Verbs, names and adverbs in a sentence can act as introductory words, which in one way or another - grammatically, lexically, intonation - express the speaker’s attitude to what he is reporting.

Compare two sentences:

This question, it seemed made it difficult for the guest.

Face his it seemed calm.

In both examples the word is used it seemed , but only in the second case is this word included in the members of the sentence: there it is part of a compound nominal predicate.

In the first example the word it seemed serves only to express the speaker’s attitude towards what he is reporting. Such words are called introductory words; they are not part of the sentence and can easily be omitted, for example: This question... made the guest difficult. Please note that in the second sentence, skip the word it seemed impossible.

Compare some more examples in the table:

Take it with you By the way, our books.
This phrase by the way, reminded me of an old joke.

These words are spoken By the way.

This phrase was said by the way.

Words separated by commas can be removed from a sentence without destroying its meaning.

By the way, from the first sentence you can ask the question HOW?
To the phrase BETWEEN OTHERS, you can ask the question WHEN?

Many words can be used as introductions. But there is a group of words that are never introductory. Read two sentences:

There will obviously be a good harvest this year;
There will certainly be a good harvest this year.

The first sentence uses the word obviously, in the second – certainly . Although these words are very close in meaning, only the word from the first sentence is separated by commas and is introductory. The words presented below need to be remembered: they are very similar to introductory ones, but they are not commas are not separated:

PERHAPS, SUDDENLY, SUDDENLY, SO, HARDLY, STILL, EVEN, EXACTLY, AS IF, JUST, CAREFULLY, MANDATORY, ALMOST, ONLY, ALLEGEDLY.

Introductory words can convey five different types of meaning:

    Most often, with the help of introductory words, the speaker conveys various degree of confidence in what he reports. For example: You will undoubtedly do well on the exam. or It seems like you need to study more. This group includes the words:

    OF COURSE, OF COURSE, UNDOUBTEDLY, UNDOUBTEDLY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, UNCONDITIONALLY, ACTUALLY, SEEMED, PROBABLY, POSSIBLY, POSSIBLY.

    Introductory words can also convey feelings and attitude speaker to what he is communicating. For example: Unfortunately, you did not pass the exam very well.

    FORTUNELY, UNFORTUNATELY, SURPRISINGLY, UNFORTUNATELY.

    Sometimes introductory words indicate on The source of information, which is reported by the speaker. Introductory phrases in this case begin with the words BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION. For example: According to doctors, you need to stop training for a while.

    The source of the message may also be the speaker himself (IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION) or the source may be uncertain (THE SAY IS HEARD). For example: They say you will have to stop training.

    ACCORDING TO THE MESSAGE, ACCORDING TO WORDS, ACCORDING TO OPINION, ACCORDING TO RUMORS, SAYING, HEARD, IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION, IN YOUR OPINION.

    Introductory words are also used For organizing thoughts and indications of their connections with each other. For example: Firstly, this participle was formed from a perfective verb; secondly, it has dependent words. Therefore, it must contain two letters N.

    FIRSTLY, SECONDLY, THIRDLY, FINALLY, CONSEQUENTLY, MEAN, SO, OPPOSITE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE CONVERSE.

    There are also sentences where introductory words indicate on way of organizing thoughts. For example: In a word, everything went well.

    IN OTHERWISE, IN ONE WORD, IT IS BETTER TO SAY, TO SPEAK SOFTLY.

Introductory words also include words that serve to attract attention interlocutor:

YOU KNOW (KNOW), UNDERSTAND (UNDERSTAND), LISTEN (LISTEN), SEE (SEE) and others.

These same meanings can be expressed not only by introductory words, but also by similar predicative constructions (introductory sentences). Compare: The snowfall will probably end soon And The snowfall, I think, will end soon. In addition to commas, parentheses or dashes can be used to highlight introductory sentences. This is done when the introductory construction is very common and contains additional comments or explanations. For example:

We're passing through our village once, years ago - how can I tell you without lying - about fifteen years old. (Turgenev)
Alexei (the reader already recognized him) Meanwhile, he gazed intently at the young peasant woman. (Pushkin)

The rule for separating introductory words and sentences has several very important notes.

    If the introductory word is preceded by the conjunction A or BUT, then a comma is not always placed between the introductory word and the conjunction. Compare a couple of sentences:
    The doctor finished the appointment but of course, will look at a seriously ill patient.
    He gave his word and consequently, must restrain him.

    The introductory word can be rearranged or removed without a conjunction only in the first case, therefore a comma is required between the introductory word and the conjunction. It is impossible to do this in the second sentence, which means there is no comma.

    Very often difficulties arise in sentences with the words HOWEVER and FINALLY. The word HOWEVER is highlighted only when it cannot be replaced by the conjunction BUT. Compare two sentences:
    However we understand that this figure is still low(HOWEVER = BUT) . Bye, however, we don't yet have a clear picture of what's happening(HOWEVER - introductory word).

    The word FINALLY is introductory only when it does not have a spatial or temporal meaning, but indicates the order of thoughts. For example:
    I hope that in the near future this project finally will be implemented. AND, finally, The last thing I would like to draw your attention to.

    Introductory words can begin a separate construction, for example, a clarifying phrase. In this case, a comma is not placed after the introductory word (in other words, the comma, which was supposed to “close” the introductory word, is moved to the end of the separate phrase).

    I saw, or rather felt, that she was not indifferent to me.

    In addition, a comma is not placed before an introductory word located at the end of a separate phrase.

    For the holidays we decided to go somewhere, to Kolomna for example.

    If the introductory word is in the middle of a separate construction, then it is separated by commas on a common basis.

    I decided to declare my love, feeling, it seems, in my heart that she was not indifferent to me.

    If introductory words are located before a phrase beginning with the words “how” or “so that,” then they are separated by commas.

    The day she lived seemed meaningless to her, in fact, like all life.
    He thought for a moment, probably, to find the right words.

Exercise

  1. The portraits hung opposite the mirror.
  2. On the contrary, he didn’t even change his face.
  3. On the one hand_ I completely agree with you.
  4. On one side, the coin depicted a double-headed eagle.
  5. The truth is always better than a lie.
  6. I_really_ was somewhat surprised by this news.
  7. In spring_possible_flooding.
  8. There may be a flood in the spring.
  9. Everyone in our city is already talking about this.
  10. In Greece_ they say_ everything is there.
  11. Maybe you deigned to express yourself this way for the beauty of the style? (Gogol).
  12. According to weather forecasters, it will be colder next week.
  13. As scientists say, global warming awaits us.
  14. The train leaves in an hour_ therefore_ we need to leave the house.
  15. Fortunately_ Pechorin was deep in thought (Lermontov).
  16. We have gathered here_first_to resolve the issue of the timing of the work.
  17. He didn’t want to shoot himself - thank God - he didn’t want to try... (Pushkin).
  18. Of course_ you have seen the district young lady’s album (Pushkin) more than once.
  19. In one word, you got off easy.
  20. So_ now we can draw a conclusion.
  21. “You don’t bother me at all,” he objected, “if you please, shoot yourself, but as you please; your shot remains behind you; I am always ready at your service (Pushkin).
  22. She suffered for a very long time after separation, but as you know, time heals any wounds.
  23. The wind, however, was strong.
  24. Fedya brought flowers_ however_ Masha didn’t like it.
  25. A strong, yet warm wind blew through the window.
  26. A good upbringing, as we know, can be achieved in boarding schools (Gogol).
  27. However_ there are various improvements and changes in methods... (Gogol).
  28. You_ definitely_ should come to us.
  29. I took the ace of hearts from the table, as I remember now, and threw it up (Lermontov).
  30. However, General Khvalynsky himself did not like to talk about his career; He seems to have never been to war (Turgenev).
  31. You will become wild_ you know_ if you live locked up all the time (Gogol).
  32. He was probably a grateful person and wanted to pay for his good treatment.
  33. You supposedly had to come to his office and report on the trip.
  34. Yes_ I confess_ I thought so myself.
  35. I still decided to do it my own way.
  36. Ivan Petrovich, you know, was an extraordinary man.
  37. Nobody, of course, went to see him (Turgenev).
  38. Gleb, as far as I knew, studied well at the Bryansk gymnasium (Paustovsky).
  39. But perhaps the reader is already tired of sitting with me at Ovsyannikov’s house, and therefore I eloquently fall silent (Turgenev).
  40. My arrival—I could have noticed it—at first somewhat confused the guests.
  41. However_ the political process began to develop in a different way.
  42. In my last report, I hastened to inform you that we finally managed to solve this problem.
  43. The experiences of transformations that happened around us had, without a doubt, a strong influence on the thoughts of the majority of people involved in them (M. M. Speransky).
  44. A group of border guards led by an officer approached the violators with the intention, as had happened before, to protest and demand that they leave the territory.
  45. Finalization of the agreement will probably take several more months.
  46. Secondly_ in the field international tourism a lot of abuse.
  47. However, if we remain committed to the spirit and letter of this document, it could not have been otherwise.
  48. We all know well, and everyone here knows well, that on the western, or as they say, the second front, about 1.5 million Allied troops and about 560 thousand German troops were concentrated.
  49. This modest, symbolic gesture seems to me to be full of deep meaning.
  50. Fortunately, the examples mentioned above are the exception, not the rule.
  51. Increased baggage value may be claimed for certain types of items.
  52. The reason for this is obvious: when the mind begins to recognize the price of freedom, it dismisses with carelessness all the children's toys, so to speak, with which it amused itself in its infancy (M. M. Speransky).
  53. Pravda_ spoke to me politely, did not force me to do anything, and I remember having the impression that he did not look at all these accusations seriously.
  54. But in our case, the truth quickly came out, and we were soon released.

Of course no comma

Punctuation reminder

“Of course”, “of course” - the word of course is not separated by commas at the beginning of the response, pronounced in a tone of confidence, conviction: Of course it is!
In other cases, a comma is needed.

The expressions “in general”, “in general” are isolated in the meaning “in short, in a word”, then they are introductory.

“First of all” stands out as introductory in the meaning of “first of all” (First of all, he is a fairly capable person).
These words do not stand out in the meaning of “first, first” (First of all, you need to contact a specialist).
A comma after “a”, “but”, etc. is not needed: “But first of all, I want to say.”
When clarifying, the entire phrase is highlighted: “There is hope that these proposals, primarily from the Ministry of Finance, will not be accepted or will be changed.”

“At least”, “at least” - are isolated only when inverted: “This issue was discussed twice, at least.”

“In turn” - is not separated by a comma in the meaning “for its part”, “in response, when it was the turn.” And the quality of introductory ones is isolated.

“Literally” is not introductory; it is not separated by commas.

"Hence". If the meaning is “therefore, therefore, it means,” then commas are needed. For example: “So you, therefore, are our neighbors.”
BUT! If it means “therefore, as a result of this, based on the fact that,” then the comma is needed only on the left. For example: “I found a job, therefore we will have more money”; “You are angry, therefore you are wrong”; “You can’t bake a cake, so I’ll bake it.”

"Least". If it means “the least”, then without commas. For example: “At least I’ll wash the dishes”; “He made at least a dozen mistakes.”
BUT! If in the meaning of comparison with something, emotional assessment, then with a comma. For example: “At a minimum, this approach involves control,” “To do this, you need, at a minimum, to understand politics.”

“That is, if”, “especially if” - a comma is usually not needed

“That is” is not an introductory word and is not separated by commas on either side. This is a conjunction, a comma is placed before it (and if in some contexts a comma is placed after it, then for other reasons: for example, to highlight a certain isolated construction or subordinate clause that comes after it).
For example: “There are still five kilometers to the station, that is, an hour’s walk” (a comma is needed), “There are still five kilometers to the station, that is, if you walk slowly, an hour’s walk (a comma after “that is” is placed to highlight the subordinate clause "if you go slowly")

“In any case” are separated by commas as introductory ones if they are used in the meaning “at least”.

“Besides that”, “besides this”, “besides everything (other)”, “besides everything (other)” are isolated as introductory ones.
BUT! “Besides that” is a conjunction, a comma is NOT needed. For example: “In addition to not doing anything himself, he also makes claims against me.”

“Thanks to this”, “thanks to that”, “thanks to that” and “along with that” - a comma is usually not required. Segregation is optional. The presence of a comma is not an error.

“Moreover” - without a comma.
“Especially when”, “especially since”, “especially if”, etc. — a comma is needed before “even more so.” For example: “Such arguments are hardly needed, especially since this is a false statement”, “especially if it is meant”, “rest, especially since a lot of work awaits you”, “you shouldn’t sit at home, especially if your partner invites you to the dance."

“Moreover” is highlighted with a comma only in the middle of the sentence (on the left).

“Nevertheless” - a comma is placed in the middle of the sentence (on the left). For example: “He has decided everything, however, I will try to convince him.”
BUT! If “but nevertheless”, “if nevertheless”, etc., then commas are NOT needed.

If "however" means "but", then a comma with right side NOT installed. (An exception is if this is an interjection. For example: “However, what a wind!”)

“In the end” - if it means “in the end”, then a comma is NOT placed.

“Really” is not separated by commas in the meaning of “in fact” (that is, if this is a circumstance expressed by an adverb), if it is synonymous with the adjective “valid” - “real, genuine”. For example: “Its bark itself is thin, not like oak or pine, which are really not afraid of hot Sun rays"; “You are really very tired.”

“Really” can act as an introductory word and stand alone. The introductory word is characterized by intonation isolation - it expresses the speaker’s confidence in the truth of the reported fact. In controversial cases, the author of the text decides on the placement of punctuation marks.

“Because” - a comma is NOT needed if it is a conjunction, that is, if it can be replaced with “because”. For example: “As a child, he underwent a medical examination because he fought in Vietnam,” “maybe it’s all because I love when a person sings” (a comma is needed, because replace with “because” it is forbidden).

"Anyway". A comma is needed if the meaning is “be that as it may.” Then this is introductory. For example: “She knew that, one way or another, she would tell Anna everything.”
BUT! The adverbial expression “one way or another” (the same as “in one way or another” or “in any case”) does NOT require punctuation. For example: “War is necessary one way or another.”

Always without commas:

  • Firstly
  • at first sight
  • like
  • it seems
  • for sure
  • similarly
  • More or less
  • literally
  • in addition
  • in the (eventual) end
  • in the end
  • as a last resort
  • best case scenario
  • Anyway
  • at the same time
  • overall
  • mostly
  • especially
  • in some cases
  • through thick and thin
  • subsequently
  • otherwise
  • as a result
  • due to this
  • after all
  • in this case
  • in the same time
  • generally
  • in this regard
  • mainly
  • often
  • exclusively
  • at most
  • meanwhile
  • just in case
  • in case of emergency
  • if possible
  • as far as possible
  • still
  • practically
  • approximately
  • with all that
  • with (all) desire
  • on occasion
  • wherein
  • equally
  • the biggest
  • at the very least
  • actually
  • generally
  • maybe
  • as if
  • in addition
  • to top it off
  • I guess
  • by the proposal
  • by decree
  • by decision
  • as if
  • traditionally
  • supposedly

There is no comma at the beginning of a sentence:

  • “Before... I found myself...”
  • "Since…"
  • "Before as…"
  • "Although…"
  • "As…"
  • "In order to…"
  • "Instead of…"
  • “Actually...”
  • "While…"
  • “Especially since...”
  • "Nevertheless…"
  • “Despite the fact that...” (at the same time - separately); There is NO comma before “what”.
  • "If…"
  • "After…"
  • “And...”

“Finally” in the meaning of “finally” is NOT separated by commas.

“And this despite the fact that...” - a comma is ALWAYS placed in the middle of a sentence!

“Based on this, ...” - a comma is placed at the beginning of the sentence. BUT: “He did this based on...” - a comma is NOT used.

“After all, if..., then...” - a comma is NOT placed before “if”, since then comes the second part of the double conjunction - “then”. If there is no “then”, then a comma is placed before “if”!

“For less than two years...” - a comma is NOT placed before “what”, because This is NOT a comparison.

A comma is placed before “HOW” only in case of comparison.

“Politicians such as Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov...” - a comma is added because there is a noun "policy".
BUT: “...politicians such as Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov...” - a comma is NOT placed before “how”.

Commas are NOT used:
“God forbid”, “God forbid”, “for God’s sake” - are not separated by commas, + the word “God” is written with a small letter.

BUT: commas are placed in both directions:
“Thank God” in the middle of the sentence is highlighted with commas on both sides (the word “God” in this case is written with a capital letter) + at the beginning of the sentence - highlighted with a comma (on the right side).
“By God” - in these cases, commas are placed on both sides (the word “God” in this case is written with a small letter).
“Oh my God” - separated by commas on both sides; in the middle of the sentence, “God” - with a small letter.

If the introductory word can be omitted or rearranged to another place in the sentence without disturbing its structure (usually this happens with conjunctions “and” and “but”), then the conjunction is not included in the introductory construction - a comma is NEEDED. For example: “Firstly, it became dark, and, secondly, everyone was tired.”

If the introductory word cannot be removed or rearranged, then a comma is NOT placed after the conjunction (usually with the conjunction “a”). For example: “She simply forgot about this fact, or maybe she never remembered it,” “..., and therefore, …”, “..., and maybe …”, “..., and therefore, …”.

If the introductory word can be removed or rearranged, then a comma is NEEDED after the conjunction “a”, since it is not associated with the introductory word, i.e., welded combinations such as “and therefore”, “and however”, “and therefore” are not formed. or maybe”, etc. For example: “She not only didn’t love him, but maybe even despised him.”

If at the beginning of the sentence there is a coordinating conjunction (in the connecting meaning) (“and”, “yes” in the meaning of “and”, “too”, “also”, “and that”, “and that”, “yes and”, “ and also”, etc.), and then an introductory word, then a comma in front of it is NOT needed. For example: “And really, you shouldn’t have done that”; “And perhaps it was necessary to do something differently”; “And finally, the action of the play is ordered and divided into acts”; “Besides, other circumstances have come to light”; “But of course, everything ended well.”

It happens rarely: if at the beginning of a sentence there is a connecting conjunction, and the introductory construction is highlighted intonationally, then commas are NEEDED. For example: “But, to my great chagrin, Shvabrin decisively announced...”; “And, as usual, they remembered only one good thing.”

Main groups of introductory words and phrases
(set off by commas + on both sides in the middle of the sentence)

1. Expressing the speaker’s feelings (joy, regret, surprise, etc.) in connection with the message:

  • to annoyance
  • to amazement
  • Unfortunately
  • unfortunately
  • unfortunately
  • to joy
  • Unfortunately
  • to shame
  • fortunately
  • to the surprise
  • to horror
  • bad luck
  • for joy
  • for luck
  • the hour is not exactly
  • there's no point in hiding
  • by misfortune
  • fortunately
  • strange affair
  • amazing thing
  • what good, etc.

2. Expressing the speaker’s assessment of the degree of reality of what is being communicated (confidence, uncertainty, assumption, possibility, etc.):

  • without any doubts
  • undoubtedly
  • undoubtedly
  • may be
  • right
  • probably
  • apparently
  • Maybe
  • Indeed
  • in fact
  • there must be
  • Think
  • Seems
  • it would seem
  • Certainly
  • Maybe
  • May be
  • Maybe
  • Hope
  • presumably
  • is not it
  • undoubtedly
  • obviously
  • apparently
  • in all probability
  • truly
  • perhaps
  • I guess
  • in fact
  • essentially
  • Truth
  • right
  • of course
  • goes without saying
  • tea, etc.

3. Indicating the source of what is being reported:

  • They say
  • they say
  • transmit
  • In your
  • according to...
  • I remember
  • In my
  • in our opinion
  • according to legend
  • according to information...
  • according to…
  • according to rumors
  • according to message...
  • in your opinion
  • audible
  • report, etc.

4. Indicating the connection of thoughts, the sequence of presentation:

  • All in all
  • Firstly,
  • secondly, etc.
  • however
  • Means
  • in particular
  • The main thing
  • Further
  • Means
  • For example
  • Besides
  • by the way
  • By the way
  • by the way
  • by the way
  • finally
  • vice versa
  • For example
  • against
  • I repeat
  • I emphasize
  • more than that
  • on the other side
  • On the one side
  • that is
  • thus, etc.
  • as it were
  • whatever it was

5. Indicating techniques and ways of formatting expressed thoughts:

  • or rather
  • generally speaking
  • in other words
  • if I may say so
  • if I may say so
  • in other words
  • in other words
  • in short
  • better to say
  • to put it mildly
  • in a word
  • simply put
  • in a word
  • as a matter of fact
  • if I may say so
  • so to speak
  • to be precise
  • what is it called, etc.

6. Representing appeals to the interlocutor (reader) in order to attract his attention to what is being reported, to instill a certain attitude towards the facts presented:

  • do you believe
  • do you believe
  • do you see
  • you see)
  • imagine
  • let's say
  • do you know)
  • Do you know)
  • Sorry)
  • believe me
  • Please
  • understand
  • do you understand
  • do you understand
  • listen
  • suppose
  • Imagine
  • Sorry)
  • let's say
  • agree
  • agree, etc.

7. Measures indicating an assessment of what is being said:

  • at least, at least - are isolated only when inverted: “This issue was discussed twice, at least.”
  • the biggest
  • at the very least

8. Showing the degree of normality of what is being reported:

  • It happens
  • it happened
  • as usual
  • according to custom
  • happens

9. Expressive statements:

  • All jokes aside
  • between us it will be said
  • just between you and me
  • need to say
  • it won't be said as a reproach
  • frankly
  • according to conscience
  • in fairness
  • admit say
  • to speak honestly
  • funny to say
  • Honestly.

Stable expressions with comparison (without commas):

  • poor as a church mouse
  • white as a harrier
  • white as a sheet
  • white as snow
  • fight like a fish on ice
  • pale as death
  • shines like a mirror
  • the disease vanished as if by hand
  • fear like fire
  • wanders around like a restless person
  • rushed like crazy
  • mumbles like a sexton
  • ran in like crazy
  • lucky, as a drowned man
  • spins like a squirrel in a wheel
  • visible as day
  • squeals like a pig
  • lies like a gray gelding
  • everything is going like clockwork
  • everything is as chosen
  • jumped up as if scalded
  • jumped up as if stung
  • stupid as a plug
  • looked like a wolf
  • goal like a falcon
  • hungry as wolf
  • as far as heaven from earth
  • shaking as if with a fever
  • trembled like an aspen leaf
  • he's like water off a duck's back
  • wait like manna from heaven
  • wait like a holiday
  • lead a cat and dog life
  • live like a bird of heaven
  • fell asleep like the dead
  • frozen like a statue
  • lost like a needle in a haystack
  • sounds like music
  • healthy as a bull
  • know like crazy
  • have at one's fingertips
  • fits like a cow's saddle
  • goes next to me like it's sewn on
  • like he sank into the water
  • roll around like cheese in butter
  • sways like a drunk
  • swayed (swayed) like jelly
  • handsome as god
  • red like a tomato
  • red as a lobster
  • strong (strong) like an oak
  • screams like a catechumen
  • light as a feather
  • flies like an arrow
  • bald as a knee
  • it's raining cats and dogs
  • waves his arms like a windmill
  • rushing around like crazy
  • wet as a mouse
  • gloomy as a cloud
  • dropping like flies
  • hope like a stone wall
  • people like sardines in a barrel
  • dress up like a doll
  • you can't see your ears
  • silent as the grave
  • dumb as a fish
  • rush (rush) like crazy
  • rush (rush) like crazy
  • rushing around like a fool with a written bag
  • runs around like a chicken and an egg
  • needed like air
  • needed like last year's snow
  • needed like the fifth spoke in a chariot
  • Like a dog needs a fifth leg
  • peel off like sticky
  • one like a finger
  • remained broke like a lobster
  • stopped dead in his tracks
  • razor sharp
  • different as day from night
  • different as heaven from earth
  • bake like pancakes
  • turned white as a sheet
  • turned pale as death
  • repeated as if in delirium
  • you'll go like a darling
  • remember your name
  • remember like in a dream
  • get caught like chickens in cabbage soup
  • hit like a gun on the head
  • sprinkle like a cornucopia
  • similar as two peas in a pod
  • sank like a stone
  • appear as if by command of a pike
  • loyal like a dog
  • stuck like a bath leaf
  • fall through the ground
  • good (useful) like milk from a goat
  • disappeared as if into the water
  • just like a knife to the heart
  • burned like fire
  • works like an ox
  • understands oranges like a pig
  • disappeared like smoke
  • play it like clockwork
  • grow like mushrooms after the rain
  • grow by leaps and bounds
  • drop from the clouds
  • fresh like blood and milk
  • fresh as a cucumber
  • sat as if chained
  • sit on pins and needles
  • sit on coals
  • listened as if spellbound
  • looked enchanted
  • slept like a log
  • rush like hell
  • stands like a statue
  • slender as a Lebanese cedar
  • melts like a candle
  • hard as a rock
  • dark as night
  • accurate as a clock
  • skinny as a skeleton
  • cowardly as a hare
  • died like a hero
  • fell as if knocked down
  • stubborn as a sheep
  • stuck like a bull
  • mulish
  • tired as a dog
  • cunning like a fox
  • cunning like a fox
  • gushes like a bucket
  • walked around like a daze
  • walked like a birthday boy
  • walk on a thread
  • cold as ice
  • skinny as a sliver
  • black as coal
  • black as hell
  • feel at home
  • feel like you're behind a stone wall
  • feel like a fish in water
  • staggered like a drunk
  • It's like being executed
  • as clear as two and two is four
  • clear as day, etc.

Do not confuse with homogeneous members.

1. The following stable expressions are not homogeneous and therefore are NOT separated by a comma:

  • neither this nor that;
  • neither fish nor fowl;
  • neither stand nor sit;
  • no end or edge;
  • neither light nor dawn;
  • not a sound, not a breath;
  • neither for yourself nor for people;
  • neither sleep nor spirit;
  • neither here nor there;
  • for no reason about anything;
  • neither give nor take;
  • no answer, no hello;
  • neither yours nor ours;
  • neither subtract nor add;
  • and this way and that;
  • both day and night;
  • both laughter and grief;
  • and cold and hunger;
  • both old and young;
  • about this and that;
  • both;
  • in both.

(General rule: a comma is not placed inside complete phraseological expressions formed by two words with opposite meanings, connected by a repeated conjunction “and” or “nor”)

2. NOT separated by comma:

1) Verbs in the same form, indicating movement and its purpose.
I'll go for a walk.
Sit down and rest.
Go take a look.

2) Forming a semantic unity.
Can't wait.
Let's sit and talk.

3) Paired combinations of a synonymous, antonymous or associative nature.
Seek the truth.
There is no end.
Honor and praise to all.
Let's go.
Everything is covered.
It's nice to see.
Questions of purchase and sale.
Greet with bread and salt.
Tie hand and foot.

4) Compound words (interrogative-relative pronouns, adverbs that contrast something).
For some people, but you can’t.
It’s somewhere, somewhere, and everything is there.

Is it necessary to put the word "TASS" in quotation marks? Previously (before 1992), this word was an abbreviation, which eliminated the need for quotation marks. However, in accordance with the current Charter of the TASS Agency - the abbreviated name of the legal predecessor (http://docs.cntd.ru/document/9005834). It turns out that now “TASS” is no longer the abbreviated name of the Agency (because the Telegraph Agency Soviet Union no longer), but an abbreviation from the past, which has ceased to be such, but has essentially turned into a brand name. Hence I come to the conclusion that TASS now needs to be put in quotation marks. What is the opinion of your respected portal?

Traditionally TASS written without quotation marks.

Question No. 298946

Tell me the punctuation marks in this text. According to tradition, Santa Claus's magic box will be waiting for you at the fair. Each of you can put a gift with a wish for the child in it - a toy, sweets, books, stationery.

Russian help desk response

Punctuation is correct.

Question No. 294101

Hello! Please explain why ь and ъ are called dividing marks?

Russian help desk response

These letters are so called because they perform a dividing function in the Russian language. For the hard sign this function is the only one (after the abolition of this letter at the end of words in 1917–18), for the soft sign it is one of three. What is this separating function? A hard sign indicates that after a consonant, an iotated vowel letter does not denote the softness of the consonant, but two sounds: i - [ya], e - [ye], e - [yo], yu - [yu]: hug, congress, filming. The soft sign performs a similar dividing function in front of i, yu, e, yo, and inside the word not after the prefix (blizzard, nightingale) and in some foreign words before o: (broth, companion). So, the separating sign is a signal to read the next letter as “th + vowel”.

In addition to the dividing function, the soft sign performs another important job: it serves to indicate the independent softness of a paired consonant at the end of a word and in the middle of a word before a consonant: horse, bathhouse Finally, after a consonant that is unpaired in hardness/softness, a soft sign is written according to tradition in certain grammatical forms, without carrying any phonetic load (cf.: key - night).

Let us add that linguists have noted more than once: the presence of two dividing marks in Russian writing is based only on tradition (see, for example: Eskova N.A. About dividing marks // On modern Russian orthography / Editor-in-chief V. V. Vinogradov. M.: Nauka, 1964), such redundancy cannot be explained based on the system of the modern Russian language. More than once a proposal has been put forward to get rid of the two dividing marks and leave either only ъ(i.e. write congress And blizzard), or only b(i.e. write congress And snowstorm). The second sentence was heard much more often. What prevents us from accepting it is precisely the fact that the letter b used in completely different functions. It indicates the softness of the consonant, and when used as a dividing sign, we have the inevitable graphic illusion that the dividing b softens at the same time. In cases such as supernatural, rise, trans-European this graphic association with the designation of softness would be particularly objectionable. Therefore, for now, two dividing marks remain in Russian writing.

Question No. 293541

To question 293521. Why the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, when the spelling dictionary says: Supreme High Command?

Russian help desk response

Specifically in combination Headquarters of the Supreme High Command (during the Great Patriotic War) all three words are traditionally written with a capital letter, which is recorded in dictionaries. See: Rosenthal D.E. Handbook of the Russian language. Uppercase or lowercase? M., 2005.

Question No. 287486

Is there a need for a comma after the word “according to tradition”? Traditionally, at a concert, artists appear on stage in outfits from Yudashkin.

Russian help desk response

No, words traditionally do not require isolation.

Question No. 286818

Hello! Traditionally, the abbreviated name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Russian Federation(Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia) masculine. What kind of abbreviations like - Ministry of Health of Russia, Ministry of Labor of Russia, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, FMS of Russia, etc.

Russian help desk response

Question No. 285967

Is it true that the first word in the names of holidays is capitalized? Is it true that in the phrase birthday both words are written in small letters, because... it is not a specific holiday (depends on the person). How should one write, for example, “Lenin’s birthday”? Or any other person. Firstly, here we're talking about obviously about a specific holiday. Secondly, the meaning is that we are not talking about a personal holiday, but about a national one (holding subbotniks, etc.).

Russian help desk response

In the names of holidays, the first word and those included in the name are written with a capital letter. proper names, For example: Day of Knowledge, New Year, International Women's Day, Valentine's Day. In some holiday names, not only the first word is written with a capital letter, for example: Victory Day.

In names of holidays with an initial number, the name of the month is written with a capital letter: May 1, March 8.

Combination birthday always written in lowercase (except when at the beginning of a sentence). Right: birthday, Lenin's birthday, Putin's birthday, Zarya's birthday etc.

Question No. 284459

How to write complex street names correctly? For example, Novo*Cathedral Square, Dalne*Klyuchevskaya Street. In these examples, the name is an adjective (or is it already a noun?), which means it should be written together: Novosobornaya, Dalneklyuchevskaya, because words are formed from subordinate phrases ( new cathedral, distant key). However, in our city, on maps and on house signs, the names are written with a hyphen: Dalne-Klyuchevskaya, Novo-Sobornaya. How is that right?

Russian help desk response

Such names are not written uniformly: some of them are traditionally written (including on maps and documents) together, while others are hyphenated. In addition, spelling may change over time. For example, in Moscow there is a metro station "Novokuznetskaya", but when the station was opened (1943), the name was written with a hyphen: "Novo-Kuznetskaya". Therefore, it is better to check the spelling of the name of a specific street with the administration of the locality in which the street is located.

Question No. 282356
Hello. Is a comma necessary after the conjunction "AND" in the following sentence?

The houses on Proviantskaya are gradually being demolished... And according to tradition, the trees in front of the red line are being cut down.

Russian help desk response

Traditionally does not require isolation: And traditionally, trees are cut down in front of the red line.

Question No. 282126
Is it necessary to separate with commas “according to tradition”?

Russian help desk response

No, adverb traditionally does not require punctuation.

Question No. 281346
May 1 – Spring and Labor Day. According to the rules, in the names of holidays some words are written with a capital letter “according to tradition.” But what kind of tradition can there be in writing a completely new name, “Festival of Spring and Labor”? Capitalizing the words “spring” and “labor” is, in my opinion, a modern illiterate fad in imitation of the Anglo-Saxon (American) spelling of nouns. Why such shuffling? At first, the newly introduced holiday was called the “Festival of Spring and Labor,” but later the obsequious form won.

Russian help desk response

The point here is not about “shocking before the Anglo-Saxons,” but about the fact that, according to Spring And Work The name of the holiday has a special high meaning. The holiday is new, but the model is old, cf.: Happy Great October holiday! And writing in lowercase is appropriate in contexts where we are not talking about the May 1 holiday: spring Festival(about meeting spring), labor holiday(about the subbotnik).

Question No. 280805
Hello!
After sibilants in 3rd declension nouns a soft sign is written. But it doesn’t soften the sound ahead. For example, the word rye in transcription will be [rosh] sound sh - hard.
Then why do we need a soft sign in these words? Maybe there is historical background this?

Russian help desk response

The soft sign after sibilants in 3rd declension nouns is written exclusively according to tradition. Linguists have repeatedly said that abolishing such spelling would be a step forward in our spelling, and have more than once suggested writing mouse, night(for example, such a proposal was considered by the Spelling Commission, created in 1904 at the Department of Russian Language and Literature of the Academy of Sciences), but this idea could not be realized either during the reform of 1917–18 or later. The desire to preserve the familiar appearance of the word always turned out to be stronger.

Question No. 274214
Good afternoon Please tell me whether the prefix “de” is written in capital or lowercase letters in surnames like “De Roy”, “De Villiers”.
Sincerely, Matveeva Veronica.

Russian help desk response

By general rule service elements (articles, prepositions) van, yes, de, le etc., which are part of foreign-language surnames, are written with a lowercase letter. These elements are written with a capital letter by tradition only in some names (for example, Charles De Coster), the spelling of which is checked using a spelling dictionary.

Question No. 273911
which is correct: PARALYMPICS or PARALYMPICS

Russian help desk response

In official documents and in the media it is customary to write without O: Paralympic Games, Paralympics, Paralympians. But in the 4th edition of the “Russian Spelling Dictionary” (M., 2012, this is the last one on this moment printed edition of the dictionary) is recorded: Paralympics And Paralympics. The corresponding options are offered by electronic version dictionary on our portal.

Writing words related to Paralympic Games, Indeed, it has experienced and is experiencing fluctuations. Thus, in the previous printed edition of the “Russian Spelling Dictionary” (M., 2005) only the spelling was recorded Pair O Olympics. " Marina Koroleva. – After all, in this case we are talking about a complex word consisting of two parts: the adjective we know Olympic And pair-(from the Greek para - near, around, at). The first part, para-, points to difficult words that something is nearby, about. Or to deviate from something (paranormal, paramagnetic). Paralympic games Para-Olympic: simple and clear." About the first cases of variants appearing in official documents Paralympics, Paralympic Games

However Paralympic And Deaflympic Paralympic etc. This is due to the spelling adopted in other languages ​​(cf. English Paralympic Games, French Jeux Paralympiques). Here is a certificate from the State Legal Administration to the Federal Law of November 9, 2009 No. 253-FZ: “In the laws and by-laws adopted before the entry into force of the Federal Law of December 4, 2007 No. 329-FZ “On physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation", the letter “o” was used in the spelling of these words, namely: “Paralympic” and “deaflympic”. In the said Federal Law, the spelling of these words was brought into line with the rules established by international sports organizations, which required the introduction of the necessary amendments to a number of legislative acts."

Question No. 272990
Please tell me, now, on the eve of the Olympics, the words “Paralympic”, “deaflympic” are very often found in texts - this norm is recorded in dictionaries. However, the media uses the variant “Paralympic” and “Deaflympic”. Which is correct?

Russian help desk response

Federal Law of November 9, 2009 No. 253-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (adopted State Duma October 21, 2009, approved by the Federation Council on October 30, 2009) established the uniform use of words in the legislation of the Russian Federation Paralympic And Deaflympic, as well as phrases formed on their basis: ParalympicRussian Committee, Paralympic Games and etc.

Dictionaries of the Russian language (see, for example: Russian Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Academy of Sciences / edited by V.V. Lopatin. M., 2005) record the spelling Pair O Olympic Games, Couple O Olympics. " It would seem logical,” wrote Marina Koroleva. – After all, in this case we are talking about a complex word consisting of two parts: the well-known adjective “Olympic” and “para-” (from the Greek para - near, near, at). The first part, para-, indicates in compound words that something is nearby, near. Or to deviate from something (paranormal, paramagnetic). Paralympic games- This sports, the same Olympic Games, but for the disabled, people with disabilities. Conducted according to tradition following Olympic Games, for some time now even in the same cities. Para-Olympic: simple and clear." About the first cases of the variant appearing in official documents Paralympic Games V.V. Lopatin, executive editor of the Russian Spelling Dictionary, chairman of the Spelling Commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said this: “We have a Lympiad.”

But still official documents(now final) spelling established Paralympic Games(cf. English Paralympic Games, French Jeux Paralympiques, Spanish Juegos Paralímpicos). Here is a certificate from the State Legal Department to the Federal Law of November 9, 2009 No. 253-FZ: “In the laws and regulations adopted before the entry into force of the Federal Law of December 4, 2007 No. 329-FZ “On Physical Culture and Sports in Russian Federation", the letter "o" was used in the spelling of these words, namely: "Paralympic" and "Deaflympic". In the said Federal Law, the spelling of these words is brought into line with the rules established by international sports organizations, which required making the necessary changes to a number of legislative acts.”