When is a colon placed? Rules of Russian spelling and punctuation (1956) What is the colon in Russian for?

Colon warns of further clarification and clarification. This function of the sign is revealed by different meanings: causation, justification, disclosure of content, concretization of the general concept.

1. A colon is placed before the enumeration that ends the sentence:

A) If the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word ( and often, besides , more words for example, somehow, namely ), for example: A large fish beats with a spear, such as: pikes, catfish, asps, pike perches.

B) If there is no generalizing word before the listing, 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.

2. A colon is placed before an enumeration in the middle of a sentence if the enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word or wordssomehow, for example, , for example: And all this: and the river, and the rods of the verbose, and this boy - reminded me of the distant days of childhood.

3. A colon is placed after a sentence, followed by one or more sentences that are not connected to the first one by conjunctions and contain:

a) clarification 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.

b) the basis, the reason for what is said in the first sentence, for example: Do not overtake you with a mad troika: the horses are full, and strong, and lively.

4. A colon is placed between two sentences not connected by conjunctions, if in the first sentence with such verbs as see, look, hear, know, feel etc., a warning is given that a statement of some fact or some description will follow, for example: And now the buoy-keeper and the Kirghiz helper see: two boats are floating along the river.

But (no hint of warning ): I hear the earth tremble.

5. A colon is placed after a sentence that introduces direct speech, in particular a direct question or exclamation, for example: 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 in front of 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 it is heavy and lazy fellow. Dash - a sign of very wide use. It means all kinds of omissions: the omission of a link in the predicate, the omission of sentence members in incomplete and elliptical sentences, the omission of adversative conjunctions. The second function of the dash is semantic: the transmission of the values ​​of the condition, time, comparison, consequence, opposition and comparison, in cases where these values ​​are not expressed lexically; Ultimately, this is also a fixation of peculiar omissions.

1. A dash is placed between the subject and the predicate, expressed by the noun in the nominative case (without a link). This rule is most often applied when the predicate defines the concept expressed by the subject, for example: Oak is a tree. Optics is a branch of physics.

Note 1. If a predicate expressed by a noun in the nominative case is preceded by a negation not , then the dash is not put, for example: Poverty is not a vice.

Note 2. In an interrogative sentence with a main member expressed by a pronoun, a dash is not placed between the main members, for example: Who is your father?

2. A dash is placed between the subject and the predicate if the subject is expressed in the nominative form of the noun, and the predicate is expressed in an indefinite form, or if both of them are expressed in an indefinite form, for example: The purpose of each person is to develop in himself everything human, common and enjoy it. To live life is not a field to cross.

3. A dash is placed before this, this is, this means, here , if the predicate, expressed by a noun in the nominative case or an indefinite form, is joined by means of these words to the subject, for example: Poetry is the fiery gaze of a young man, seething with an excess of strength.

4. A dash is placed before the generalizing word after the enumeration, for example:

Neither the cries of a rooster, nor the sonorous rumble of horns, nor the chirping of early swallows on the roof - nothing will call the deceased from the coffins.

5. A dash is placed before an application at the end of a sentence:

A) If you can insert it before the application without changing the meaning namely , for example: I don’t like this tree too much - aspen.

B) If there are explanatory words with the application and it is necessary to emphasize the shade of independence of such an application, for example: I had a cast-iron kettle with me - my only joy in traveling around the Caucasus.

6. A dash is placed between two predicates and between two independent sentences, if the second of them contains an unexpected addition or a sharp opposition to the first, for example: I went out, not wanting to offend him, onto the terrace - and was stunned. I'm in a hurry to go there - and there is already the whole city.

Note 1. To enhance the shade of surprise, a dash can be placed after coordinating conjunctions linking two parts of one sentence, for example: Ask for a calculation on Saturday and - a march to the village.

Note 2. To express surprise, any part of the sentence can be separated by a dash, for example: And the pike was thrown into the river. And ate the poor singer - to the crumbs.

7. A dash is placed between two sentences and between two homogeneous members of a sentence, connected without the help of unions, to express a sharp contrast, for example: I am a king - I am a slave, I am a worm - I am a god.

8. A dash is placed between sentences not connected by conjunctions if the second sentence contains a result or conclusion from what is said in the first, for example: The sun has risen - the day begins.

9. A dash is placed between two sentences if they are connected in meaning as a subordinate clause (in the first place) with the main one (in the second place), but there are no subordinating conjunctions, for example: Called a load - climb into the body. They cut the forest - the chips fly.

10. A dash is placed to indicate the place where a simple sentence splits into two word groups, if this cannot be expressed with other punctuation marks or word order, for example: I ask you: do workers need to be paid?

Such a breakdown is often observed when some part of the sentence is omitted (why the dash in this case is called elliptical), for example: Everything is obedient to me, but I am nothing.

11. A dash highlights:

A) Sentences and words inserted in the middle of a sentence to clarify or supplement it, in cases where bracketing can weaken the connection between the insert and the main sentence, for example: There is nothing to do here - friends kissed. Only once - and even then at the very beginning - there was an unpleasant and sharp conversation.

B) A common application, standing after a defined noun, if it is necessary to emphasize the shade of independence of such an application, for example: In front of the doors of the club - a wide log house - workers with banners were waiting for guests.

C) A group of homogeneous members standing in the middle of the sentence, for example: Usually, Cossacks were taken from the upper villages - Elanskaya, Veshenskaya, Migulinskaya and Kazanskaya - to the 11-12th Army Cossack regiments and to the Life Guards Atamansky.

Note. A dash is placed after an enumeration in the middle of a sentence if this enumeration is preceded by a generalizing word or words like, for example, namely .

12. A dash is placed as an additional decimal point before a word that is repeated in order to connect a new sentence with it (often a subordinate, reinforcing, supplementing or developing the main sentence) or a further part of the same sentence, for example: Now, by the investigator, Ivan Ilyich felt that without exception, the most important, self-satisfied people, everything was in his hands.

13. A dash is placed as an additional sign after the comma, which separates the main sentence from the group of subordinate clauses preceding it, if it is necessary to emphasize the splitting of a single whole into two parts, for example: Who is to blame among them, who is right, it is not for us to judge.

14. A dash is placed between two words to indicate spatial, temporal or quantitative limits (in this case, the dash replaces the meaning of the word "from ... to"), for example: Flights of the USSR - America. Manuscripts XI - XIV centuries.

15. A dash is placed between two or more proper names, the totality of which is called some kind of teaching, scientific institution, etc., for example: Boyle's physical law - Mariotte.

Sections: Russian language

Class: 9

For the past seven years, I have been working at the Budyonnovsky branch of the Poisk Center for Gifted Children as a methodologist in the Russian language department and at the same time as a teacher of the Russian language. Teaching a language in such a center is both an art and a science. It is not a skill that, once learned, a teacher can stop cultivating. It is necessary to expand your professional competence every day, and conduct classes in such a way as to equip children not only with knowledge and skills (the significance of which cannot be disputed!), but also arouse sincere interest in children, genuine enthusiasm and a creative attitude to reality.

The teaching of the Russian language from grades 5 to 11 is carried out according to the textbooks "Russian Language" edited by Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor S.I. Lvova. In accordance with the program of this complex, students have at their disposal reference books on the Russian language, charts and tables on spelling and punctuation, a schoolchild's etymological dictionary, a dictionary “Let's speak correctly”, a book “Russian speech miracles”. But, along with the use of ready-made teaching aids and textbooks, I develop author's courses in the Russian language for students aged 14-17.

At the Festival of Pedagogical Ideas “Open Lesson” 2011-2012 I propose a lesson from the course "Punctuation marks. Difficulties of Russian punctuation” on the topic "Colon. The use of colons in different syntactic constructions” calculated for 2 hours. This is the seventh lesson in this course in grade 9. The main goal of this course is to cover the most difficult and important issues of punctuation, both theoretically and practically. The lessons cover the basics of Russian punctuation, the appointment of punctuation marks. The study of punctograms is in organic connection with the study of syntax and the development of speech. A special role is given to the observation of intonation. Attention is paid to especially complex punctuation rules and their practical development in texts.

The lesson is based on the technology of critical thinking, which I have been using for many years in almost every lesson at the Center for Gifted Children.

Type of lesson: learning new material based on previously learned.

Type of lesson: research - explanatory.

Lesson plan

1. Theoretical questions. Colon.
2. Express is a question.
3. theoretical block. Tasks.
4. Problem situation number 1.
5. Have a good rest!
6. Problem situation number 2.
7. theoretical block. Tasks.
8. diagnostic test.
9. Blitz questions.
10. theoretical block. Tasks.
11. Test.

The purpose of the lesson: to generalize, expand and systematize information about the setting of the colon in different syntactic constructions.

In my great city it is night.
From the sleepy house I go - away.
And people think: wife, daughter, -
And I remember one thing: the night.

M. Tsvetaeva

Hello, young connoisseur of literature!

You probably guessed, reading the lines of M. Tsvetaeva's poem, that the objects of our further linguistic research will be such punctuation marks as a colon and a dash.

Today we will talk about colons. The thing is that everyone (at least once in their life) made mistakes related to ignorance of the setting of this punctuation mark. What do you know about colons?

I propose to remember the definition.

Colon - the sign ____________ in the form of two _________ (:) located one above the other, used to indicate that the part of the text after it is connected by ________, explanatory, etc. semantic relations with the part of the text before it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: A colon is a punctuation mark in the form of two dots (:) located one above the other, used to indicate that the part of the text after it is connected by causal, explanatory, etc. semantic relationships with the part of the text before it.

A little about colons

It is known that the ancient Greek philosopher Plato sometimes ended entire sections of the book with a colon.

Did you know that in most languages ​​the colon is placed directly after the word and requires a space after itself; in some (for example, in French writing) it is beaten off (separated by a narrow inseparable space) and from the previous word.

And in Church Slavonic writing, the colon as a whole was equivalent to the Russian semicolon sign, but it is also used in the functions of the ellipsis and even the dot at the end of the abbreviations.

The colon, as a sign of abbreviation, was generally inherent in the old European scripts (in Russian, this was the case until the middle of the 19th century). Among modern languages, this function of the colon is preserved in Swedish and Finnish, even in the middle of a word: H:ki (Helsinki).

My young friend, you know that the colon is placed in different syntactic constructions.

Task 1. Express - a question.

The colon is placed:

1) in a simple sentence after a generalizing word before homogeneous members of the sentence;
2) in a simple sentence, after the introductory word, which is after the generalizing word, before the homogeneous members of the sentence;
3) in a simple sentence before a generalizing word, if it comes after homogeneous members of the sentence;
4) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of the cause;
5) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of the condition;
6) in a non-union complex sentence with the meaning of an explanation.

___________________

Answer: 1,2,4,6

You have already completed the first task. To complete the rest, let's go on a journey through the pages of Knowledge.

Page one.

Consider the rules for using a colon in simple sentences with generalizing words with homogeneous members of the sentence.

Of course, you know that generalizing words or phrases are called, acting as a member of the sentence, which serves as a more general designation of the homogeneous members that are with it.

Let's repeat the punctuation with generalizing words and homogeneous members of the sentence.

1. If homogeneous members are preceded by a generalizing word or phrase, then a colon is placed before it, for example: Signs of autumn are associated with everything: with the color of the sky, with dew and fog, with the cry of birds and the brightness of the starry sky (K. Paustovsky).

2. If after the generalizing word (phrase) there are words somehow, for example, then a comma is placed in front of them, and after them a colon, for example: Khor understood reality, that is: he settled down, saved up some money, got along with the master and with other authorities (I. Turgenev).

Let's work with the tasks and try to solve some problems.

Exercise 1.

Write a sentence with a general word.

1. The softest and most touching poems, books and paintings are written about autumn.
2. Everything around and sparkled, and shimmered, and sparkled in the sun.
3. In the Sea of ​​Azov, pike perch and bream, mackerel and anchovy are found.
4. According to their use, horse breeds can be divided into three groups: riding, light draft and heavy.

Books, music, painting teach to understand the beautiful.

Task 2.

Point out the sentence that does not contain a generalizing word.

Letters are written by various tearful, painful, sometimes beautiful, more often useless.

1. Dogs, horses, chickens are all wet, sad, timid.

The sailor met many people, sometimes loud and mocking, sometimes timid and hospitable, sometimes pugnacious and quick-tempered, but no one could help him find the precious pouch.

Vanya recognized the old places, abandoned forest roads leading to aspen clearings overgrown with heather, immortelle and spiky grass, and ant paths in the reddish granular sand.

Granite, iron, wood, harbor pavement, ships and people all breathe with the powerful sounds of the passionate hymn to Mercury.

Task 3.

Choose a sentence that does not include a colon.

Through the milky-blue haze, everything around was cloudy blue, the forest, the rocks, the islands, everything was dull, ghostly.

1. It is cool and gloomy in all the rooms in the valet's room, in the hall, in the drawing-room; this is because the house is surrounded by a garden, and the top glass of the windows is colored.

All these people are sailors of different nations, fishermen, stokers, merry cabin boys, port thieves, machinists, workers, boatmen, loaders, divers, smugglers, they were all young, healthy and saturated with the strong smell of the sea and fish.

The noise from the flight of a night bird, the fall of snow from branch to branch, the rustling of a dried blade of grass swayed by a slight breeze of a weak breeze, all this together could not break the silence that reigned in nature.

2. All these sounds and smells, clouds and people were strangely beautiful and sad, it seemed like the beginning of a fairy tale,

Problem Situation #1

From under the hay one could see a samovar, a tub with a frozen form and some other attractive bundles and boxes (L.N. Tolstoy).

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: From under the hay one could see: a samovar, a tub with a frozen form and some other attractive bundles and boxes (L.N. Tolstoy).

Do you know why a colon is used for homogeneous parts of a sentence without a generalizing word?

My friend, the colon is also put in the case when it is necessary to warn the reader that an enumeration follows.

Have a good rest!

Do you know that this sign was used very often in the 18th century:

1) in opposition, for example: We understand one thing clearly and in detail: although we clearly imagine the other in our mind, we cannot depict it in detail (M. Lomonosov);

2) in front of a subordinating union that begins a subordinate part, for example: He who enriches himself will not offend anyone: because he acquires an inexhaustible and common treasure for himself (M. Lomonosov)

3) in front of an opposing union, for example: The test of nature is difficult, Listeners: however, it is pleasant, useful, holy (M. Lomonosov)

4) before the connecting sentence, for example: It has recently been reported in Italy that thunder strikes sometimes came out of the cellars: and for this reason, the reason for them is completely different from the Electric force was assigned (M. Lomonosov)

It can be seen that the functions of this sign were designed in a complex, contradictory way. The process, as we see, was lengthy, but certain - the sign was steadily moving along the path of accumulating explanatory significance. In this sense, it is interesting to pay attention, for example, to the fact that in the works of M.V. Lomonosov quite often the colon stands at the junction of the main part of the sentence and the causal clauses (with causal conjunctions). From a modern point of view, this sign is superfluous, since the meaning of the cause is transmitted lexically - by causal unions.

And gradually, having settled in such a position, the sign began to be associated with the meaning of reason, justification. That is why, already in the non-union sentence, he, as it were, took on a causal meaning, became a meaningfully significant sign.

The explanatory and explanatory function of the colon is steadfastly preserved, however, as we will see later, a young lover of literature, this sign begins to lose some (by far not all and not always!) Positions and give way to another sign - a dash.

This is precisely the peculiarity of the fate of the colon: with a clear function, the loss of positions where this function manifests itself.

Problem Situation #2

Rewrite the sentence and find a place for the colon!

And, having done this, he felt that the result was the desired one, that he was touched and she was touched (L. Tolstoy).

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: And, having done this, he felt that the result was the desired one: that he was touched and she was touched (L. Tolstoy)

Just now you learned that a colon is placed before a subordinating conjunction in those rare cases when the preceding main clause contains a special warning about a subsequent clarification (a long pause is made at this point and you can insert the words namely).

Page two

On the rules for using colons in simple sentences with direct speech.

My friend! Carefully study the table and understand the punctuation marks in sentences with direct speech. Complete the table with your examples.

If everything worked out for you, then you, of course, noticed that after the words of the author, which are in front of direct speech, a colon is put; the author's remark, coming after a direct speech, is written with a small letter.

Attention! Question: Does this always happen?

That's right, not always. If the author’s words do not contain the designations of speech, thoughts, facial expressions and movements or feelings of the speaker and do not allow the insertion of verbs of speech after themselves, then after the author’s words, a dot is placed before direct speech, and in cases where the author’s remark comes after direct speech, a capital letter is used . By the way, only under this condition can there be a dot before the dash.

He looked with a grin (and said):

So I believed you!

I'm tired of the constant arguments.

- Leave me alone!

Task 4. Find and correct the errors in the punctuation marks introduced by us in the text.

1. You said, and I thought - “Well, the human body is a strong machine!”

_____________________________________________________________________

Answer: this sentence should have a colon, not a dash before direct speech.

2. She said:

“It must have been a fine custom in the old days. Now it is going out of fashion even in palaces.

And, to make up for the harshness, she added, smiling

“However, even palaces seem to be going out of fashion.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Find the “third extra” sentence and explain your choice, for example: 1a, the replicas of different people are side by side, and in the other two sentences the replicas are separated by the words of the author. Punctuation marks are not included.

1. ___________________________________________________________________

a) I seem to have sat too long, he said with an embarrassed smile.
b) Why do you think that this is nonsense asked Gavrilov with his quick smile, not at all offended.
c) Nikolai Ivanovich read the card again and asked you what exactly you want.

2. ___________________________________________________________________

a) The paramedic respectfully objected, Dmitry Vasilyevich, yes, you go to bed.
b) Why did you say that with a grin asked Sonya.
c) Once, in a moment of frankness, Vasily Gorlov told me, By God, Dmitry Vasilyevich, I fell in love with you so much.

Answer: 2b, direct speech is in front of the words of the author, in the other two - on the contrary.

3. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Tokarev remembered how Tanya asked Wouldn't it be tough for you and burst out laughing.
b) Well, goodbye gentlemen, he said, holding out his wide hand to Natasha and Daev. I wish you all the best.
c) It’s a sin to complain about the time Daev seriously objected, the time is good and extremely interesting.

4. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Sit on a chair and be silent, he fiercely shouted so that I would not hear your voice again.
b) Panting, Alexandra Mikhailovna said to Tanya, listen, don't be afraid, I'll arrange everything for you. Don't be afraid, she repeated joyfully.
c) She repeated, sobbing, Lord, God, and without looking away she looked at Tanya.

Answer: 4a, direct speech is interrupted by the words of the author, in the other two - on the contrary.

5. ___________________________________________________________________

a) Suddenly, with his quick grin, the painter said loudly I reason so that you are talking about it incorrectly! That's what the caster asked about.
b) The house painter resolutely cut me off.
c) Everyone is calling you, shouting with a respectful smile, he turned to Osokin. Let me not go solicitingly said Osokin.

Answer: 5c, in sentences with direct speech, the replicas of different persons are separated by the words of the author; in the rest, replicas of different faces stand side by side.

6. ___________________________________________________________________

a) The fellow in a blouse asked you sympathetically. The countryman muttered the man without looking at the guy and sat down.
b) Varvara Vasilievna said Timofey Stepanovich your tea is completely cold. Let me pour you some fresh tea. But now I'll finish this Baluev hurriedly finished his tea and handed the glass to Varvara Vasilievna.
c) And where did Tanya catch Varvara Vasilievna. Sergey chuckled. She went with the artisan (According to V. Veresaev).

Answer: 6b, the replicas of different persons stand side by side, in the other two replicas are separated by the words of the author.

Page three

Test your knowledge of using colons in different syntactic constructions by answering quick questions.

Question 1. Indicate the correct explanation for the colon in the sentence.

Throughout the morning, Olenin was completely immersed in arithmetic calculations: how many versts he had traveled, how much was left to the first station, how much to the first city.

1) The second part of the non-union complex sentence reveals the content of the first part.

2) Several parts of the non-union complex sentence reveal the content of the first part.

3) The subordinate parts of a complex sentence explain the content of the first part.

4) The generalizing word stands in front of homogeneous members.

Question 2. How to explain the setting of the colon in this sentence?

Do not dig a hole for another: you yourself will fall into it.

1) The second part of the non-union complex sentence indicates the reason for what is said in the first part.
2) The second part of the non-union complex sentence explains, reveals the content of the first part.
3) The first part of the non-union complex sentence is opposed to the second part.
4) The first part of the non-union complex sentence indicates the conditions for performing the action indicated in the second part.

My young friend! You probably already understood that on this Knowledge page we will talk about setting a colon in SBP.

I propose to recall the definition of a complex sentence.

A non-union complex sentence is _____________, the parts of which are interconnected by ___________ and _____________ and connected without the help of _________ or allied words by intonation and _________________________.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer: an union-free complex sentence is a complex sentence, the parts of which are interconnected in meaning and structure and are connected without the help of unions or allied words by intonation and the order of the parts.

A bit of theory

A colon in an unassociated complex sentence that breaks into two parts is put:

1) if the second part (one or several sentences) explains, reveals the content of the first part (the words “namely” can be inserted between both parts), for example: In fact, Akaky Akakievich's overcoat had some strange device: its collar decreased more and more every year, because it served to undermine other parts.(Gogol);

2) if in the first part by means of verbs see, look, hear, understand, know, feel etc., a warning is given that a statement of some fact or some description will follow (in these cases, a union can usually be inserted between both parts what), for example: I crawled along the thick grass along the ravine, I look: the forest is over, several Cossacks leave it for a clearing(Lermontov); But (without the intonation of warning before the second part): Hear the earth tremble- comma instead of colon;

3) if there are verbs in the first part look, look, listen etc., as well as verbs with the meaning of action, warning about further presentation and allowing the insertion of the words “and saw that”, “and heard that”, “and felt that”, etc., for example : I looked up: on the roof of my hut stood a girl in a striped dress, with her hair loose.(Lermontov).

NB! Pay attention!

In these cases, there is also a dash instead of a colon to convey various additional shades of meaning, for example: I looked at the hole - the water was dozing(Shishkov); He looked out of the room - not a single light in the windows(V. Panova), - however, for the purposes of justified unification, it is preferable to put a colon.

4) if the second part indicates the basis, the reason for what is said in the first part (a union can be inserted between both parts because, since, since), for example: And Zhilin was depressed: he sees - it's bad(L. Tolstoy);

5) if the second part is a direct question, for example: There's only one thing I don't understand: how could she bite you?(Chekhov).

So, our sixth lesson on the distance course “Difficulties of Russian punctuation” is coming to an end. How much do you already know! I propose to conclude our meeting with a control work. I wish success to all connoisseurs of the Russian language!

Test

1. In place of which numbers should punctuation marks be?

1. I love Pushkin (1) for fun (2) and wisdom (3) and sadness (4) and nobility.

a) 1, 2, 3
b) 2, 3, 4

2. Everything is invested in the novel "Eugene Onegin" (1) mind (2) heart (3) youth (4) wise maturity (5) minutes of joy (6) and bitter hours without sleep.

a) 1 - colon, 2, 3, 4, 5 - commas
b) 1 - dash, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - commas

3. And in Onegin (1) and in Tatiana (2) and in Lensky (3) something else is important (4) their spiritual appearance (5) dreams (6) suffering (7) thoughts.

a) 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 - commas, 4 - colon
b) 1, 2, 3, 5, b, 7 - commas, 4 - dashes

4. Nobody (1) neither mother (2) nor father (3) nor Olga (4) nor neighbors (5) nor even Lensky (6) is able to understand Tatyana.

a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
b) 1 - colon, 2, 3, 4, 5 - commas, 6 - dashes

5. Pushkin (1) not only understands his heroine (2) but loves (3) and pities her.

a) 2
b) 1, 2, 3

6. The poet notices the cute little things in everyday life (1) a samovar (2) a Chinese teapot (3) the fragrant smell of strong tea. (According to N. Dolinina.)

a) 1 - colon, 2, 3 - commas
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas

7. Walking (1) reading moral novels (2) playing chess (3) poetry in an album (4) all these are quite possible activities for lovers.

a) 1, 2, 3 - commas, 4 - colon
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas, 4 - dashes

8. A real writer (1) is the same (2) that ancient rock (3) he sees more clearly (4) than ordinary people. (A. Chekhov.)

a) 2, 4 - commas, 4 - dashes
b) 1 - dash, 2, 4 - commas, 3 - colon

9. Creativity of nature (1) and creativity of man differ in relation to time (2) nature creates the present (3) man creates the future. (M. Prishvin.)

a) 2 - colon, 3 - dash
b) 2 - dash, 3 - comma

10. My poetry is an act of friendship with a person (1) hence my behavior (2) I write (3) it means (4) I love, (M. Prishvin.)

a) 2 - colon, 3 - dash, 4 - comma
b) 1,3 - dash, 2 - colon

11. Books made me related to the world (1) books sang about (2) how diverse and rich life is (3) how bold a person is in his pursuit of goodness and beauty. (M. Gorky.)

a) 1 - colon, 2, 3 - commas
b) 1, 2, 3 - commas

12. The whole difference between smart and stupid in one (1) the first will always think (2) and rarely say (3) the second will always say (4) and never think. (V. Klyuchevsky.)

a) 1 - colon, 3 - comma
b) 1 - dash, 2, 3, 4 - commas

13. It is not only possible (1) to be proud of the glory of one's ancestors, but one must (2) not to respect it is shameful cowardice. (A. Pushkin.)

a) 1 - comma, 2 - semicolon
b) 1, 2 - dash

14. Struggle is a condition of life (1) life dies (2) when the struggle ends. (V. Belinsky.)

a) 1 - dash, 2 - comma
b) 1 - colon, 2 - comma

I'm sure the test was difficult for you. Because setting a dash also requires close attention and serious study. That's what we'll talk about in the next lesson.

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.

Have you often had to think while writing when a colon is put, and when a dash? Probably often, because these punctuation marks, like any others, require certain rules to be observed, although in some cases they are very similar. But which ones - we will talk later in the article.

Relationship between generalizing words and colon or dash

Arguing about when a colon is put, and when a dash, first of all, we need to mention those sentences in which homogeneous members are used, and they have a generalizing word. It is after it, before the enumeration, that a colon is needed.

So, for example, in the sentence: You could always find interesting things in his backpack: pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in a matchbox.”, before the enumeration there is a generalizing word “ things”, followed by a colon in this situation.

If the generalizing word is after the enumeration, then it is required to put a dash before it. For example: " Pebbles, bolts, metal balls and even a fly in a matchbox - these are the things that can always be found in Petka's backpack».

By the way, after a generalizing word, you can often find a dash, which is also the right option. For example: " Everything is different there - language, way of life and even values».

Colon and dash in non-union complex sentences

There are several cases when a colon is placed in complex non-union sentences:

1. If the second part of a complex sentence explains the content of the first. Then between them you can put unions "namely" or "like that." For example: “Everything in nature spoke of joy: the sun shone brightly from a clear sky, and birds sang in different voices.”
2. If the second part of the sentence indicates the reason for what is mentioned in the first part. Then, by the way, it is easy to put the unions “because” and “because” between the parts. For example: "Ivan was a very distrustful person: his close people let him down too often."
3. Another case where a colon is placed between parts of a sentence is one where one part warns that the statement will continue further. In such sentences, in the first part, as a rule, one of the verbs is used: see, know, hear, feel, etc. For example: “Peter and Anna knew: they would definitely have a big and noisy family.” As you can see, between the parts of this sentence and those similar to it, you can put the union “what”, thus turning it into a complex sentence.

It is also acceptable to use a dash instead of a colon in these sentences. Compare:

• He knew something bad had happened..
• It’s better not to say such things in front of him - he may be offended.
• It seemed to them - a little more, and everything will come true.

By the way, sentences with a warning about the continuation of the story should be distinguished from complex sentences that do not contain one. In this case, a comma is placed between the parts. For example: " I know they will live with us».

When a colon is put in a sentence with direct speech

In those sentences where direct speech is used, a colon is placed after the words of the author, for example:

• On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya: “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
• She said through her teeth: "If you knew how I hate this life."

Sentences that include direct speech must be distinguished from complex structures. In the latter, a comma is placed before the subordinate clause, for example:

• On the way home, Nina plaintively asked Sonya if she could count on forgiveness.
• She said through clenched teeth that she absolutely hated this life.

When is a colon used in a title?

The rules for writing headings require a separate explanation. If the heading of some text is divided into two parts, and the first of them (nominative) names the person, problem, place of action, etc., and the second specifies the meaning of the first, then a colon is placed between them.

Let's look at examples of such headers:

• Angina: signs and methods of treatment of the disease.
• Mikhail Bulgakov: unknown facts from the biography of the writer.
• Ten days in India: a land of wonders and contrasts.

So what to put - a dash or a colon?

In conclusion, it can be said that in modern language it is becoming easier to decide when to put a colon and when it is better to use a dash, since the dash in this " duel” often comes out victorious.

According to the famous D. E. Rosenthal, the dash is a freer sign, often “ entering” and into the domain of the colon. What explains this? The linguist believes that the dash in a sentence performs not only purely syntactic functions, but also gives it an emotionally expressive coloring. Obviously, that is why authors in fiction and in periodicals love to use it so much. As an example, we can cite a few phrases from newspapers: Elections behind - you can sum up" or " Experts call this process quite natural - the demand for land has increased».

So, it is possible to decide when a colon is put in a sentence, and when - a dash, and based on the author's preferences.

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:

• From everywhere he saw funny faces: 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 with 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?