Special circumstances rule. Isolation of circumstances expressed by gerunds and nouns with prepositions

The opinions of linguists about what a gerund is are divided. Some believe that it refers to a special form of the verb, others suggest that it is an independent part of speech. We will support the second option.

The participle represents independent part speech. It contains the signs of an adverb and a verb, shows when, why and how an action is performed by a predicate verb, and has an additional effect. If the participle in a sentence is not alone, but has words dependent on it, then this set of words is called participial phrase. The article will tell you how and when to separate gerunds in a sentence.

What is separation?

In Russian, the concept of isolation is a way of clarifying and highlighting a certain set of words in a sentence. Only members of a sentence that are secondary can be isolated; this is how they differ from non-isolated members. Isolations are necessary so that the reader can more accurately understand the described picture of the action taking place. Not only lonely gerunds, but also participle phrases can be isolated.

Examples of single gerunds

If an isolated adverbial clause does not have dependent words in the sentence, then it is called a single gerund. When writing a sentence, this part of speech is always highlighted with commas on both sides.

The location of the gerund in a sentence can be anywhere. Here are examples of correctly separating single gerunds with commas:

1. Staring, she could not utter a word.
2. When I returned, I found my sister at home.
3. Without training, you cannot achieve success in sports.

Accordingly, the following gerunds were highlighted with a comma:

• staring;
• having returned;
• without training.

In the letter you can find several repeated participles. They are called homogeneous. At the same time, they are separated by commas and separated by this punctuation mark as separate parts of speech. Examples of such sentences:

1. Laughing, humming and spinning, Natasha hurried to her first date.
2. Chuckling and winking, Pasha closed the door.
3. She was silent, angry, but cowardly.

Homogeneous gerunds in a sentence can refer to different predicates. For example: Playing and laughing, she, inspired, rushed towards her dreams.

Separating single gerunds with commas

Isolation of single gerundial participles occurs in the following cases:

1. If the gerund plays the role of the second predicate in a sentence. Preserves the meaning of the verb. Indicates the condition, cause or time of an action, but not its image. Having run away, Marina lost her purse. After the holiday, the guests left without calming down.
2. If in your mind you can check the sentence by replacing the gerund with a verb, or make a complex one from a simple sentence. When Marina ran away, she rubbed her purse. The guests, although they did not calm down after the holiday, left.

Isolation of single gerunds does not occur if:

1. A single gerund has lost its verbal meaning or has a close connection with the predicate. Masha ran into the room without knocking. Zhenya climbed down from the tree silently and slowly.
2. If gerunds are circumstances of the manner of action and they cannot be replaced by verbs. Zhenya got down silently and took his time.
3. If a single gerund can be replaced with a noun. Masha ran into the room without knocking.

Identification of single gerunds depending on their location in a sentence

The separation of gerunds may not occur if they are at the beginning or end of the sentence, but in the middle they are separated by commas. Let's compare two sentences:

1. Tanya tried on the slippers slowly.
2. On the way, slowly, Tanya admired the flowers.

In the first sentence, the participle is not separated by commas, since it is represented by a circumstance of the manner of action. It can be replaced with the word “leisurely”.

In the second sentence, the gerund represents the adverbial reason (“since I was in no hurry”).

How is an adverbial phrase formed?

If a sentence contains a part of speech that answers the questions “by doing what?”, “by doing what?” and called a gerund, with dependent words, then this set of words is usually called a participial phrase.

In a sentence, this phrase always performs the function of an adverbial circumstance and relates to the verb, as it denotes an additional action. Additional actions are performed by the same person, phenomenon or thing that performs the main actions.

Examples of participial phrases

The separation of gerunds and participial phrases occurs regardless of where they stand in relation to the predicate verb. For example:

1. All day long, dark clouds walked across the sky, first revealing the sun, then covering it again.
2. Walking next to his mother, the baby looked at her in surprise and fascination.
3. Joy, while bringing happiness to some people, gave others inescapable grief.
4. I looked at the sunrise without taking my eyes off.
5. The baby, following his mother's hand, made the same movements.

What do you need to remember when using gerunds and participial phrases in a sentence?

The basic rules for using participial phrases when writing text are as follows:

1. Expressed by a predicate verb, the main action and the additional action, expressed by the participial phrase, must relate to one person, object or phenomenon.
2. Most often, the isolation of circumstances expressed by gerunds and participial phrases is used when writing a one-part, definitely personal sentence, as well as with a verb in the imperative mood.
3. If the sentence is impersonal in the infinitive, then it is also possible to use the participial phrase.
4. The isolation of gerunds and the isolation of circumstances are one and the same, since the gerund expresses a sign of circumstance in a sentence.

In what cases are gerunds and participial phrases not separated by commas?

Isolation of circumstances expressed by gerunds and participial phrases is not carried out if:

1. Circumstances are connected by the conjunction “and” with a non-isolated circumstance or predicate. She hated him and accepted his signs of attention. Dasha played noisily and screamed with joy.
2. Circumstances come closer to adverbs. They lose their additional meaning and acquire the value of a sign of action. This:

• participles that have become phraseological units (without closing your eyes, rolling up your sleeves, headlong, opening your mouth, and others). For example: Petya worked carelessly. But, rolling up her sleeves, she washed her hands in the bath. It should be remembered that phraseological introductory phrases (apparently, in other words, in fact, others) are separated by a comma.
• participles that carry the main semantic load. Without them, the predicate does not fully express the thought. This part of speech usually comes after the predicate. The “adverbiality” of these gerunds is obvious in sentences where there is a group of homogeneous members - gerunds and adverbs. For example: He answered me without embarrassment and frankly. Without being embarrassed- this is a gerund, and frankly- adverb.

Commas do not distinguish gerunds containing the dependent word “which” in all their variations. He wanted to get rid of the letter, reading which he recalled his recent grief.

What should we distinguish from gerunds?

Isolating gerunds, many do not think that these could be adverbs or prepositions.

The following adverbs are distinguished:

• happily;
• sneaking;
• joking;
• silently;
• sitting;
• standing;
• lying down and others.

The gerunds that are the same as these words retain an additional effect. This occurs during formation and connection with other gerunds. Anya rode standing all the way. He will do this job jokingly (easy). These sentences use adverbs.

Standing at the top, Anya looked down. All the way, having fun and playing, Yana did not close her mouth. In these sentences, commas separate the participial phrase in the first sentence and homogeneous participles in the second sentence.

Prepositions include: starting from, based on. Commas are not used, since the adverbial part can be removed from the sentence and its meaning will not change. It is snowing starting from the night (goes from the night).

Isolation of participles and gerunds: what is the difference?

Participial and adverbial phrases perform different functions in a sentence and have the following morphological differences:

1. A participial phrase or single participle refers to the word (noun or pronoun) being defined. The gerund or participial phrase is closely related to the predicate verb. In this case, the participle changes according to numbers, gender, cases, has a complete and short form, and the gerund is an unchangeable word form.
2. The participial phrase and the participle serve as a definition in a sentence, and the gerund and participial phrases act as various circumstances.
3. Participles and gerunds are distinguished by suffixes. Participles have such suffixes as -ush-(-yush-), -ash-(-yash)- -vsh-, -sh- at real participles and - om-(-em-), -im-- -enn-, -nn-, -t- for the passive. While gerunds have the following suffixes: -a-, -ya-, -uchi-, -yuchi-, -v-, -lice-, -shi-.

1. If a sentence contains a conjunction next to an adverbial phrase, they are separated by a comma. Unions are not included in circulation. For example: He smiled at his friend and, jumping over the puddle, ran home. The exception is the conjunction “a”, which comes before the participial phrase. In this case, it is included in circulation. For example: A person needs to understand what the meaning of life is, and having understood this, he will tell others.
2. If a sentence consists of several participial phrases or single participles, then commas are placed between them as when listing homogeneous members of the sentence. For example: She approached, staggering and holding her friend by the shoulder with one hand and holding the other on her belt.
3. If one sentence contains several participial phrases relating to different predicates, then each of them is separated by commas. For example: Pushing the gate with his foot, he ran out onto the road and, not paying attention to the people, rushed away.
4. The participial phrase is always separated by commas on both sides.

Isolating participles will not cause problems if you learn to correctly identify this part of speech in any sentence.

How to help your child consolidate the material he has learned?

After the child has learned theoretical material, you should invite him to consolidate it with practical exercises.

Initially, children must work orally with sentences and learn to find participial phrases and single gerunds in them. After this, students should be asked to write sentences and place them. In addition, the child should explain his choice in placing commas.

After children have mastered simple sentences, you can give them sentences with conjunctions and allied words. At the same time, before finding a participial phrase or a single participle, one should highlight grammatical basis.

They complicate the task with complex compound sentences that have several grammatical bases and homogeneous participial phrases.

§1. Separation. General concept

Separation- a method of semantic highlighting or clarification. Only minor members of the sentence are isolated. Typically, stand-outs allow you to present information in more detail and draw attention to it. Compared to ordinary, non-separated members, segregation sentences have greater independence.

The distinctions are different. There are separate definitions, circumstances and additions. The main members of the proposal are not isolated. Examples:

1. Separate definition: The boy, who had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position right on the suitcase, shuddered.
2. An isolated circumstance: Sashka was sitting on the windowsill, fidgeting in place and swinging his legs.
3. Isolated addition: I heard nothing except the ticking of the alarm clock.

Most often, definitions and circumstances are isolated. Isolated members of the sentence are highlighted in oral speech intonation, and in writing - punctuation.

§2. Separate definitions

Separate definitions are divided into:

• agreed upon
• inconsistent

The child, who had fallen asleep in my arms, suddenly woke up.

(agreed separate definition, expressed by participial phrase)

Lyoshka, in an old jacket, was no different from the village children.

(inconsistent isolated definition)

Agreed Definition

The agreed separate definition is expressed:

• participial phrase: The child who was sleeping in my arms woke up.
• two or more adjectives or participles: The child, well-fed and satisfied, quickly fell asleep.

Note:

A single agreed definition is also possible if the word being defined is a pronoun, for example:

He, full, quickly fell asleep.

Inconsistent definition

An inconsistent isolated definition is most often expressed by noun phrases and refers to pronouns or proper names. Examples:

How could you, with your intelligence, not understand her intention?

Olga, in her wedding dress, looked extraordinarily beautiful.

An inconsistent isolated definition is possible both in the position after and in the position before the word being defined.
If an inconsistent definition refers to a defined word expressed by a common noun, then it is isolated only in the position after it:

The guy in the baseball cap kept looking around.

Definition structure

The structure of the definition may vary. They differ:

• single definition: excited girl;
• two or three single definitions: girl, excited and happy;
• a common definition expressed by the phrase: a girl excited by the news she received...

1. Single definitions are isolated regardless of the position relative to the word being defined, only if the word being defined is expressed by a pronoun:

She, excited, could not sleep.

(single isolated definition after the word being defined, expressed by a pronoun)

Excited, she could not sleep.

(single isolated definition before the word being defined, expressed by a pronoun)

2. Two or three single definitions are isolated if they appear after the word being defined, expressed by a noun:

The girl, excited and happy, could not fall asleep for a long time.

If the defined word is expressed by a pronoun, then isolation is also possible in the position before the defined member:

Excited and happy, she could not fall asleep for a long time.

(isolation of several single definitions before the word being defined - pronoun)

3. A common definition expressed by a phrase is isolated if it refers to the defined word expressed by a noun and comes after it:

The girl, excited by the news she received, could not fall asleep for a long time.

(a separate definition, expressed by a participial phrase, comes after the word being defined, expressed by a noun)

If the word being defined is expressed by a pronoun, then the common definition can be in a position either after or before the word being defined:

Excited by the news she received, she could not sleep for a long time.

She, excited by the news she received, could not sleep for a long time.

Separate definitions with additional adverbial meaning

Definitions preceding the word being defined are separated if they have additional adverbial meanings.
These can be both common and single definitions, standing immediately before the defined noun, if they have an additional adverbial meaning (causal, conditional, concessional, etc.). In such cases, the attributive phrase is easily replaced subordinate clause reasons with union because, subordinate clause conditions with conjunction If, subordinate assignment with conjunction Although.
To check the presence of an adverbial meaning, you can use the replacement of the attributive phrase with a phrase with the word being: if such a replacement is possible, then the definition is separated. For example:

Severely ill, the mother could not go to work.

(additional meaning of reason)

Even when she was sick, the mother went to work.

(additional value of concession)

Thus, various factors are important for separation:

1) what part of speech the word being defined is expressed by,
2) what is the structure of the definition,
3) how the definition is expressed,
4) whether it expresses additional adverbial meanings.

§3. Dedicated Applications

Application- This special kind definition expressed by a noun in the same number and case as the noun or pronoun that it defines: jumping dragonfly, beauty maiden. The application could be:

1) single: Mishka, the restless one, tortured everyone;

2) common: Mishka, a terrible fidget, tortured everyone.

An application, both single and widespread, is isolated if it refers to a defined word expressed by a pronoun, regardless of the position: both before and after the defined word:

He is an excellent doctor and helped me a lot.

Great doctor, he helped me a lot.

A common application is isolated if it appears after the defined word expressed by a noun:

My brother, an excellent doctor, treats our whole family.

A single non-widespread application is isolated if the word being defined is a noun with explanatory words:

He saw his son, the baby, and immediately began to smile.

Any application is isolated if it appears after a proper name:

Mishka, the neighbor's son, is a desperate tomboy.

An application expressed by a proper name is isolated if it serves to clarify or explain:

And the neighbor’s son, Mishka, a desperate tomboy, started a fire in the attic.

The application is isolated in the position before the defined word - a proper name, if at the same time an additional adverbial meaning is expressed.

The architect from God, Gaudi, could not conceive an ordinary cathedral.

(why? for what reason?)

Application with union How is isolated if the shade of the reason is expressed:

On the first day, as a beginner, everything turned out worse for me than for others.

Note:

Single applications that appear after the word being defined and are not distinguished by intonation during pronunciation are not isolated, because merge with it:

In the darkness of the entrance, I did not recognize Mishka the neighbor.

Note:

Separate applications can be punctuated not with a comma, but with a dash, which is placed if the application is especially emphasized by voice and highlighted by a pause.

Soon New Year- children's favorite holiday.

§4. Standalone Add-ons

Objects expressed by nouns with prepositions are distinguished: except, besides, over, except for, including, excluding, instead of, along with. They contain inclusion-exclusion or substitution values. For example:

No one except Ivan knew the answer to the teacher's question.

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§6. Isolation of comparative turnovers

Comparative turnovers are distinguished:

1) with unions: How, as if, exactly, as if, What, how, than etc., if relevant:

• simile: The rain poured down as if from a sieve.
• similes: Her teeth were like pearls.

2) with union like:

Masha, like everyone else, prepared well for the exam.

Comparative turnover is not isolated, If:

1. are of a phraseological nature:

It stuck like a bath leaf. The rain was pouring down like buckets.

2. the circumstances of the course of action matter (the comparative phrase answers the question How?, often it can be replaced with an adverb or noun in the like:

We're walking in circles.

(We walk(How?) like in a circle. You can replace noun. in etc.: all around)

3) turnover with the union How expresses meaning "as":

It's not a matter of qualifications: I don't like him as a person.

4) turnover from How is part of a compound nominal predicate or is closely related to the predicate in meaning:

The garden was like a forest.

He wrote about feelings as something very important to him.

§7. Separate clarifying members of the sentence

Clarifying members refer to the word being specified and answers the same question, for example: where exactly? when exactly? Who exactly? which one? etc. Most often, clarification is conveyed by isolated circumstances of place and time, but there may be other cases. Clarifying members can refer to the addition, definition, or main members of the sentence. Clarifying members are isolated, distinguished by intonation in oral speech, and in written speech by commas, parentheses or dashes. Example:

We stayed up late, until nightfall.

Below, in the valley stretched out in front of us, a stream roared.

The qualifying member usually comes after the qualifying member. They are connected intonationally.

Clarifying members can be introduced into a complicated sentence:

1) using unions: that is, namely:

I'm getting ready for Unified State Exam assignment C1, that is, for the essay.

2) also words: especially, even, in particular, mainly, For example:

Everywhere, especially in the living room, was clean and beautiful.

Test of strength

Find out your understanding of this chapter.

Final test

1. Is it true that isolation is a way of semantic highlighting or clarification?

2. Is it true that only minor members of the sentence are separated?

3. What can be separate definitions?

   • common and not common
   • agreed and uncoordinated

4. Are isolated definitions always expressed by participle phrases?

5. In what case are definitions standing before the word being defined isolated?

   • if an additional adverbial meaning is expressed
   • if no additional adverbial meaning is expressed

6. Is it correct to think that application is a special type of definition, expressed by a noun in the same number and case as the noun or pronoun that it defines?

7. What prepositions are used in prepositional-case combinations, which are separate objects?

   • about, in, on, to, before, for, under, over, before
   • except, besides, over, except for, including, excluding, instead of, along with

8. Is it necessary to separate gerunds and participial phrases?

9. Is it necessary to separate circumstances with a pretext? despite?

In contact with

An isolated circumstance, expressed by an adverbial phrase, is always highlighted in speech with commas and answers certain questions given in this article. There are also exceptions for isolating adverbial phrases in sentences with examples.

What is an isolated circumstance expressed by an adverbial phrase?

In russian language isolated circumstance expressed by an adverbial phrase, - This minor member sentences represented by gerunds with dependent words. It denotes a sign of action, depends on the predicate verb and is always highlighted in writing with commas. Answers the questions - When? How? How? For what purpose? and etc.

Examples of sentences with isolated circumstances with adverbial verbs:
Moving the furniture, we freed up space (freed up - how? - moving the furniture). Guys, hiding from the rain in a hut, discussed what they saw (discussed - when? - sheltered from the rain). Mom went to bed kissed my son goodnight(went to bed - when? - kissing my son).

Exceptions when isolating adverbial phrases in a sentence

An isolated circumstance can be represented by two homogeneous adverbial phrases or an adverbial phrase with a single participle, which are used through a conjunction And. In this case, commas highlight the entire circumstance, and not each adverbial phrase separately.

Examples: Girl, evoking a song And dancing, walked through the park. Greeting your opponent and shaking each other's hands, the athletes prepared for the match.

In addition, the circumstances expressed by the participial phrase are not isolated:

• If the participial phrase is part of a phraseological expression.

  Examples: They worked tirelessly all day. Worried about her brother, she spent the night without closing my eyes.

• If the participial phrase contains a conjunctive word which.

  Examples: Masha drew up an essay plan, following which she will write interesting story. Seryozha had many friends, communicating with whom he learned a lot of new things.

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Isolated circumstances are expressed by participles or participial phrases.

1. The mother, looking sternly at her daughter, left the room.

2. The river, running onto the clayey bank, disappeared around the bend.

3. On the opposite bank, lights flashed.

4. The terrace was surrounded by spreading trees, shielding vacationers from the sun.

5. Arriving early in July morning in this resort town, my friend and I went to the famous lake.

6. Expecting an unpleasant conversation, the boy timidly entered the room.

7. The red dog approached the little girl and licked her cheek.

8. Having opened the suitcase, the passenger was hastily looking for something.

9. Having dug up the beds, the schoolchildren planted different flowers in front of the school building.

10. Having returned home, the daughter went to bed.

First, let's figure out what a sentence is and what a separate circumstance is. A sentence is a group of interconnected words or one word that contains a specific meaning. A circumstance is a member of a sentence that answers the questions how? When? Where? where? and so on. An isolated circumstance is a circumstance limited by a comma or commas. Most often, isolated circumstances are an adverbial phrase or a separate participle.

Simple sentences with isolated circumstances

Simple sentences are sentences that contain only one grammatical stem. Such proposals with isolated circumstances are often taken as complex sentences due to the presence of commas. But you need to be able to distinguish isolated circumstances from other grammatical bases.

• Ekaterina went to shopping mall, cheerfully humming your favorite song.
• My friends and I, after consulting several times, decided to give all our savings to a charitable foundation.
• Nastya, having eaten her fill, threw her backpack over her shoulder and walked away.
• Maxim, having put his head in order, left the house.

Compound sentences with isolated adverbials

In compound sentences, each part has equal value, and these parts are connected to each other by coordinating conjunctions.

• Andrey, looking sideways at Nastya, rushed into the depths of the forest, and Nastya, looking sideways at Andrey, simply stood up like a pillar and began to cry loudly.
• Without thinking for a long time, I set off, and my roommate, approving my decision, went with me.
• She did not sing, condemning all the spectators, and these spectators continued to talk loudly, not paying any attention to her.

Complex sentences with isolated adverbials

IN complex sentence stands out main part and one or more subordinate clauses.

• Vova, thinking about this topic for a long time, forgot about the kettle, which was about to whistle.
• My friends, having satisfied their thirst, went to the forest, which was two kilometers from us.
• Gosha, forgetting about all his work, watched TV until his mother came.

An adverbial clause is a minor member that in a sentence answers adverbial questions and is expressed by gerunds, participial phrases, and prepositional case constructions. Circumstances characterize the action, sign, method of performing the action (How? How?), place ( Where? Where? Where?), reason ( Why?), condition ( In spite of what? Under what conditions?), target ( For what?). Based on these questions, the category of circumstance and its meaning are determined. Circumstances can be expressed by prepositional-case groups, phraseological units, and infinitives.

An isolated circumstance is a circumstance that may have different meanings and which is distinguished by intonation (in pronunciation) and punctuation (in writing).

(Stumbling, she almost fell to her knees. Rodion, jumping up and down with impatience, tried to keep pace with his father. From the blow he began to slide on the ice, like a puck. Despite the tears and worries, the day was successful.)

1. An isolated circumstance can be expressed by a single gerundial participle or a gerundial participle with dependent words. This type of circumstance is distinguished by commas, regardless of its place in the sentence. ( Lying on the shelf, he stared blankly at the ceiling of the carriage. He was sitting on the windowsill, lazily waving your legs. He, humming to yourself, walked slowly towards the alley).

2. Isolation of circumstances that are expressed by prepositional case forms of a noun is optional. Their isolation depends on the semantic load (the combination of two or more adverbial meanings), weak syntactic connection with a predicate, an expressed verb, or from stylistic tasks set by the author.

If a circumstance has a comparative meaning and is expressed by a noun with prepositions (as if, as if, as if, exactly), then this is a separate circumstance. (He was bouncing on the trampoline, like a ball. Like a storm An annoyed Victor stormed around the room. Natalia, as if sleepy, She squinted her eyes in confusion.)

3. A circumstance that has the meaning of a concession is considered separate if it begins with a union despite. (Despite the morning rush of energy, now she felt a little dizzy).

Note

An isolated circumstance can sometimes be expressed by a group of words preceding the predicate and beginning with prepositions ( due to, in the presence of, in the absence of, thanks to, in view of, according to, contrary to, as a result). (Examples. Thanks to his strong character, Elena overcame sudden difficulties. But: Elena overcame sudden difficulties thanks to his strong character. Contrary to the Charter and the requirements of the authorities, Sergei came to the training camp in a blue shirt. But: Sergei came to the training camp in a blue shirt contrary to the requirements of the Charter.)

4. If the sentence contains a homogeneous isolated circumstance, then it is put in the same way, with the usual homogeneous members. (Waving your arms, bouncing awkwardly, shouting loudly for joy, he rushed down the road. He rushed down the road waving his arms, jumping high. Waving his arms and shouting loudly, he was running along the road . )

Sentences with isolated adverbials are similar in structure to other syntactic structures that do not require punctuation.

Remember! Commas are not used if circumstances

• Expressed (He approached the preparation of the project carelessly).
• Expressed by uncommon single gerunds. It is believed that these words (sitting, lying down, reluctantly, without looking, etc.) are substantivized, i.e. formed by transitioning one part of speech (adverb into in this case) to another (gerund). (We talked sitting. But: We talked sitting in chairs.

*Note. If a circumstance is expressed by an ordinary participle formed from a verb, it is necessarily isolated. ( Turning away, she wiped away her tears).