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. In accordance with 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. The main goal of this course is to cover 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
- Theoretical questions. Colon.
- Express – question.
- Theoretical block. Tasks.
- Problem situation No. 1.
- Have a good rest!
- Problem situation No. 2.
- Theoretical block. Tasks.
- Diagnostic test.
- Flash questions.
- Theoretical block. Tasks.
- 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 the Russian language it was like this until the middle of the 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.
- The softest and most touching poems, books and paintings were written about autumn.
- Everything around sparkled, shimmered, and sparkled in the sun.
- The Azov Sea is home to pike perch and bream, mackerel and anchovy.
- Horse breeds based on their use can be divided into three groups: riding, light draft and heavy draft.
Books, music, painting teach us to understand beauty.
Task 2.
Indicate a sentence that does not contain a generalizing word.
- Dogs, horses, chickens are all wet, sad, timid.
The letters they write are various, tearful, painful, sometimes beautiful, more often useless.
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.
- 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.
- All these sounds and smells, clouds and people were strangely beautiful and sad, it seemed like the beginning of a fairy tale,
Through the milky blue haze, everything around the forest, rocks, islands was dimly blue, everything was dim, ghostly.
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.
Flight noise night bird, the falling of snow from branch to branch, the rustling of a dried blade of grass swayed by the light breath of a weak breeze - all this together could not disturb the silence that reigned in nature.
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 beginning subordinate clause, for example: He who enriches himself with it 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 Vasilyevna.
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 has he traveled, how much is left to the first station, how much 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 through the thick grass along the ravine, I saw: the forest ended, several Cossacks were 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 these are 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.
§ 159. A colon is placed before the listing that ends the sentence:
1. If the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word (and often, in addition, other words, for example, somehow, namely), for example:
Cossacks rose from everywhere: from Chigirin, from Pereyaslav, from Baturin, from Glukhov, from the lower side of the Dnieper and from all its Berkhovii and islands.
Gogol
Familiar details appeared: deer antlers, shelves with books, a mirror, a stove with an air vent that should have been repaired long ago, my father’s sofa, big table, on the table there is an open book, a broken ashtray, a notebook with his handwriting.
L. Tolstoy
Beats with a sharp edge big fish, such as: pike, catfish, asp, pike perch.
S. Aksakov
2. If there is no generalizing word before the listing, but it is necessary to warn the reader that some kind of list follows, for example:
From under the hay one could see a samovar, a tub of ice cream, and some other attractive bundles and boxes.
L. Tolstoy
§ 160. A colon is placed before an enumeration located in the middle of a sentence if the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word or words such as, for example, for example:
And all this: the river, and the willow twigs, and this boy - reminded me of the distant days of childhood.
Perventsev
I visited Largest cities USSR, namely: Moscow, Leningrad, Baku, Kyiv - and returned to the Urals.
For the dash after the enumeration, located in the middle of the sentence after the colon, see § 174, paragraph 3, note.
§ 161. A colon is placed after a sentence, followed by one or more sentences not connected to the first by means of conjunctions and containing:
a) clarification or disclosure of the content of what is said in the first sentence, for example:
I was not mistaken: the old man did not refuse the offered glass.
Pushkin
Moreover, the worries of a large family constantly tormented her: feeding infant It didn’t go well, then the nanny left, then, like now, one of the children fell ill.
L. Tolstoy
Here a rather interesting picture opened up: a wide hut, the roof of which rested on two completed pillars, was full of people.
Lermontov
b) the basis, the reason for what is said in the first sentence, for example:
You won’t be able to catch up with the crazy troika: the horses are well-fed, strong, and lively.
Nekrasov
It was not for nothing that the Greek gods recognized the irresistible power of fate over themselves: fate was that dark boundary beyond which the consciousness of the ancients did not cross.
Belinsky
§ 162. A colon is placed between two sentences that are not connected by means of conjunctions, if in the first sentence, with such verbs as see, look, hear, know, feel, etc., a warning is made that what will follow is a statement of some fact or what -description, for example:
And then the beacon keeper and the Kyrgyz assistant see: two boats are floating along the river.
A. N. Tolstoy
I crawled through the thick grass along the ravine, I saw: the forest had ended, several Cossacks were leaving it into a clearing, and then my Karagöz jumped out straight to them...
Lermontov
Finally, we climbed Mount Gud, stopped and looked back: a gray cloud hung on it, and its cold breath threatened a nearby storm...
Lermontov
I know: in your heart there is both pride and direct honor.
Pushkin
Pavel feels that someone's fingers are touching his arm above the elbow.
N. Ostrovsky
But (without a hint of warning):
I hear the earth shake.
Nekrasov
§ 163. A colon is placed after a sentence introducing direct speech, in particular a direct question or exclamation, for example:
They were silent for two minutes, but Onegin approached her and said: “You wrote to me, don’t deny it.”
Pushkin
At the end of the work, Peter asked Ibrahim; "Do you like the girl with whom you danced the minuet at the last assembly?"
Pushkin
And I thought: “What a heavy and lazy fellow he is!”
Chekhov
Note. A group of sentences that contain direct speech should be distinguished from complex sentences with a subordinate clause: a comma is placed before the subordinate clause, as usual, and at the end of it - a sign required by the nature of the entire complex sentence, for example:
I thought about what a heavy and lazy fellow he was.
I tried to remember where I was on this day exactly a year ago.
Will he again remind you of what happened a year ago? How hard it is to remember what happened on that terrible day!
The Russian language is large and complex. One of the reasons for the difficulty of learning the Russian language is the flexibility of its grammatical structures. Remembering the entire set of rules for placing punctuation marks is an almost impossible task even for those who consider Russian their native language. One of the most difficult punctuation marks to place is the usual dash.
Rules for placing dashes
The following rules describe when to use a dash in a sentence (examples in parentheses to illustrate the rules). So, in what cases is a dash placed:
- Between the predicate and the subject, if the predicate is a noun and is used in the nominative case. (Wolf is an animal. Good car- a man’s dream.) If the predicate is accompanied by the particle not, then the dash is omitted. (A car is not a luxury.);
- Between the predicate and the subject, if the subject is in the nominative case and the predicate is an indefinite form of the verb, or they are both verbs indeterminate form. (The dream is to live forever. To sleep is not to drag bags.);
- A dash is placed before “this” if this word joins the predicate to the subject. This rule applies to the words “this is”, “here”, “this means” (Lion is a beast. Flying is a worthy dream.);
- Before generalizing words after enumerations. (Eye, nose, mouth - everything is on the face. Neither tears, nor prayer - nothing touched him.);
- Before the application, if it is at the end of the sentence. (He wanted one thing - money and only money.);
- Between a pair of predicates or sentences, if in the second there is a sharp contrast or unexpected addition to the first. (I came - and everyone was already here! I wanted to drink - I dropped the glass.);
- Between sentences or words joined without conjunctions to emphasize sharp contrasts. (Not the water in that cup - the nectar of the gods.);
- Between sentences, if the second contains a conclusion from the first or a result and is not connected by a conjunction. (The palm itches - there will be money. Fingers in the socket - an electric shock.);
- Between subordinate and main clauses, if main comes second and does not join by union. (The forest is being cut down - the chips are flying.);
- At the place of disintegration simple sentences into two groups of words, if this cannot be expressed in any other way. (The enemy is in dust! And the sergeant is given a medal “For Courage.”);
- In the middle of the sentence, two dashes highlight explanations and additions if the selection in brackets reduces the expressiveness of the text. (And Pakhomych - a rare bastard and a weasel - did not come at all.);
- In a sentence in the middle, two dashes highlight a common application if it is necessary to show its independence. (Behind the wall of the house - an ordinary rural five-walled house - a whole detachment was hiding.);
- In the middle of the sentence, two dashes highlight a group of homogeneous members. (Usually building materials - boards, nails, logs and staples - are prepared in advance.) If such a listing is preceded by a general word, then a dash is needed only at the end. (The entire squad, namely: Petya, Vasya, Igor and Semyon, did not go to the line.);
- After a comma, when it is necessary to separate the main clause from a group of subordinate clauses and emphasize the breakdown of the whole into parts. (Whether the world will end or not, no one knows.);
- After the comma, when you need to indicate an increase or decrease in the period. (People fly into space, harnessed atomic energy, write brilliant music, create unprecedented structures - but you can’t take out the trash!);
- Between words, if these words limit a spatial, temporal or quantitative interval. (Flight Ankara - Yerevan. Break 5-7 minutes.);
- Between components names of teachings or scientific institutions. (Bio-Savart-Laplace law.);
As you can see, there are quite a lot of rules explaining when a dash is placed, and not all cases when this punctuation mark can be used are even listed here. Also, information on which sentences contain a dash can be found in the article “Why is a dash needed?”
Dash or colon
When writing, people often confuse when to use a dash and when to use a colon. As a rule, a colon is placed before an enumeration preceded by a generalizing word; before direct speech; before two or more sentences not connected by conjunctions, one of which explains the other.
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:
- if a generalizing word comes before homogeneous members, then a colon is placed after it;
- if the generalizing word comes after homogeneous members, then a dash is placed after the generalizing word;
- 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.
Have you often wondered when writing when to put a colon and when to put a dash? Probably often, because these punctuation marks, like any other, require adherence to certain rules, although in some cases they are very similar. But we’ll talk about which ones later in the article.
Relationship between generic words and colon or dash
When discussing when to put a colon and when to put a dash, first of all you need to mention those sentences in which homogeneous members are used, and with them there is a generalizing word. It is after it, before the listing, that the colon is necessary.
So, for example, in the sentence: “ In his backpack you could always find interesting things: pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in matchbox ", the list is preceded by the general word " things”, after which in this situation a colon is placed.
If the generalizing word is found after the listing, then a dash must be placed in front of it. For example: " Pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in a matchbox - these are the things that can always be found in Petka’s backpack».
By the way, after a generalizing word you can often find a dash, which is also the right option. For example: " Everything is different there - the language, way of life and even values».
Colon and dash in non-union complex sentences
Cases when a colon is placed in complex non-union proposals, some:
- If the second part of a complex sentence explains the content of the first. Then the conjunctions “namely” or “like that” can be placed between them. For example: “Everything in nature spoke of joy: the sun shone brightly from a clear sky, and birds sang in different voices.”
- If the second part of the sentence indicates the reason for what is mentioned in the first part. Then, by the way, it is easy to put the conjunctions “because” and “since” between the parts. For example: “Ivan was a very distrustful person: his close people let him down too often.”
- Another case where a colon is placed between parts of a sentence is where one part warns that the presentation will continue further. In such sentences, the first part usually uses one of the verbs: see, know, hear, feel, etc. For example: “Peter and Anna knew: they would definitely have a large and noisy family.” As you can see, between the parts of this sentence and similar ones you can put the conjunction “what”, thus turning it into a complex sentence.
An acceptable option is also to use a dash instead of a colon in these sentences. Compare:
- He understood that something irreparable had happened..
- It’s better not to say something like that in front of him - he might get offended.
- It seemed to them that just a little more and everything would come true.
By the way, sentences with a warning about the continuation of the story should be distinguished from complex sentences that do not contain one. In this case, a comma is placed between the parts. For example: " I know they will live with us».
When to put a colon in a sentence with direct speech
In those sentences where direct speech is used, a colon is placed after the words of the author, for example:
- On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya: “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
- She said through her teeth: “If you knew how much I hate this life.”
Sentences that include direct speech must be distinguished from complex constructions. In the latter, a comma is placed before the subordinate clause, for example:
- On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya whether she could count on forgiveness.
- She said through clenched teeth that she absolutely hated this life.
In what cases is a colon placed in the title?
The rules for writing headings require special explanation. If the title of a text is divided into two parts, and the first of them (nominative) names a person, problem, place of action, etc., and the second specifies the meaning of the first, then a colon is placed between them.
Let's look at examples of such headers:
- Sore throat: signs and methods of treating the disease.
- Michael Bulgakov: unknown facts from the writer's biography.
- Ten days in India: a land of wonders and contrasts.
So what should you put - a dash or a colon?
In conclusion, we can say that in modern language Deciding when to use a colon and when to use a dash is becoming increasingly easier, since the dash is in this " fight” often comes out victorious.
According to the famous D. E. Rosenthal, the dash is a freer sign, often “ coming" and into the possessions of the colon. What explains this? The linguist believes that a dash in a sentence performs not only purely syntactic functions, but also gives it an emotionally expressive coloring. Obviously, this is why authors love to use it so much. fiction and in periodicals. As an example, we can cite several phrases from newspapers: “ The elections are over - we can take stock" or " Experts call this process quite natural - the demand for land increased».
This means that you can decide when to put a colon in a sentence, and when to put a dash, based on the author’s preferences.