Single circumstances expressed by adverbs are not isolated. Circumstances expressed by adverbs. B) Circumstances expressed by nouns
Circumstances expressed by adverbs
They can separate circumstances expressed by adverbs (single or in combination with dependent words), for the purpose of semantic highlighting or incidental explanation: He silently bowed again(L.); ...A moment later, out into the yard, unknown from where a man ran out(T.); A quarter of an hour before sunset, in spring, you enter the grove (T.); Music, still flew to us(T.); Awakened rooks, silently and alone flew over the ground(Ch.); Me, as if by accident, doused with water(Ch.); Passing along Theater Lane, I almost always, I saw a man at the door of a small shop(M.G.); Misha lowered the book and not right away, answered quietly...(M.G.); But youth is stubborn and in our own way, smart(M.G.); ... Nadezhda was sitting on the fence next to Kolya and kept asking him about something, quietly and timidly(M.G.) - with a hint of accession; The next day in the evening, trot, Alexey came running(M.G.); And so, unexpected for everyone I passed the exam brilliantly(Cupr.); She, barely audible walked around the room again(Cupr.); Here, to spite them all Tomorrow morning I'll start reading books(Cupr.); Around them - prone - Ivan Gora was lying(A.T.) - placing dashes instead of commas is optional; On a steamship - front - machine guns(A.T.); Sometimes he made some request, timidly, shyly(Cat.) - with a hint of accession.
A phraseological turn can serve the same function: Once at the crossroads out of nowhere black Dog(Ch.); …Then, without hesitation, took hold of its bracket and... stayed behind this door for a long, long time(Boon.).
§ 21. Separate additions
1. Depending on the semantic load, the degree of distribution of the phrase, proximity to the main part of the sentence, etc., nouns with prepositions (or prepositional combinations) can be separated. except, instead of, apart from, over, except for, along with s, etc. (conventionally called additions) with the meaning of inclusion, exclusion, substitution, i.e., restrictive or expansive meaning. The optionality of their isolation is evident from the following comparisons:
At the outpost instead of a sentry there was a collapsed booth(P.). - IN a place of bare cliffs, I saw green mountains and fruitful trees around me(P.); He wanted to speak again, but instead of words some kind of dull bubbling sound came from his chest(Grieg.). - With quick steps I walked through the long “square” of bushes, climbed the hill and, instead of the expected familiar plain with an oak forest to the right and a low white church in the distance, I saw completely different places unknown to me(T.);
And Mikhail Sinitsky became a Red Army guard, a participant in all the glorious deeds of his magnificent battalion, bearing along with everyone else hardships of battle(Floor.). - Mr Hopkins, along with other people in gray helmets, stood motionless(Cor.);
No matter how much a person strives besides school, to acquire knowledge on his own, he will still be, as they say, self-taught. - Many of the fighters besides his rifle, were armed with captured machine guns(Floor.);
You will receive everything you need above pension(T.). - Grandfather ordered over a month give the poultry house half a pound of wheat flour every month for pies(Ax.).
Examples of stand-alone additions: The crowd dispersed except for a few curious people and boys(T.); Beyond all expectation grandma gave me several books(Ax.); Everyone took part in the general conversation, except Kitty and Levin (L.T.); Here, in addition to a small table with a mirror, a stool and rags, hung in the corners, there was no other furniture and, instead of a lamp, a bright fan-shaped light was burning(Ch.); For lack of space in the outbuilding, I was given a room in the count's mansion(Ch.); I really liked the story except for some details(M.G.); Crew's mood beyond the usual was elated(N.‑P.); All, with the exception of Varya, the singers applauded loudly(Step.); Four guns alternately sent shells there, but, beyond Grigoriev's expectations, the gunfire did not cause any noticeable confusion in the ranks...(Sh.)
2. Pretext except has two meanings:
1) “except for someone or something”, “not counting anyone or anything”: Except for the seagulls, there was no one at sea(M.G.);
2) “above someone or something”, “in addition to someone or something”: Except the old man two more came to us that day(Ch.). In both meanings the turnover is with a preposition except usually stands apart:
1) (exception) In addition to the big smoke in Zamoskvorechye, nothing reminded me of the night fight(Leon.); House, except this room, stood boarded up(A.T.); Everyone smiled except for the lieutenant(Kaz.); He expected anything Besides;
2) (inclusion) In addition to dishes and gravy boats, there were many pots on the table(G.); Now we heard except for rooks, human voices(A.T.); Except for the wild beast There are also different kinds of birds in these places.
However, in the press there are also non-isolated phrases with the preposition except with enable value: Besides salary they also receive bonuses; In addition to drawings more drawings were attached; Except the owners there were guests in the room; Except your chemistry There are other sciences too.
Variability of punctuation allows, in some cases, to clarify the text; compare: Others were also invited except you(meaning of exception: “others were invited, but you were not invited”). - P invited others too except you(meaning of inclusion: “you were invited along with others”).
Sometimes the volume of isolated turnover with a preposition except with the meaning of inclusion changes depending on the meaning introduced into the sentence. Wed: In addition to recordings of live dialect speech, locally there are other sources of replenishing our knowledge about the vocabulary wealth of folk dialects(i.e. recordings of live dialect speech are an additional source to those already available in the field). - In addition to recordings of live dialect speech in the field, there are other sources of replenishing our knowledge about the vocabulary wealth of folk dialects(i.e., field records are a complementary source to other available sources).
Usually, is isolated turnover from except with negative pronouns nobody, nothing and interrogative pronouns who, what: I couldn’t distinguish anything, except for the muddy torsion of a blizzard (P.); While hunting, Uncle Eroshka ate one piece of bread for a day and drank nothing but water (L.T.); Nobody, except the sun and blue sky, doesn't look at him(M.G.); Who, except ourselves, should care about nature conservation?; What, besides condemnation, may cause disrespect for society?
Separate themselves revolutions with combinations other than that, no joke And Besides(in the meaning of the introductory word): We are harming no one, except for bears, we don't(Mark.); Jokes aside, do you really like such books?(Adv.); Mechik finally convinced himself that Baklanov was much better and smarter than him, that Baklanov, Besides, very brave and strong person(F.). Turnover Besides is also separated after the union: And besides…; But besides that...; If, in addition...; Although, besides that... etc.
3. Turnover with preposition instead of used and is isolated in two cases:
1) as an addition depending on the predicate verb: Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in the deaf and distant side(P.) - the turnover is connected with the predicate, since both “could have been waiting for me”; separation is optional;
2) as a special construction not controlled by a predicate verb: Instead of answering Kirila Petrovich received a letter(P.) - the phrase is not syntactically related to the predicate, since a phrase is not formed submit a response; Instead of answering some request, Zurin wheezed and whistled(P.) - the same: word answer lexically does not combine with words wheezed and whistled; separation Necessarily.
Wed. Also: Besides my work, I now also work at the Radio Committee(Paul.).
But if the excuse instead of has the meaning “for”, “in exchange”, then the turnover with it is not isolated: Instead of a bay stallion Korzh was given a thick white gelding(Dick.); Instead of a fur coat put on his coat; Went to the meeting instead of the manager.
Single gerund Not is isolated, if it retains the meaning of verbality, indicating a manner of action. In this case, it usually approaches in meaning an adverb or a combination of a noun with a preposition used in an adverbial meaning, and is not isolated: The train was comingdo not stop(“non-stop”); She talked about it smiling(“said with a smile”); He was sittingwithout moving(how did you sit? In what position?).
Examples of non-isolated single circumstances: Those seeking manifestations of power turned inward and fading(Gonch.); Veretyev sat leaning over and patted the grass with a branch(T.); Classes were supposed to last until two o'clock. without interruption(L.T.); He slept without undressing(L.T.); Cranes usually sleep standing(Ax.) - adverbial meaning; At home, Gromov always read lying down(Ch.) - adverbial meaning; He walked behind his wife's coffin stumbling(M.G.); She returned from there having lost weight(M.G.); Dmitry listened to him frowning(M.G.); He… not to mentionthrew money(M.G.); he said out of breath(M.G.); There, in the darkness, someone's eyes were looking without blinking(A.T.); Sergei pushed Vera aside, nodded to her and left whistling.(A.T.); At first I answered with a frown(Forsh); [Aksinya] entered the hall without knocking(Sh.); The girl ran into the room sobbing; Another simpleton he would think so in earnest; Sergei was sitting leaning over and tied up his skates; The children were chatting without ceasing; He lived with his grief without hiding; He kept talking yawning; Her eyes moved from one picture to another comparing;He hid the money in his wallet not to mention; It was raining without stopping; The train has passed without delay; You can't pass them by not being happy; The partisans were walking crouching;The neighbor listened to me without objecting; We walked hugging along a forest road; The girl spoke gasping for breath; The driver shouted cursing; They listened Not understanding our conversations - phrase our conversations refers to the predicate listened; He signed the papers without reading; Let's move forward without looking back; He sat down on a chair without undressing and thought; The old man was walking staggering; Gone without saying goodbye; The apple falls when ripe; Passed without hiding; We discussed the question of who chuckling, who is serious; The path went wriggling; He ran into the yardscreaming; No one is given the right to live not working; The girl was telling sobbing; Gone looking down; Without stopping the same cry disturbed the ears; Passed by without turning around; Everyone listened not breathing; Slowly he walked around the room; Without hesitation she rejected; Shouldn't do without thinking; Follow without reasoning; People stood petrified; He spoke making excuses; The mountain road was going looping; Sits by the table saddened; I took the book not looking; I walked thinking; Sat leaning on his elbows; The wave rolled off, ringing; Messages from the front could not be read without worrying; Everyone stood there for about five minutes without moving; The young man rushed to help without hesitation; The sniper shot without aiming.
Separation or the non-isolation of a single gerund may depend on the place it occupies in relation to the predicate verb: the same word can be isolated at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, but not at the end. Wed:
He saidstuttering. - He added,stutteringa few words from myself;
They walked slowly. - On the way to,slowly, they picked mushrooms and berries;
She woke up her sonsmiling. - Smiling,she woke up her son;
Had dinnerleisurely(Mark.). - Through the yardleisurely, a squat, short-legged, round-headed man walked(Mark.).
The isolation of a single gerundial participle can be influenced by its type: more often gerundial participles of the imperfect form are not isolated (on -and I), since they usually express the circumstance of the manner of action, while the perfect participles (on -v, -shi) there are other shades of meaning (time, reason, conditions, concessions), which often leads to their isolation. Wed: listened without interrupting; I started looking closely without recognizing; Took breaks getting tired; Having refused, he will miss this last opportunity; Obomlev, she stood motionless in the doorway; Without calling came to my house; Indignant, he refused to answer; Tired they made stops along the way.
Separation or the non-isolation of a single gerund may be associated with the lexical meaning of the predicate verb: the same gerund is isolated with some verbs, but not with others. Wed:
I asked do not stop(the gerund does not indicate the “way of asking”; it denotes other actions simultaneous with the movement). - Walked do not stop(“non-stop”);
Lost in thoughts smiling(“thought and smiled”). - Said smiling(“spoke with a smile”).
If a single gerund is located between two predicate verbs and in meaning can be attributed to any of them as a circumstance of the manner of action, it is not separated by a comma from the predicate to which the writer refers it: He squatted down groaning reached into the bottom drawer of the table; The girl ran out into the garden, crying rushed to her mother.
Separate themselves circumstances, expressed:
1) participles:
single: After eating, the child fell asleep.
as part of participial phrases: After discussing the results of the work, we parted ways..
2) circumstances with a pretext despite: Despite the rain, the children ran away for a walk.
3) comparative turnover with unions: as if, exactly, as if, what, than, rather than and others similar: The clouds, like cotton wool, floated low and slowly over the ground.
On the punctuation of simple sentences with isolated circumstances.
There are general and specific conditions of separation. The first concerns all or most of the secondary members, the second - only their individual types. The general conditions of isolation include the following: 1) word order, 2) the degree of prevalence of a sentence member, 3) the clarifying nature of one sentence member in relation to another, 4) the semantic load of a minor sentence member.
The order of words is important for isolating definitions, applications, circumstances. A prepositive definition, expressed by a participle or an adjective with explanatory words, is not isolated (unless it has additional shades of meaning), a postpositive definition, as a rule, is isolated. Wed: A chicken tied by the leg was walking near the table (L. T.). - At the porch stood several carts and sleighs drawn in single file (Ax.). The importance of word order when isolating definitions is also reflected in the fact that the prepositive definition immediately preceding the word being defined is not isolated, but the definition is separated from the subsequent word being defined by other members of the sentence , is isolated. Wed: The snow-covered huts sparkled brightly in the sun (Grig.). - For a moment, illuminated by lightning, in front of us is a birch trunk (M. G.). The prepositive application standing in front of a proper name, as a rule, is not isolated, the postpositive is isolated. Wed: Several years ago, an old Russian gentleman Kirila Petrovich Troekurov (P.) lived on one of his estates. - About two months ago, a certain Belikov, a teacher of the Greek language (Ch.), died in our city. An adverbial expression expressed by a single gerund is usually isolated if it precedes the predicate, and more often it is not isolated in a post-positive position in relation to the predicate. Wed: About ten Cossacks were crowded near the porch, smoking (Shol.). - Sergei pushed Vera aside, nodded to her and left whistling (A.N.T.). The degree of prevalence of a member of a sentence is important for isolating definitions, applications, circumstances, additions. A single postpositive definition is usually not isolated, a common one is isolated. Wed: He looked around him with indescribable excitement (P.). - The willow, all fluffy, is spread out all around (Fet). A single application, expressed by a common noun and relating to the common noun, usually does not stand apart, closely merging with it, but a common application stands apart. Wed: Some literate cook from the kitchen ran away to his tavern (Kr.). - Memory, this scourge of the unfortunate, revives even the stones of the past (M. G.). A single adverbial circumstance, expressed by an adverbial participle, is usually not isolated in a postpositive position in relation to the predicate, but a common adverbial adverbial with the same meaning (adverbial phrase) is isolated. Wed: - Did you see it? - asked the smiling grandmother (M.G.). - A belated hawk flew briskly and straight into the heights, hurrying to its nest (T. ).Members of sentences with the meaning of inclusion, exclusion and substitution with prepositions except, instead, besides, etc. show a tendency to be isolated depending on the degree of prevalence. Wed: ...Instead of words, a dull bubbling sound came out of his chest (Grieg.). - ...Instead of the expected familiar plain with an oak forest to the right and a low white church in the distance, I saw completely different, unknown places to me (T.).
The clarifying nature of one member of a sentence in relation to another is important for isolating definitions, applications, additions, and circumstances. For example: Thick, guards cloth trousers certainly did not suit either the artisan or the farm laborer (Cat.); There were only two of us Russians, and all the rest were Latvians (N. Ostr.); I want one thing - peace (Kupr.); Far away, somewhere in the thicket, a night bird moaned (M. G.); All night, until the rooster's dawn, Chapaev measured the map and listened to the brave snoring of the commanders (Furm.).
The semantic load of the secondary member of the sentence is important for isolating definitions, applications, and circumstances. A prepositive definition, which has only an attributive meaning, is not isolated, but a definition complicated by an adverbial meaning is isolated. Wed: Brown twigs tangled with peas stuck out closely on the ridges (T.). - Firmly tied to young oak trees, our good horses suffered terrible torture from the attack of a gadfly (Ax.). A prepositive application relating to a proper name is not isolated if it has only an attributive meaning, and is isolated if it is complicated by a circumstantial meaning. Wed: ...My comrade Emelyan Pilyai took the pouch out of his pocket for the tenth time... (M. G.). - A man of short stature, Temkin was almost invisible from behind the rostrum (Azh.). An adverbial expression expressed by a noun in the indirect case with a preposition is isolated if, in addition to its main meaning (for example, temporary), it has an additional connotation of meaning (for example, causal, conditional, concessive). Wed: As night approached, everything around changed strangely (T.). - With the approach of the enemy to Moscow, Muscovites’ view of their situation not only did not become more serious, but, on the contrary, even more frivolous (L. T.). Particular conditions of isolation include such as syntactic incompatibility of words related in meaning (for example, personal pronouns and definitions), weak syntactic connection between the defined and defining words (poor controllability of nouns in the indirect case); proximity of other isolated groups, etc.
Isolation (highlighting with commas) of circumstances depends, first of all, on the way they are expressed.
A) Circumstances expressed by gerunds
1. Circumstances expressed by gerunds (you can ask morphological questions to the gerunds doing what? what did you do?) and participial phrases (that is, participles with dependent words), as a rule, are isolated regardless of the place they occupy in relation to the predicate verb:
Example: Arms spread wide, a grimy bulldozer driver is sleeping(Peskov). Ksenia had dinner spreading a scarf on the rod (Peskov).
If a circumstance expressed by a gerund and a participial phrase is in the middle of a sentence, then it is separated by commas on both sides:
And then to the cliff, leaving my bulldozer, Nikolai ran up(Peskov). The bird, shuddering, picked up its wings(Permitov).
Isolated circumstances, expressed by gerunds and participial phrases, are close in meaning to the secondary predicate (but are never independent predicates!). Therefore, they can be replaced by subordinate clauses or independent predicates.
Wed: And then to the cliff, leaving my bulldozer, Nikolai ran up. - Nikolai left his bulldozer and ran to the cliff. The bird, shuddering, picked up its wings. - The bird shuddered and picked up its wings.
Note!
1) Restrictive particles are only included inside a separate structure and are released along with it.
A match was struck only for a second illuminating the man's face.
2) The participle and the participial phrase standing after the coordinating or subordinating conjunction / allied word are separated from it by a comma (such a phrase can be torn off from the conjunction, rearranged to another place in the sentence, or removed from the sentence).
Wed: He threw down the pen and leaning back in a chair, began to look at the moonlit clearing(Permitov). - He dropped the pen and began to look at the moonlit clearing; Life is arranged in such a way that without knowing how to hate, it is impossible to sincerely love(M. Gorky). - Life is arranged in such a way that it is impossible to truly love, not knowing how to hate.
3) A conjunction or a conjunctive word is not separated by a comma from a gerund and a participial phrase in the event that the participial construction cannot be torn away from the conjunction or conjunctive word or removed from the sentence without destroying the structure of the sentence itself. This is most often observed in relation to the coordinating conjunction a.
Wed: He tried to read books unnoticed, and after reading them, he hid them somewhere(impossible: He tried to read books unnoticed, but hid them somewhere); But: He did not name the author of the note, but, having read it, put it in his pocket. - He did not name the author of the note, but put it in his pocket.
Two homogeneous gerunds or participial phrases connected by single coordinating or disjunctive conjunctions and, or, or, are not separated by a comma.
The telephone operator sat, hugging his knees and leaning your forehead on them(Baklanov).
If a conjunction connects not two gerunds, but other constructions (predicates, parts of a complex sentence, etc.), then commas are placed in accordance with the rules for placing punctuation marks for homogeneous members, in a complex sentence, etc.
Wed: 1. I took the note and, after reading it, put it in my pocket. Single conjunction and connects predicates ( took it and stuck it) and a comma is placed after the conjunction;
2. He stopped, thinking about something, And , turning around sharply, called the sentry. A single conjunction connects two predicates ( stopped and called). Circumstances - participial phrases refer to different predicates ( has stopped , thinking about something; called, turning around sharply ). Therefore, they are separated on both sides by commas from other members of the sentence.
2. Not isolated circumstances expressed by gerunds and participial phrases, in the following cases:
The participial phrase is a phraseological unit:
He worked carelessly; He ran headlong.
Note. Most often the following phraseological units are not distinguished in texts: run headlong, run headlong, work carelessly, work with sleeves rolled up, work tirelessly, sit back, rush with your tongue out, listen with bated breath, scream without taking a breath, lie staring at the ceiling, rush about without remembering yourself, spend the night without closing your eyes, listen with your ears hanging open. But if such a phraseological unit is an introductory word ( in all honesty, to be honest, frankly speaking, in short, apparently), then it is separated by commas, for example: Apparently, he had no intention of helping me; In short, we will have to do everything ourselves.
before the gerund there is an intensifying particle and (not a conjunction!):
You can live and without bragging about your intelligence;
Note!
The participle in modern Russian is never predicate, therefore verb and gerund cannot be homogeneous members!
The gerund is part of a subordinate clause and has the conjunctive word which as its dependent. In this case, a comma only separates the main clause from the subordinate clause, and there is no comma between the gerund and the conjunctive word:
We face the most difficult tasks, without deciding which we will not be able to get out of the crisis;
The participial phrase includes the subject.
In this case, the comma only separates the entire phrase from the predicate, and the subject and the gerund are not separated by a comma. Such constructions are found in poetic texts of the 19th century:
Crow perched on a spruce tree, had breakfast I'm just about ready...(Krylov); compare: Crow, perched on a spruce, got ready to have breakfast;
The participle acts as a homogeneous member with a non-isolated circumstance and is connected with it by the conjunction and:
He walked quickly and without looking around.
3. Not isolated participle constructions and single participles that have lost their verbal meaning. These are the most difficult cases for punctuation analysis. They require special attention to the meaning of the gerund, to the context in which the gerund is used, etc.
Participles and adverbial phrases that have finally lost their verbal meaning, have become adverbs, or have acquired adverbial meaning in a given context are not distinguished:
She looked at me without blinking(it is forbidden: looked and didn't blink); We drove slowly(it is forbidden: we drove and were in no hurry); The train was coming do not stop (it is forbidden: walked and didn't stop); He answered while sitting(it is forbidden: he answered and sat); He walked with his back bent(it is forbidden: he walked and bent).
Such single participles, less often - participial phrases, are usually circumstances of the manner of action (answer questions How? how?), merge with the predicate into one whole, are not separated from the predicate by a pause and most often stand immediately after the predicate:
looked silently, looked smiling, listened with a frown, spoke while yawning, chatted incessantly, sat ruffled, walked bent over, walked stumbling, walked with a limp, walked with his head bowed, wrote with his head bowed, entered without knocking, lived without hiding, spent money without counting and etc.
Often such gerunds can be replaced by adverbs, nouns with and without prepositions.
Wed: He spoke about this smiling. - He spoke about this with a smile; The train was coming do not stop. - The train went without stops.
In all such uses, the gerund indicates not an independent action, but an image of the action expressed by the predicate.
For example, in the sentence: He walked bent over- one action ( walked), and the former gerund ( bent over) indicates a mode of action - a characteristic posture when walking.
If in this context the verbal meaning is preserved, then a single participle or participial phrase is isolated. Usually in this case there are other circumstances with the predicate verb; The participle takes on the meaning of clarification, explanation and is intonationally highlighted.
Wed: He walked without looking back. - He walked hastily, without looking back.
The increase in verbosity in gerunds can be facilitated by the degree of prevalence of gerunds.
Wed: She sat waiting. - She sat waiting for an answer.
Not isolated former gerunds that have lost connection with the verb and have become function words: starting from (meaning “from such and such a time”), proceeding from (meaning “based on”), depending on (meaning “in accordance”) :
Everything has changed since last Monday; The estimate is based on your calculations; Act depending on the circumstances.
However, in other contexts the turns may become isolated:
turns with words starting with are isolated if they are in the nature of clarification, explanation and are not associated with the concept of time:
The word beginning in such contexts cannot be eliminated without damaging the meaning of the sentence;
a phrase with the words proceeding from is isolated if in meaning it correlates with the producer of the action, which can “come from something”:
We have drawn up an estimate based on your calculations (we based on your calculations);
turns with words, depending on the type, are isolated if they have the meaning of clarification or accession:
I had to act carefully, depending on the circumstances (clarification, you can insert “namely”); Vacation can be used to practice various sports, depending on the time of year (joining).
B) Circumstances expressed by nouns
1. Always separate circumstances of the assignment expressed by nouns with prepositions despite, despite. Such phrases can be replaced by subordinate clauses of concession with the conjunction although.
Wed: Despite the rainy summer, the harvest turned out to be excellent(Pochivalin). - Although the summer was rainy, the harvest was excellent; Despite heavy shelling, Fedyuninsky rose to his observation post. - Although the shelling was strong, Fedyuninsky rose to his observation post.
2. Can become isolated circumstances:
reasons with prepositions and prepositional combinations thanks to, as a result of, in view of, for lack of, for the absence of, according to, by virtue of, in connection with, for the reason of, on occasion etc. (can be replaced by a subordinate clause with the conjunction since).
Wed: Savelich, agrees with the coachman's opinion, advised to return. - Since Savelich agreed with the coachman’s opinion, he advised to turn back; Children, due to being young, no positions have been identified(Turgenev). - Since the children were small, they were not assigned any positions;
concessions with prepositions in spite of, with (can be replaced with a subordinate clause with the conjunction although).
Wed: His life despite the gravity of his situation, went easier, slimmer than Anatole’s life(Herzen). - Although the situation was difficult, his life was easier, more harmonious than Anatole’s life; Contrary to his instructions, the ships were put out to sea early in the morning(Fedoseev). - Although he gave instructions, the ships were taken out to sea early in the morning.
conditions with prepositions and prepositional combinations if present, if absent, in case etc. (can be replaced by a subordinate clause with the conjunction if).
Wed: workers, in case of refusal, decided to go on strike. - If the workers are refused, they decide to go on strike;
goals with prepositions and prepositional combinations in order to avoid (can be replaced by a subordinate clause with the conjunction so that).
Wed: Money, to avoid delay, translate by telegraph. - To avoid delays, transfer money by telegraph;
comparisons with the conjunction like.
Wed: Nikolai Petrovich was born in the south of Russia, like his older brother Paul (Turgenev).
However, phrases with such prepositions and prepositional combinations may not be isolated.
More often, phrases that are located between the subject and the predicate are isolated:
Savelich, agrees with the coachman's opinion, advised to return.
In addition, isolated phrases are usually common, that is, they contain a noun with dependent words:
Thanks to great weather and especially holiday, the street of the village of Maryinsky came alive again(Grigorovich).
As a rule, the indicated phrases at the end of the sentence are not isolated.
Wed: workers, as directed by the master, headed to the next workshop. - The workers went to the neighboring workshop as directed by the master.
In general, the isolation of phrases with the indicated prepositions and prepositional combinations is optional.
3. Circumstances expressed by nouns, without prepositions or with other prepositions, are isolated only if they acquire additional semantic load, have an explanatory meaning or combine several adverbial meanings (temporary and causal, temporary and concessional, etc.).
For example: Peter, after he received a decisive refusal, went to his room(L. Tolstoy).
In this case, the circumstance combines the meanings of time and reason ( when did you leave? And why did he leave?). Please note that the phrase is expressed by a noun with dependent words and is located between the subject and the predicate.
Note!
Isolated circumstances expressed by nouns are always highlighted intonationally. However, the presence of a pause does not always indicate the presence of a comma. Thus, the circumstances that appear at the beginning of the sentence are always emphasized intonationally.
Wed: I was in St. Petersburg last year; Last year / I was in St. Petersburg.
However, a comma is not placed after such a circumstance!
C) Circumstances expressed by adverbs
Circumstances expressed by adverbs (with dependent words or without dependent words) are isolated only if the author wants to draw attention to them, if they have the meaning of a passing comment, etc.:
A moment later into the yard, unknown where from, a man ran out in a nankeen caftan, with a head as white as snow(Turgenev).
We continue our research under the heading “ Literacy Minute“, and today we will talk about the isolation of circumstances. This topic is quite simple, but, nevertheless, novice authors often get confused about the placement of commas, put them where they shouldn’t, or don’t put them at all. Although in fact the rules of isolation are quite simple, as you can see now. One careful reading is enough to avoid making childish mistakes in your texts in the future. So, if you constantly get confused with commas or just want to brush up on punctuation rules, read this article.
Circumstances
According to tradition, let's start with a definition in order to more clearly present the subject of conversation.
- this is a minor member of a sentence, denoting a sign of an action or a sign of another sign. Answers the questions: When? Where? Where? where? For what? Why? How? Usually circumstances serve to explain the predicate or other members of the sentence. As adverbials in sentences, as a rule, there are nouns in the forms of indirect cases, adverbs, infinitives, etc. For example:
- Noun used as an adverbial adverb: The man came to the capital to earn money.
- Adverb: Students go to bed late.
- Participle or participial phrase: He left without looking back. The father, looking at his son's diary, frowned.
- Infinitive: The physical education teacher took the class outside to ski.
- In addition, an integral expression can be used as a circumstance: It was raining two weeks in a row.
As you have already noticed from the above examples, circumstances are not always separated by commas. Therefore, it is necessary to remember that only those circumstances that are expressed by gerunds or participial phrases need to be isolated in the text. Let's compare:
The girl stood, looking at her watch, and waited.
The girl was standing on the street.
In the first case, the circumstance " looking at the clock” is isolated, since it is expressed by an adverbial phrase, but in the case of a noun with a preposition, such isolation is not required.
Meanings of circumstances
According to their significance, circumstances are usually divided into the following main groups:
- Circumstances of the place. They answer the questions: Where? Where? Where? For example: We left home. They met at an exhibition.
- Circumstances of the time. Answer the questions: When? Since when? How long? How long? For example: They lived together for half a century.
- Circumstances of the reason that answer the questions: Why? From what? For what reason? Example: I couldn't even get up from fatigue.
- Circumstances of the goal. Answer the questions: Why? For what? For what purpose? For example: Everything in the house is prepared for receiving guests.
- Circumstances of the manner of action and degree. Answer the questions: How? How? In what degree? Example: The boy looked at the offender with hatred.
- Circumstances of the condition, which answer the question: Under what conditions? For example: If you want, you can move mountains.
- Circumstances of assignment answer the question: Despite what? For example: The courtyard, despite the late hour, was full of young people.
- Circumstances of comparison, answering the question: How? Example: Her head is shorn, like a boy's.
Of all this classification, we are mainly interested in the last type - circumstances of comparison. They answer the question How? and begin with conjunctions as if, as if. It should be remembered that it is the circumstances of comparison in sentences that are separated by commas. For example: His boss had nerves of steel, strong as ropes.
Another type of circumstances that also needs to be separated by commas is the circumstances of the assignment. These circumstances answer the question: Despite what? and begin with prepositions despite, in spite of. For example: The child, contrary to the parents’ decision, acted in his own way.
So, summarizing the rules announced, we will highlight three cases in which circumstances must be separated by commas:
- if they are expressed by an adverbial phrase;
- if they represent comparative turnover;
- if they start with prepositions despite, in spite of.
Important subtleties
Despite the apparent simplicity of the isolation rules, there are times when it is not so easy to decide on the placement of commas.
Firstly, adverbs should be clearly distinguished from gerunds standing, sitting, lying, reluctantly, silently, jokingly, without looking, playing and others. They are formed as a result of the transition of words from the category of gerunds to adverbs. And if so, then the circumstances expressed in such words cannot be isolated. Example: He stood silently.
Circumstances expressed by phraseological units are also not highlighted: the shop worked with its sleeves rolled up.
In addition to the circumstances of the assignment, which are always distinguished, sometimes circumstances expressed by nouns with derivative prepositions can also be distinguished. according to, thanks to, despite, in view of, as a result of. Example: Thanks to the hot weather, the boys swam in the pond all summer. Usually such circumstances are highlighted if they are common and come before the predicate.
That's all for today. I hope this article helped you refresh your memory of all the subtle aspects of the isolation of circumstances. Subscribe to blog updates to stay updated on the latest articles. See you soon!
