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Setting a colon in rule sentences. Simple listing rules

Setting a colon in rule sentences. Simple listing rules

20.10.2019

Punctuation marks are nothing more than a system of symbols that is used in various languages to structure written speech. The same punctuation marks in different languages can not only be put differently, but also have different meanings.

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

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

If you need to insert a quote from some text into your essay, you should first put a colon, and then quotes. The colon in complex sentences is used where one of the simple sentences requires an explanation of the other. For example: "It became clear to everyone that the perpetrator was still in the room: his footprints could be seen throughout the room, but not at the door."

So let's recap. A colon is used in the following cases:

To focus on one of the parts of the sentence;

When listing homogeneous members after a generalizing word;

To highlight direct speech;

To explain one sentence to another.

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

First you need to remember that this sign is in most cases placed in complex sentences, except for some moments.

In Russian there is such a thing as a "generalizing word". For a better understanding, consider the example of the sentence "There were tools on the table: a hammer, a drill, a saw and a jigsaw." This sentence talks about the tools that are on the table, and then they are all listed. In this case, the word "tools" will be generalizing. From here we get the first rule, which says that the colon must be placed after the generalizing word. To consolidate, let's give another example: "By tomorrow I need to do my lessons: biology, algebra and geography."
Headlines such as "Ivanov: gamer and programmer" also contain this sign. If we consider a specific rule, then the first part of the title should indicate the actor, some problem or place of action. The second part of the title gives specifics to the first. "Economy of the country: further development".
Assume that there is no generalizing word, but there is an enumeration. In this case, the sign will also be placed, for example: "On the table were: phone, keys and money."

Colon in compound sentences

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

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

Is a colon necessary for indirect speech?

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

Mom told me: "We need to go to the store and buy milk." Mom said to throw out the trash. The second sentence will be indirect speech. It can be easily identified by several conjunctions, such as "what", "to", "when", "why" and others. Indirect speech is a subordinate clause in a complex sentence and is not distinguished by a colon.

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

Video

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

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

Homogeneous members are separated from each other commas:

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

Comma is placed between homogeneous members if they are connected:

repeated unions either...then, neither...neither, or...or:
That snow, That wind;
double alliances somehow and, not only-but also, if not something:
Both trees and bushes were green. Not only trees, but also bushes turned green. The leaves bloom, if not in April, then in May (a comma before if not put).

Before solitary union "And" no comma:
Trees, bushes, flowers, and herbs turned green.

A sentence can have several rows of homogeneous members:
Maples And birches crowded on hillocks And hollows.

Colon is placed before the enumeration if:

it is necessary to warn the reader that what follows is an enumeration:
Meanwhile, there are many factories and factories here: hat, glass, paper), etc. (I. A. Goncharov)
listing is preceded by:
generalizing word: In a person, everything should be perfect: the face, and clothes, and the soul, and thoughts. (A.P. Chekhov);
introductory word(somehow, namely, for example, etc.), while the introductory word is separated by a comma: For trade, these crafts barely deliver a few unimportant items, such as: skins, horns, fangs. (I. A. Goncharov)

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

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

Tasks and tests on the topic "Homogeneous members of the sentence and punctuation marks with "and"

Homogeneous members of the sentence, punctuation marks with them - Offer. Phrase 4th grade
Lessons: 1 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1
Proposals with homogeneous members. Generalizing words - Basic concepts of syntax and punctuation Grade 5
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 8 Tests: 3
Punctuation with homogeneous members connected by non-repeating, repeating and paired unions - Simple complicated sentence Grade 11
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 6 Tests: 1
Punctuation marks in definitions and applications - Simple complicated sentence Grade 11
Lessons: 2 Assignments: 7 Tests: 1

Attention! IN different rows, a comma before "and" is not possible!

Remember that:

if the generalizing word is in front of homogeneous members, then a colon is placed after it;
if the generalizing word is after homogeneous members, then a dash is placed after the generalizing word;
if a generalizing word is in front of homogeneous members, then, as you already know, a colon is placed after it; but if after the enumeration the sentence continues, then a dash must be put after the homogeneous members.

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

The colon is one of the punctuation marks in the Russian language, which is usually placed either in complex sentences with a non-union connection between predicative parts, or in sentences where there are homogeneous members expressed by any part of speech.

The setting of the colon in Russian is governed by the following rules:

1. The colon is placed before the enumeration, which ends the sentence (the enumeration, as a rule, is expressed by homogeneous members that refer to one generalizing concept). For example:

Funny faces seemed to him from everywhere: from stumps and logs, from the branches of trees, barely trembling with foliage, from the multi-colored herbs and forest flowers.
Everything here seemed familiar to me: the creative mess on the table, and randomly pasted posters on the walls, and CDs lying everywhere.
In this forest you can even meet predators, such as: wolves, foxes, sometimes bears.
School supplies were scattered on the table: notebooks, textbooks, sheets of paper and pencils.

2. In sentences with enumeration, it is also appropriate to put a colon even if if there is no generalizing word. Then this punctuation mark acts as a signal that the enumeration follows. For example:

From around the corner appeared: a short-haired girl in a short dress, a funny toddler on plump legs and a couple of older boys.

3. The colon is placed in the sentence before the enumeration, if before it there is a generalizing word or the words "such", "namely", "for example":

And all this: both the river, and the rods of the verbolaz, and this boy - reminded me of the distant days of childhood (Perventsev).

4. A colon is placed after one of the parts of a non-union complex sentence, followed by one or more other parts. Naturally, in this case, no unions are assumed. The semantic links between the predicative parts in a non-union complex sentence with a colon can be as follows:

a) Clarification, explanation, disclosure of the meaning of the first part, for example:

She was not mistaken: the guy really turned out to be Peter.
Moreover, the cares of a large family constantly tormented her: either the feeding of the baby did not go on, then the nanny left, then, as now, one of the children fell ill (L. Tolstoy).
Here it turned out such a thing: he prevented the soup, but forgot to remove the pan from the heat.

b) The reason for what happened in the first part. For example:

You can’t catch up with a mad troika: the horses are full, and strong, and lively (Nekrasov).
No wonder I didn’t see a future husband in you: you were always secretive and cold.

5. If two sentences are combined into one without the help of unions, then a colon is placed between them if if the first sentence contains the words “see”, “hear”, “see”, “know”, “feel”, and the following sentences reveal the meaning of these words (thus, the first sentence warns what will be said in subsequent ones). For example:

And now the buoy-keeper and the Kyrgyz assistant see: two boats are floating along the river (A. N. Tolstoy).
I crawled along the thick grass along the ravine, I look: the forest is over, several Cossacks leave it for a clearing, and now my Karagyoz jumps right up to them ... (Lermontov).
Finally, we climbed to the very top, stopped to rest and looked around: the heavens were opening before us.
Pavel feels: someone's fingers touch his arm above the elbow (N. Ostrovsky);
I understood: you are not a couple of my daughter.

But (without hint of warning):

I see you are not as simple as you seem.

6. The colon is placed in sentences introducing direct speech after the words of the author. For example:

They were silent for two minutes, but Onegin approached her and said: “You wrote to me, don’t deny it” (Pushkin).
The cat looked at me as if she wanted to ask: “And who are you to tell me?”.
And I thought: “What a heavy and lazy fellow!” (Chekhov).

Note. A group of sentences with direct speech, where the words of the hero are entered directly, should be distinguished from a group of sentences with indirect speech. In them, the words of the hero are introduced using service parts of speech, as a rule, unions or allied words (“what”, “what”, “what”, etc.), and not a colon, but a comma is put. For example:

I thought about what a great person he is.
I didn't know what to do tonight.
Will he again remind you of what happened a year ago?

Colon Rules

§ 159. A colon is placed before the enumeration, which ends the sentence:

If the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word (and often, in addition, another word, for example, somehow, namely), for example:

Cossacks rose from everywhere: from Chigirin, from Pereyaslav, from Baturin, from Glukhov, from the lower side of the Dnieper and from all its upper reaches and islands.

Familiar details came forward: deer antlers, shelves of books, a mirror, a stove with an air vent that should have been repaired long ago, his father's sofa, a large table, an open book on the table, a broken ashtray, a notebook with his handwriting.

L. Tolstoy

A large fish, such as pike, catfish, asps, pike perch, beats with a sharp edge.

S. Aksakov

If there is no generalizing word before the enumeration, but it is necessary to warn the reader that some kind of list follows, for example:

From under the hay one could see: a samovar, a tub with an ice-cream form and some other attractive bundles and boxes.

L. Tolstoy

§ 160. A colon is placed before an enumeration in the middle of a sentence if the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word or words somehow, for example, namely, for example:

And all this: both the river, and the twigs of the verbal tree, and this boy - reminded me of the distant days of childhood.

Perventsev

I visited the largest cities of the USSR, namely: Moscow, Leningrad, Baku, Kyiv - and returned to the Urals.

For a dash after an enumeration in the middle of a sentence after a colon, see /strong”, item 3, note”.

§ 161. A colon is placed after a sentence, followed by one or more sentences not connected to the first by conjunctions and containing:

A) an explanation or disclosure of the content of what is said in the first sentence, for example:

I was not mistaken: the old man did not refuse the proposed glass.

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.

L. Tolstoy

Here a rather entertaining picture opened up: a wide hut, with which the roof rested on two finished pillars, was full of people.

Lermontov

B) the reason, the reason for what is said in the first sentence, for example:

You can’t catch up with a mad troika: the horses are full, and strong, and lively.

Nekrasov

It was not for nothing that the Greek gods recognized the irresistible power of fate over themselves: fate was that dark boundary beyond which the consciousness of the ancients did not cross.

Belinsky

§ 162. A colon is placed between two sentences not connected by conjunctions, if in the first sentence such verbs as see, look, hear, know, feel, etc., a warning is made that a statement of some fact or what will follow will follow. some description, for example:

And now the buoy-keeper and the Kirghiz assistant see: two boats are floating along the river.

A. N. Tolstoy

I crawled along the thick grass along the ravine, I look: the forest is over, several Cossacks leave it for a clearing, and now my Karagez jumps right to them ...

Lermontov

Finally, we climbed the Gud-mountain, stopped and looked around: a gray cloud hung on it, and its cold breath threatened a close storm ...

Lermontov

I know: in your heart there is both pride and direct honor.

Pavel feels: someone's fingers are touching his arm above the elbow.

N. Ostrovsky

But (without hint of warning):

I hear the earth tremble.

Nekrasov

§ 163. A colon is placed after a sentence introducing direct speech, in particular, a direct question or exclamation, for example:

They were silent for two minutes, but Onegin approached her and said: “You wrote to me, don’t deny it.”

At the end of the work, Peter asked Ibragim: “Do you like the girl with whom you danced the minuet at the last assembly?”

And I thought: “What a heavy and lazy fellow!”

Note. A group of sentences that include direct speech should be distinguished from complex sentences with a subordinate clause: as usual, a comma is placed before the subordinate clause, and at the end of it is a sign required by the nature of the entire complex sentence, for example:

I thought about what a heavy and lazy fellow he was.

I tried to remember where I was that day exactly a year ago.

Will he again remind you of what happened a year ago?

How hard it is to remember what happened on that terrible day!

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Colon Rules - Colon, Punctuation