitter hours without sleep.

a) 1 - colon, 2, 3, 4, 5 - commas
b) 1 - dash, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - commas

3. And in Onegin (1) and in Tatiana (2) and in Lensky (3) something else is important (4) their spiritual appearance (5) dreams (6) suffering (7) thoughts.

a) 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 - commas, 4 - colon
b) 1, 2, 3, 5, b, 7 - commas, 4 - dashes

4. No one (1) neither mother (2) nor father (3) nor Olga (4) nor neighbors (5) nor even Lensky (6) is able to understand Tatyana.

a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
b) 1 - colon, 2, 3, 4, 5 - commas, 6 - dash

5. Pushkin (1) not only understands his heroine (2) but loves (3) and takes pity on her.

a) 2
b) 1, 2, 3

6. The poet notices the cute little things of everyday life (1) samovar (2) Chinese teapot (3) fragrant smell of strong tea. (According to N. Dolinina.)

a) 1 – colon, 2, 3 – commas
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas

7. Walking (1) reading moral novels (2) playing chess (3) poetry in an album (4) all this is quite possible activities for lovers.

a) 1, 2, 3 - commas, 4 - colon
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas, 4 - dashes

8. A true writer (1) is the same (2) as ancient rock (3) he sees more clearly (4) than ordinary people. (A. Chekhov.)

a) 2, 4 - commas, 4 - dashes
b) 1 - dash, 2, 4 - commas, 3 - colon

9. The creativity of nature (1) and the creativity of man differ in their attitude to time (2) nature creates the present (3) man creates the future. (M. Prishvin.)

a) 2 - colon, 3 - dash
b) 2 - dash, 3 - comma

10. My poetry is an act of friendship with a person (1) hence my behavior (2) I write (3) it means (4) I love, (M. Prishvin.)

a) 2 - colon, 3 - dash, 4 - comma
b) 1,3 - dash, 2 - colon

11. Books connected me with the world (1) books sang about (2) how diverse and rich life is (3) how daring a person is in his desire for goodness and beauty. (M. Gorky.)

a) 1 - colon, 2, 3 - commas
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas

12. The whole difference between smart and stupid is (1) the first will always think (2) and rarely say (3) the second will always say (4) and will never think. (V. Klyuchevsky.)

a) 1 - colon, 3 - comma
b) 1 - dash, 2, 3, 4 - commas

13. It is not only possible to be proud of the glory of your ancestors (1) but also must (2) not to respect it is shameful cowardice. (A. Pushkin.)

a) 1 - comma, 2 - semicolon
b) 1, 2 - dash

14. Struggle is a condition of life (1) life dies (2) when the struggle ends. (V. Belinsky.)

a) 1 - dash, 2 - comma
b) 1 - colon, 2 - comma

I am sure that the test was not easy for you. Because placing a dash also requires close attention and serious study. This is exactly what we will talk about in the next lesson.

In Russian there are quite a few a large number of punctuation marks. Some are used to complete a sentence, others emphasize intonation and mood, and others divide a passage of text into logical parts. To understand why a colon is used, it is necessary to consider in what cases it is used.

First you need to remember that in most cases this sign is placed V complex sentences, with the exception of some points.

  • In the Russian language there is such a thing as a “generalizing word”. For a better understanding, consider an example sentence: “There were tools on the table: a hammer, a drill, a saw and a jigsaw.” This sentence talks about the tools that are on the table, and then they are all listed. In this case, the word “tools” will be a general one. From here we get the first rule, which states that a colon must be placed after the generalizing word. To reinforce this, let’s give another example: “By tomorrow I definitely need to do my homework: biology, algebra and geography.”
  • Headlines like “Ivanov: gamer and programmer” also include this sign. If we consider a specific rule, then the first part of the title should indicate actor, some problem or scene. The second part of the title gives specificity to the first. "The country's economy: further development."
  • Let's say that there is no generalizing word, but there is an enumeration. In this case, the sign will also be placed, for example: “On the table were: telephone, keys and money.”

Colon in complex sentences

Cases of using this punctuation mark in complex constructions much more, but there is nothing difficult about it.

  • Consider this example: “This morning my mother told me: “Don’t forget to stop by the store and buy milk.” This example contains direct speech, and if it comes after the words of the author, then a colon must be placed before it. Please note that if the sentence looks like this: “Go to the store and buy milk,” my mother told me,” then the colon will not be placed, since direct speech comes before the words of the author.
  • Unionless complex sentences are unionless because they simply have no conjunctions: “Mom cleans the room, I do my homework.” This is a very simple sentence that does not require any punctuation except a comma. But what about this example: “Read more books: they will increase your lexicon, they will teach you to write and speak correctly.” Why is there a colon in this case? There is a rule that says: if the second part of a non-union complex sentence reveals the meaning of the first part or indicates the reason, then a colon is placed after the first part. The statement encourages reading books and further indicates the reason for the motivation. “The weather was very bad: it was raining and there was a strong wind,” another good example rules for this.
  • Another rule about placing this punctuation mark says that it must be placed between two simple sentences that are not connected by a conjunction, if the first contains verbs like “see”, “look”, “hear”, “know”, etc. Further. These words seem to hint at a further description of something. The rule sounds quite complicated, but in reality it’s the opposite. “I peered for a long time and finally understood: the shadows on the wall reminded me of a human silhouette.” “Walking down the street I hear someone calling me.” These two examples illustrate the rule perfectly.
  • Words such as “namely”, “for example”, “by the way” require a colon after them. “Last year I visited all largest countries, namely: China, the United States, Brazil and Indonesia." Please note that without the expression “namely”, in this example the colon would still be inserted.

Is a colon necessary for indirect speech?

We have considered all cases in Russian when a colon is placed. I would like to focus special attention on direct speech. The fact is that in addition to it, indirect speech is also used, and they must be distinguished in order to place correct sign punctuation.

  • Mom told me: “I need to go to the store and buy milk.” Mom said we need to throw out the trash. The second sentence will be indirect speech. It can be easily determined by several conjunctions, such as “what”, “so that”, “when”, “why” and others. Indirect speech is a subordinate clause in a complex sentence and is not separated by a colon.

To summarize, we can say that colon serves separator punctuation, which is placed only in the middle of a simple sentence in the case of a generalizing word and enumeration. IN complex design this punctuation mark is necessary if there is a reason explaining the first part of the sentence, if there is direct speech, if there are clarifying words and verbs hinting at a further description of something.

Video

This video will help you understand when to use a colon in a sentence.

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Homogeneous members sentences are words that answer the same question, refer to the same word in the sentence and are the same member of the sentence.

Homogeneous members are separated from each other commas:

Was light, joyful, warm!
Snow, rain, wind didn't care about this man.
Perky, cheerful, marvelous familiar a voice stopped him.
He ran, flew, rushed towards your dream.

Comma placed between homogeneous members if they are connected:

  • repeating conjunctions then...that, neither...nor, or...or:
    That snow, That wind;
  • double alliances somehow and, not only, but and, if not then:
    Both the trees and bushes turned green. Not only the trees, but also the bushes turned green. The leaves bloom, if not in April, then in May (a comma is placed before if not).

Before single union "And" no comma is used:
Trees, bushes, flowers, and grass turned green.

A sentence may have several rows of homogeneous members:
Maples And birch trees crowded on hillocks And dells.

Colon is placed before the listing if:

  • it is necessary to warn the reader that what follows is a list:
    Meanwhile, there are many of their own factories and factories: hat, glass, paper, etc. (I. A. Goncharov)
  • the listing is preceded by:

    general word: Everything in a person should be beautiful: his face, his clothes, his soul, and his thoughts. (A.P. Chekhov);
    introductory word (somehow, namely, for example, etc.), with the introductory word separated by a comma: For trade, these trades barely deliver a few unimportant items, such as: skins, horns, fangs. (I. A. Goncharov)

Dash is placed after the listing located in the middle of the sentence, if the generalizing word comes after homogeneous members of the sentence: From the house, from the trees, from the dovecote - from Total Long shadows ran. (I. A. Goncharov)

Colon and dash the enumeration located in the middle of the sentence is highlighted if this enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word, and after the enumeration the sentence continues: And he has a lot of goods: furs, satin, silver - both in plain sight and under locks. (A.S. Pushkin).

Tasks and tests on the topic “Homogeneous parts of sentences and punctuation marks with “and”

  • Homogeneous members of a sentence, punctuation marks for them - Offer. Word combination 4th grade

    Lessons: 1 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1

  • Sentences with homogeneous members. Summarizing words - Basic concepts of syntax and punctuation grade 5

    Lessons: 2 Assignments: 8 Tests: 3

  • Punctuation for homogeneous members connected by non-repeating, repeating and paired conjunctions - Simple complicated sentence 11th grade

    Lessons: 2 Assignments: 6 Tests: 1

  • Punctuation in definitions and applications - Simple complicated sentence 11th grade

    Lessons: 2 Assignments: 7 Tests: 1

Attention! IN different rows, a comma before the “and” is impossible!

Remember that:

  1. if a generalizing word comes before homogeneous members, then a colon is placed after it;
  2. if the generalizing word comes after homogeneous members, then a dash is placed after the generalizing word;
  3. if a generalizing word comes before homogeneous members, then, as you already know, a colon is placed after it; but if after the enumeration the sentence continues, then after the homogeneous members it is necessary to put a dash.

For example:
Everyone: children, adults, dogs - mixed into one heap.

Punctuation marks are nothing more than a system of symbols that is used in various languages for structuring writing. The same punctuation marks in different languages may not only be placed differently, but also have different meanings.

Let's talk about such an important punctuation mark as the colon. This punctuation mark is placed inside a sentence. A colon is placed between parts of a sentence that may be either related or different from each other. This sign can be found both in simple and complex sentences. The colon focuses the reader's attention on what comes after it.

As a rule, a colon is placed after a generalizing word when listing. For example: “In this amazing store you could buy a lot of different sweets: caramel, cotton candy, chocolate, toffee, all sorts of buns and sweets.”

If you need to insert a quotation from some text into your essay, you should first put a colon, and then the quotation marks. Colons in complex sentences are used where one of the simple sentences another explanation is required. For example: “It became clear to everyone that the criminal was still in the room: his traces could be seen throughout the room, but not at the door.”

So, let's summarize. A colon is placed in the following cases:

To focus on one part of a sentence;

When listing homogeneous members after a generalizing word;

To highlight direct speech;

To explain one sentence to another.