II. Comma between main and subordinate clauses. A comma between the main and subordinate clauses They tried to tell her what he said
Sentences can be either simple or complex. Simple are those that have one grammatical basis. Complex - these are those in which there are more than one grammatical basis. Complex sentences, in turn, are divided into compound and complex sentences. In the first, the grammatical foundations are equal, and the connection between them is only composing.
Secondly, there is one main grammatical basis, and the rest obey it, respectively, the connection between the predicative parts is subordinate. The spelling of such complex sentences has its own characteristics and is subject to the following rules.
1. A comma is always placed between the main and dependent parts of complex sentences. If the dependent construct breaks the main one, then it is separated by commas on both sides. For example:
- I went ahead, not knowing where this road leads.
- I sat and waited for her to come.
- We did everything in silence, so as not to frighten off future prey.
2. In sentences where the subordinate clause follows the main one, and the unions are used "because", "due to the fact that", "due to the fact that", a comma is placed only before the whole union (once). For example:
- I wasn't upset because I didn't care about his feelings.
- We sat on the corner of the bastion. So everyone could see in both directions (Lermontov).
- You believe everything you are told because you can't verify anything yourself! And you don't want to do it.
3. In sentences where the subordinate clause with the same complex conjunctions is in position before main part, complex unions are also not separated by commas. For example:
- As she wept, grief let go of her.
- Because they didn't see you, so you passed by.
Note 1. However, sometimes the very meaning of the sentence requires the disintegration of a complex union, and then one part of the union remains to fulfill its own, and the other goes into main part suggestions. In this case, a comma is placed only before the subordinate clause. For example:
- He did not fulfill this intention only because there were too many people on the embankment and near the water itself (Pisarev).
- Raskolnikov built his entire theory about trembling creatures and those who have the right to have an ideological basis, summed up under a vile crime.
- I asked not to disturb my mother until she came down to us herself.
Note 2. A comma is not placed before “what”, “how”, “where”, “what”, “whose” when these words are part of the stable units “by all means”, “whose horrible”, “however never happened”, “hell knows what”, etc. For example:
- You always have to get your way no matter what.
- What the hell is this!
- If he was just anyone, he would have been taken by now.
4. If there are two unions in a row in a sentence (subordinating union or relative word + subordinating union; coordinating union + subordinating union or relative word), a comma is placed between them only if the omission of the subordinate clause does not require restructuring of the main. For example:
- They tried to tell her what the doctor said, but it turned out that, although the doctor spoke very fluently and for a long time, it was impossible to convey what he said (Tolstoy).
- A guide remained by the fire, who, while the travelers hunted, prepared supper.
- She told him that if he is sick, then he needs to be treated (Tolstoy)
- Those who managed to get to the zoo, and those who were late, remained at the gate.
Note 1 . If before subordinating union or the relative word is a negative particle “not” or a coordinating union “and”, “yes”, “but”, closely merging with the subordinate part, then it is not separated from the main part by a comma. For example:
- I want to represent not why it is done, but how it is done.
- He is evil both when he is sick and when he is healthy.
Note 2. In the event that the subordinate part consists of only one union, it is not separated from the main part by a comma. For example:
- Where? I said where (M. Gorky).
- I think I've already explained why.
A comma is placed between the main and subordinate clauses, and if the subordinate clause is inside the main one, then it is separated by commas on both sides, for example:
Walk the free path , Where does the free mind take you?(Pushkin). Coachmen tied up bells ,so that the ringing does not attract the attention of the watchmen(Pushkin). In a small room ,which was occupied by Nekhlyudov,there was an old leather sofa(L. Tolstoy). On small farms ,where they mowed machines,bread lay not in heaps, but in heaps(Chekhov).
When the subordinate clause comes after the main clause, a comma with complex subordinating conjunctions (because, due to the fact that, due to the fact that etc.), as with simple unions, is placed once - before the union, for example:
Fools and limited people believe everything ,because they can't explore(Belinsky). We were sitting on the corner of the bastion , so that both sides could see everything(Lermontov).
A complex subordinating union is not divided into parts by a comma even if a subordinate clause beginning with such a union comes before the main one, for example:
As I spoke, he came to his senses (M. Gorky).
However, depending on the meaning, a complex union can break up into two parts: the first part will become part of the main sentence, and the second will play the role of a union; in such cases, a comma is placed only before the second part, for example:
He did not fulfill this intention only because there were too many people on the embankment and near the water itself. (Pisarev). Raskolnikov built his entire theory solely in order to justify in his own eyes the idea of quick and easy money (Pisarev). Grandfather ordered not to wake Tanyusha until she wakes up herself (S. Aksakov). He lost so much weight in one night that only skin and bones remained. (L. Tolstoy). That is why we are not happy and we look at life so gloomily that we do not know how to work. (Chekhov).
Note. No comma before what, how, whose, where etc., when these words are part of indecomposable expressions, somehow: by all means, whose horrible, as if nothing had happened, the devil knows what etc., for example:
We must achieve this by all means. Fell and got up as if nothing had happened. They beat me with anything. Acts as it should. They said who was in what much. He screamed with all his might.
With two adjacent unions (a subordinating union or a relative word and another subordinating union; a coordinating union and a subordinating union or a relative word), a comma is placed between the unions only when the omission of the subordinate clause does not require restructuring of the main clause, for example:
They tried to tell her what the doctor said, but it turned out that, although the doctor spoke very smoothly and for a long time, it was impossible to convey what he said. (L. Tolstoy). A guide remained by the fire, who, while the travelers hunted, prepared supper. Today I will return early, and if necessary, we will have time to go out of town.
She told him that if he was sick, then he needed to be treated. (L. Tolstoy). We picked mushrooms and talked, and when she asked about something, she stepped forward to see my face. (Chekhov). Those who arrived on time went by car, and those who were late went on foot.
Note 1. If a subordinating conjunction or a relative word is preceded by a negation not or a coordinating conjunction ( and, or etc.), closely merging with the subordinate clause, the latter is not separated from the main comma, for example:
I want to know not how it's done, but why it's done. He is irritable both when he is sick and when he is healthy.
Note 2. A subordinate clause consisting of only one conjunction or relative word is not separated by a comma, for example:
Where? I said where (M. Gorky).
§ 140. A comma is placed between the main and subordinate clauses, and if the subordinate clause is inside the main clause, then it is separated by commas on both sides, for example:
Walk the free path, Where does the free mind take you?(Pushkin). Coachmen tied up bells, so that the ringing does not attract the attention of the watchmen(Pushkin). In a small room, which was occupied by Nekhlyudov, there was an old leather sofa(L. Tolstoy). On small farms, where they mowed machines, bread lay not in heaps, but in heaps(Chekhov).
§ 141 (because, due to the fact that, due to the fact that etc.), as with simple unions, is placed once - before the union, for example:
Fools and limited people believe everything, because they can't explore(Belinsky). We were sitting on the corner of the bastion, so that both sides could see everything(Lermontov).
A complex subordinating union is not divided into parts by a comma even if a subordinate clause beginning with such a union comes before the main one, for example:
As I told him he came to his senses(M. Gorky).
However, depending on the meaning, a complex union can break up into two parts: the first part will become part of the main sentence, and the second will play the role of a union; in such cases, a comma is placed only before the second part, for example:
He did not fulfill this intention only because there were too many people on the embankment and near the water itself(Pisarev). Raskolnikov built his entire theory exclusively to justify in their own eyes the idea of quick and easy money(Pisarev). Grandfather ordered not to wake Tanya until won't wake up on its own(S. Aksakov). He lost weight in one night so only skin and bones remain(L. Tolstoy). Because we are sad and we look at life so gloomy that we do not know labor (Chekhov).
Note. No comma before what, how, whose, where etc., when these words are part of indecomposable expressions, somehow: by all means, whose horrible, as if nothing had happened, the devil knows what etc., for example:
Gotta get itno matter what. Fell and got up as if nothing had happened. They beat me with anything. Acts as it should. We talked who is into what. He screamed with all his might.
§ 142. With two adjacent unions (a subordinating union or a relative word and another subordinating union; a coordinating union and a subordinating union or a relative word), a comma is placed between the unions only when the omission of the subordinate clause does not require the restructuring of the main clause, for example:
They tried to tell her what the doctor said, but it turned out that although doctor and spoke very smoothly and for a long time, it was impossible to convey what he said(L. Tolstoy). There was a guide by the fire, which, for now travelers hunted, cooked dinner. I'll be back early today and if If we need to, we'll have time to go out of town.
She told him that if he is sick, he needs to be treated(L. Tolstoy). We picked mushrooms and said and when she asked about something, then stepped forward to see my face(Chekhov). Those who arrived on time drove the car and which too late, let's go on foot.
Note 1. If a subordinating conjunction or a relative word is preceded by a negation, not or a coordinating union (and, or, etc.), closely merging with the subordinate clause, then the latter is not separated from the main comma, for example:
I want to know not how it is done and why it is done. He is irritable and when sick and when healthy.
Note 2. A subordinate clause consisting of only one conjunction or relative word is not separated by a comma, for example:
Where? I said where(M. Gorky).
Sit down, princess, - said the famous doctor.
He sat down opposite her with a smile, took her pulse, and again began to ask boring questions. She answered him and suddenly, angry, got up.
“Excuse me, doctor, but this, really, will lead nowhere. You ask me the same thing three times.
The famous doctor was not offended.
"Painful irritation," he said to the princess when Kitty had gone out. However, I finished...
And the doctor before the princess, as before an exceptionally intelligent woman, scientifically determined the position of the princess and concluded with instructions on how to drink those waters that were not needed. When asked whether to go abroad, the doctor went into deep thought, as if resolving a difficult question. The decision was finally laid out: to go and not believe the charlatans, but turn to him in everything.
As if something funny happened after the doctor's departure. The mother cheered up when she returned to her daughter, and Kitty pretended that she cheered up. She often, almost always, had to pretend now.
“Really, I’m healthy, maman. But if you want to go, let's go! - she said, and, trying to show that she was interested in the upcoming trip, she began to talk about preparations for departure.
Dolly followed the doctor. She knew that on this day there should be a council, and, despite the fact that she had recently risen from childbirth (she gave birth to a girl at the end of winter), despite the fact that she had a lot of her grief and worries, she left her baby and a sick girl, stopped by to find out about Kitty's fate, which was being decided today.
- Well? - she said; entering the living room without taking off his hat. - You are all funny. Right, okay?
They tried to tell her what the doctor said, but it turned out that, although the doctor spoke very fluently and at length, it was impossible to convey what he said. It was only interesting that it was decided to go abroad.
Dolly sighed involuntarily. Her best friend, her sister, was leaving. And her life was not fun. Relations with Stepan Arkadyevitch after the reconciliation became humiliating. The spike made by Anna turned out to be fragile, and family harmony broke again in the same place. There was nothing definite, but Stepan Arkadyevitch was almost never at home, there was almost never any money either, and suspicions of infidelity constantly tormented Dolly, and she was already driving them away from herself, fearing the experienced suffering of jealousy. The first outburst of jealousy, once experienced, could no longer return, and even the discovery of infidelity could not have had the same effect on her as it did the first time. Such a discovery would now only deprive her of her family habits, and she allowed herself to be deceived, despising him and most of all herself for this weakness. Moreover, the cares of a large family constantly tormented her: either the feeding of the baby did not go, then the nurse left, then, as now, one of the children fell ill.
- What, how are you? the mother asked.
“Ah, maman, you have a lot of your own grief. Lily got sick and I'm afraid it's scarlet fever. I've just left to find out, otherwise I'll sit down already without a break, if, God forbid, scarlet fever.
The old prince, after the doctor's departure, also came out of his study, and, turning his cheek to Dolly and talking to her, turned to his wife:
How did you decide you were going? Well, what do you want to do with me?
“I think you should stay, Alexander,” said the wife.
- As you wish.
- Maman, why doesn't dad come with us? Kitty said. “And it’s more fun for him and for us.”
The old prince got up and stroked Kitty's hair with his hand. She lifted her face and, forcibly smiling, looked at him. It always seemed to her that he understood her better than anyone in the family, although he spoke little
