Практический курс первого изучаемого языка. Английская пунктуация в теории и на практике. English punctuation in theory and use. Учебное пособие

Russian language

English language

Rule 1. To avoid confusion, use com-

Rule 1. To avoid confusion, use commas

mas to separate words and word groups

to separate words and word groups with

with a series of three or more. In Rus-

a series of three or more. The last ele-

sian language the last element in the

ment in such series is preceded by and

series is not set off by a comma.

with a comma. The last comma is called

the Oxford (serial) comma.

Моё недвижимое имущество стои-

My $10 million estate is to be split

мостью в 10 миллионов долларов бу-

among my husband, daughter, son, and

дет разделено на равные части меж-

nephew.

ду моим мужем, дочерью, сыном и

Omitting the comma after son would

племянником.

indicate that the son and nephew would

have to split one-third of the estate.

Канатоходец накренился влево, со-

The tightrope walker leaned left, bent

гнулся, медленно выпрямился и уве-

from the waist, slowly straightened up(,)

ренно сделал шаг вперёд.

and stepped forward confidently.

The comma before and is optional be-

cause the word and signals the end of

item three and the beginning of item

four. In Britain, writers tend to omit the

comma preceding and.

Он сильный, здоровый мужчина.

He is a strong, healthy man.

НО

BUT

Мы остановились в недорогом лет-

We stayed at an expensive summer re-

нем санатории.

sort.

–

Rule 3. Use a comma when an -ly adjec-

tive is used with other adjectives.

Феликс был одиноким молодым чело-

Felix was a lonely, young boy.

веком.

Rule 4. If all items in a series are linked

Rule 4. If all items in a series are linked

by and, no comma is needed only before

by and, no commas are needed.

the first conjunction. However, this con-

struction is rare.

Она сказала, что хочет молоко и пе-

She said that she wanted milk and cook-

ченье, и конфеты.

ies and candy.

Rule 5. When a series separated by

Rule 5. When a series separated by

commas ends in и т. д.., и т. п., or oth-

commas ends in etc., and so forth, and

er such phrases, DO NOT place a com-

so on, or other such phrases, place a

ma before the word or abbreviation indi-

comma before the word or abbreviation

cating continuation.

indicating continuation.

Он был в Лондоне, Мадриде, Копенга-

He visited London, Madrid, Copenha-

гене и т. д.

gen, etc.

Не мог бы ты предоставить мне че-

I would like you to give me the receipts,

ки, счета, бланки заказа и т. п.?

bills, order forms, and so forth.

Russian language

English language

Я уже покрасил весь дом, а он всё ещё

I have painted the entire house, but he

покрывал кафелем ванную комнату.

is still working on tiling the bathroom.

Я выбрала красный и зелёный цвета, а

I chose the colors red and green, and

его выбор сразу пал на синий.

blue was his first choice.

Rule 2. You can NOT omit the comma if

Rule 2. You can omit the comma if the

the clauses are both short.

clauses are both short.

Я рисую, а он пишет.

I paint and he writes.

Rule 3. Even if the subject does not ap-

Rule 3. If the subject does not appear in

pear in front of the second verb, use a

front of the second verb, do not use a

comma.

comma.

Он не стал долго раздумывать, но всё

He thought quickly but still did not an-

равно не дал верного ответа.

swer correctly.

Russian language

English language

Rule. In Russian, hyphen is used to show

Rule. The gapping comma is used to

that one or more words have been left out

show that one or more words have been

when the missing words would simply

left out when the missing words would

repeat the words already used earlier in

simply repeat the words already used

the same sentence.

earlier in the same sentence.

Некоторые норвежцы желали, чтобы

Some Norwegians wanted to base their

национальный язык был основан на

national language on the speech of the

базе столичного диалекта, другие –

capital city; others, on the speech of the

на базе диалекта сельской местности.

rural countryside.

Russian language

English language

Rule 1. The words spoken in a direct address must be set off by commas.

Дети, тише!

Children, be quiet!

Не волнуйся, дорогой.

Don’t worry, dear.

Не выполнишь ли ты, Джон, это зада-

Will you,John,do that assignment for

ние для меня?

me?

Rule 2. Interjections, or emotional particles,

are set off by commas. The same goes

for introductory words such as well, now, or yes.

Ух, как холодно!

Oh, how cold!

Какялюблюморе,ах,какялюблюморе!

How I love the sea,ah,how I love the

Да, мне действительно нужен этот

sea!

отчёт.

Yes, I do need that report.

Ну,яинедумал дожитьдоэтогодня…

Well, I never thought I’d live to see the

day . . .

Rule 3. Parenthetical words and phrases,

which express the speaker’s attitude to

the topic being discussed, are set off by commas.

Она была красивая и, что ещё важнее,

She was a beautiful and, more im-

умная женщина.

portantly, smart woman.

Они не пошли, однако, на концерт.

However, they didn’t go to the concert.

Это показалось ему, по-видимому,

Apparently, that seemed strange to him.

странным.

According to scientists and specialists,

По мнению учёных и специалистов,

this issue requires painstaking analysis.

эта проблема требует тщательного

изучения.

Rule 4. The adverbial modifiers of

time, place, manner, reason, and pur-

pose are usually set off by comma be-

–

fore the subject of the sentence to avoid

ambiguity. Use a comma after phrases

of more than three words that begin a

sentence. If the phrase has fewer than

three words, the comma is optional.

В лесу раздался громкий выстрел.

In the forest (,) a loud shot rang out.

Весной берёза покрывается нежными

In spring (,) the birch becomes covered

клейкими листочками.

with soft sticky little leaves.

После дождя бывает много грибов.

After the rain (,) a lot of mushrooms

grow.

BUT

Для подачи заявления на эту долж-

To apply for this job, you must have

ность требуется опыт работы в дан-

previous experience.

ной сфере.

Rule 5. Use a comma to separate the

–

day of the month from the year and

after the year.

Четвёртого июля 1776 г. была подпи-

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of

сана Декларация о независимости.

Independence was signed.

Rule 6. English normally uses a com-

–

ma when a person’s last name is writ-

ten before the first name.

Иванов Вадим Алексеевич

Ivanov, Vadim Alekseevich

Я жил в Сан-Франциско, штат Кали-

I have lived in San Francisco, Califor-

форния, на протяжении двадцати

nia (,) for twenty years.

лет.

a) Небо, золотое и багровое, отра-

a) The sky, golden and crimson, was

жалось в воде.

reflected in the water.

Лена, в шляпе и шали, торопливо воз-

Lena, an a hat and shawl, was return-

вращалась с прогулки.

ing hastily from a walk.

b) Трава, сгибаемая под ударами вет-

b) The grass, bent by blows of wind

ра и дождя, ложилась на землю.

and rain, lay against the earth.

c) Мой брат, нахмурив брови, молчал.

c) My brother, knitting his brows, was

Задыхаясь, я сбежал с лестницы.

silent.

Panting, I ran down the stairs.

Два молодых человека, студент и

Two young men, a student and an of-

офицер, были одних лет.

ficer, were the same age.

Степь, то есть безлесая равнина,

The steppe, or treeless plain, surround-

окружала меня со всех сторон.

ed me on all sides.

Rule 10. In Russian language all the at-

Rule 10. If something or someone is

tributive clauses (определительные при-

sufficiently identified, the description

даточные предложения) are surrounded

following it is considered nonessential

by commas.

and should be surrounded by commas.

Фредди, который хромает, пострадал

Freddy, who has a limp, was in an auto

в автомобильной аварии.

accident.

Freddy is named, so the description is

not essential.

BUT

Парень, который хромает, пострадал

The boy who has a limp was in an auto

в автомобильной аварии.

accident.

We do not know which boy is being

referred to without further description;

therefore, no commas are used.

Rule 11. Use commas to introduce or

Rule 11. Use commas to introduce or

interrupt direct quotations shorter than

interrupt direct quotations shorter than

three lines, unless right after direct

three lines.

speech.

Он вообще-то сказал: «Мне всё рав-

He actually said, ‘‘I do not care.’’

но».

«Почему», – спросил я, – «ты всегда

‘‘Why,’’ I asked, ‘‘do you always for-

забываешь об этом?»

get to do it?’’

Мне можно идти, не так ли?

I can go, can’t I?

Это мои деньги, не твои.

That is my money, not yours.

Rule 14. All the dependant clauses are

Rule 15. When starting a sentence with

surrounded by the commas in Russian

a weak clause, use a comma after it.

language.

Conversely, do not use a comma when

the sentence starts with a strong clause

followed by a weak clause.

Если ты не уверен на этот счёт, дай

If you are not sure about this, let me

мне знать.

know now.

Дай мне знать, если ты не уверен на

BUT

Let me know now if you are not sure

этот счёт.

about this.