6. Isolated members of a sentence

Minor members of a sentence can acquire greater independence within a sentence, emphasized by intonation in oral speech and punctuation marks in writing. Eg. : Exploding the fluffy reins, the daring wagon flies (P.); Onegin, my good friend, was born on the banks of the Neva (P.). Such minor members are called isolated. The following factors contribute to their isolation:

1) an isolated member of a sentence, usually widespread, significant in volume: this is a word with word forms dependent on it. This attribute is relative, since a single participle can be isolated, but a common definition (expressed by a participle with dependent words), standing in preposition, is not isolated;

2) inversion (unusual word order). This feature extends to the isolation of definitions. Wed: Finally the dusty and TIRED father arrived - Finally the father arrived, DUSTY AND TIRED;

3) the presence of semantic connections that are not expressed by syntactic means. Such connections are emphasized by intonation. For example .: The road led south, INTO THE VALLEY- before the clarifying component you can put the conjunction NAMELY. The clarification is emphasized by intonation. If this sentence is pronounced with normal intonation, then the second circumstance will not stand out.

Isolated members of a sentence perform the function of additional predicates: usually a sentence with isolation can be transformed into a complex one with two predicates or into two simple ones. For example .: Without wasting a minute, she jumps into the saddle (S. Zweig) - She jumps into the saddle + She doesn’t waste a minute; A secular and educated man, he knows how to appreciate a good comedy (S. Zweig) - He is a secular and educated person, so he knows how to appreciate a good comedy. Such isolated members are called semi-predicative units. In essence, isolation is a way to combine 2 messages in one sentence, one of which is the main one, and the other is additional. The relationship between the main and additional messages in sentences with isolated members is of 2 types:

1) logical relations: a causal, conditional, temporary, etc. connection arises between the components. For example. : Slow and cautious, this time she acted decisively (S. Zweig) - Although she is slow and cautious, this time she acted decisively(logical concession relations); After writing the letter, she thought - She thought after writing the letter(temporary relationship);

2) lack of logical connection: the sentence can be divided into 2 simple ones, not directly related to each other. Eg. : On a stream, pockmarked and motley, a leaf flies after a leaf - A pockmarked and motley stream + A leaf flies on it after a leaf.

Separate definitions and applications

The following groups of separate definitions are distinguished:

1. Definitions following the word being defined are always separated. Most often they are expressed by participial phrases, e.g.: A student READING A BOOK raised his head(in preposition such a construction will not be isolated: The student reading the book raised his head.)

Homogeneous definitions in postposition are also distinguished - adjectives, eg: And in a stream, DRY AND SHARP, a chill comes in. In the absence of the conjunction AND, the adjectives may not be separated: Along the WINTER, BORING road, three greyhounds are running... (P.).

Consistent and inconsistent definitions are always distinguished, separated from the main word by other members of the sentence, for example .: Olga flies to her, AURORA OF THE NORTHERN ALLEY AND EASIER THAN A SWALLOW... (P.).

Inconsistent common definitions in postposition are optionally isolated, for example. : The letter, IN A LONG BLUE ENVELOPE, lay on the table.

2. Definitions standing before the word being defined in preposition are isolated less frequently, namely if they enter into relations of logical conditionality with the word being defined. Typically, such definitions can be transformed into a subordinate clause by substituting an adverbial conjunction or the word BEING. For example .: LOOKING LIKE A WEASEL, the ermine is distinguished from it by its larger body size and the black tip of its long tail - BEING LIKE A WEASEL, the ermine... - ALTHOUGH THE ERMINE IS LIKE A WEASEL, it is different from it... The same applies to applications e.g.: IMPRESSIBLE FORTRESS, this castle is intended for defense - BEING AN IMPRESSABLE FORTRESS, this castle...

Definitions and applications for personal pronouns are always separated. Eg. : TIRED, she didn’t notice anything; A REALIST WITH A STRONGLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, she sees a calling in power.

Applications are separated under the same conditions as definitions. A special feature of applications is that they can be preceded by explanatory conjunctions THAT IS, OR (= that is), for example .: Cyclamen, OR MOUNTAIN VIOLET, one of the most beautiful flowers; Astronomy, THAT IS THE SCIENCE OF THE NAMES OF STARS, was originally a part of astrology.

Applications that are closely related to the defined word are not isolated, for example. : MOSCOW River, swimming beetle. Also, the application in the construction “common noun + proper noun” is not isolated: city ​​of TOMSK, Count ORLOV, CAT Vaska.

We especially note the definitions and appendices, which are clarifying members, which can be preceded by the conjunction NAMELY. For example .: In the evening my uncle arrived, (NAMELY) IVAN SERGEEVICH(in the absence of clarifying intonation we will not isolate the application); The grass was as tall as a man's height.

Special circumstances

Isolated circumstances are mostly expressed by gerunds. The construction “participial phrase” is always isolated, anywhere in the sentence, since it most clearly indicates additional predicativeness, for example. : HOWING HER HEAD DOWN, she left the room. She left the room with her head down and left the room. She left the room with her head down. Single gerunds are also separated: SMILE, Sasha looked at them; Lisa, NOT FINISHING, left the room. However, single gerunds are not isolated if their meaning is close to adverbs of manner and are closely adjacent to the verb, for example. : He looked without blinking; She shrugged silently.

Circumstances expressed by other parts of speech (noun, adverb, etc.) are isolated in the following situations:

1) if they specify other circumstances. This is a very common disconnect. You can put the conjunction NAMELY before the clarifying member: He lived far away, (namely) AT THE MILL; Last year, (namely) IN THE AUTUMN, I somehow ended up in a village. With a different intonation (not specifying), these circumstances turn into heterogeneous terms, then a comma is not placed between them;

2) circumstances are often isolated - special constructions with prepositions AS A RESULT, BY REASON, IN CONNECTION, AS A RESULT, IN VIEW, BY FORCE, DUE TO, ACCORDING TO, UNDER, IN CASE, FOR PURPOSE, CONTRARY, DESPITE, NOTWITHSTANDING and under. These prepositions indicate logical conditionality, special adverbial meanings. For example .: CONTRARY TO THE PREDICTIONS OF THE HYDROMETENT CENTER, it started to rain(meaning of concession); ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED RULES, smoking is not allowed on the bus.(meaning of reason); TO REDUCE COSTS, it is proposed to increase the load(goal meaning). It is recommended to separate such turns, although this is not always done. Only the phrase with the preposition DESPITE (DESPITE): DESPITE THE SEVERE FROST, the students continued to study;

3) sometimes individual circumstances expressed by nouns or adverbs are isolated, if the author considers it necessary to highlight them. For example .: The third simply begged for himself, BETWEEN TWO ADVICE AND IN THE ABSENCE OF ENEMIES, a one-time allowance for his faithful service...(L.N.T.). This is the so-called author's isolation.

Standalone Add-ons

The name “separate additions” is a tribute to tradition; it is more correct to talk about separate structures with the preposition EXCEPT, IN ADDITION, EXCEPT, OVER, INSTEAD, etc. Eg. : Nothing was heard EXCEPT BARKING DOGS; EXCEPT FOR THE CACTUS, all the flowers on the windowsill were blooming. In such phrases, nouns with prepositions answer questions of indirect cases. Isolation of additions is optional; constructions with the preposition EXCEPT are more consistently isolated.

PRACTICAL TASK

1. Determine the type and method of expressing the detached member.

EXAMPLE: BUT I DID NOT READ ANYTHING ON HER FACE BUT SURPRISE AND A HIDDEN LAUGHTER TREMBLING IN THE CORNERS OF HER LIPS- EXCEPT FOR SURPRISE AND HIDING LAUGHTER - isolated construction “EXCEPT + noun”; TREMBLING IN THE CORNERS OF THE LIPS - a separate definition, expressed by a participial phrase.

1. Almazov, a young, poor officer, attended lectures at the Academy of the General Staff.

2. In the office, Almazov stood in one place for a minute, looking somewhere in the corner.

3. There is a large crowd around him, despite the late hour.

4. Five minutes of heavy silence passed, sadly broken by the lame sound of the alarm clock, long familiar and boring.

5. Vera, already dressed, looked around for the last time.

6. But the old and bent bracelet, quite unexpectedly for Vera, was valued very expensively.

7. Lidochka’s father, who served as our district treasurer, lived openly.

8. Lidochka’s entire role consisted of some two or three dozen lines, extremely lively and flirtatious.

9. But he doesn’t want to know anything except his treasury.

10. There was in the play, I remember, a Jesuit priest, the secret spring of the whole drama.

11. We collided just before her exit, in a cramped corridor, between the wall and the curtains.

12. She listened to me without interrupting, but answered inappropriately.

13. The orchestra played “Mayufes” - a national Jewish dance.

2. Find the isolated parts of the sentence, determine the way they are expressed, and place punctuation marks.

1. But I saw the real Ophelia, the same feminine image that was painted by Shakespeare.

2. I walked her home late at night, happy and exhausted.

3. But unexpectedly, in the most tragic place of the drama, a mad burst of laughter and applause reached us from the auditorium.

4. Looking around, he fell powerlessly next to me on an empty chair and suddenly dropped his face into his hands and began to cry bitterly.

5. The boiling quarrel was hardly extinguished by the good-natured and roguish fat man, the entrepreneur.

6. His entire musical repertoire, performed by an unusually out of tune bass, consisted of only two pieces.

7. One major key was sung during intermissions between revelries.

8. And without this it is impossible for us tragedians to live.

9. She involuntarily followed me, trembling with excitement.

10. It seems that I didn’t express anything other than the joy of seeing her.

11. His only daughter Nadya is sick with some strange disease.

12. She lies there all days and whole nights, quiet and sad.

13. Since the Polish War, Anosov has participated in all campaigns except the Japanese.

14. During the Polish rebellion, he once refused to shoot prisoners despite the personal order of the regimental commander.

15. In mid-August, before the birth of the new month, disgusting weather suddenly arrived.

16. Her single brother Nikolai, a fellow prosecutor, who usually lived with them, also went to the city to go to court.

17. Jenny Reiter, a very demanding musician, always willingly accompanied him.

3. Find the isolated parts of the sentence, place punctuation marks.

Deaf and Mute Demons

They walk on the ground

Blind and deaf-mute

And they draw fire signs

In the widening darkness.

Illuminating the abyss

They don't see anything

They create without comprehending

Your purpose.

Through the smoky gloom of the underworld

They throw a prophetic ray...

Their fate is the face of God

Revealed from the clouds in the darkness!

Separation - this is the semantic and intonation highlighting of sentence members in order to give them a known semantic and syntactic independence in the sentence.

In oral speech they are distinguished by intonation, and in writing they are separated or highlighted by punctuation marks.

Various members of a sentence are isolated for different reasons. In one case, the minor members of the sentence are isolated because in terms of their meaning in a sentence they are close to the predicate. In other cases they are isolated because they are used in a sentence as something additional, introduced to clarify any member of the sentence or to communicate something additional about it.

The following main groups are distinguished detached members:

1.Separated minor members, having the meaning of an additional message that complements the main one expressed by the main members; such isolated minor members are easily transformed into a predicate (of the same sentence or a separate sentence): Poplars, covered with dew, filled the air with a delicate aroma (A. Chekhov). Wed: Poplars were covered dew and filled the air with a delicate aroma. Or: [Poplars, (which were covered dew), filled the air with a delicate aroma].

2. Clarifying and explanatory separate members: Now, after the flood, it was a river of six fathoms... (A. Chekhov).

3.Connecting isolated members of the sentence: The peasants sell me oats, but they are too bad (A. Chekhov).

4.Comparative turnover: On the opposite bank, like gigantic sentries, stood mighty cedars (V. Arsenyev).

Isolated members of a sentence that have the meaning of an additional message

This group includes the following minor members of the sentence:

1) isolated circumstances expressed by gerunds and participial phrases, as well as nouns with derived prepositions: The fogs, swirling and twisting, slid along the wrinkles of the neighboring rocks (M. Lermontov); In the morning, despite the bad weather, the destroyers took off and moved on (V. Arsenyev);

2) isolated agreed definitions: I often found notes in my possession, short and disturbing. (A. Chekhov);

3) isolated inconsistent definitions: The doctor, with a sword in his hand, ran into the bedroom (Yu. Tynyanov); An apple orchard, covered in sun spots, went down the hillside (K. Paustovsky);

4) isolated applications: I had a cast iron kettle with me- My only joy is traveling around the Caucasus (M. Lermontov).

All sentences containing similar phrases have one thing in common: being messages, they also contain an “additional message”, and therefore can easily be paraphrased into a complex sentence (or into two independent phrases), and in one of the sentences the predicate is an isolated turn of the “original” phrase. Wed: Mists crawled along the wrinkles of the neighboring rocks, they swirled and twisted; I had a cast iron kettle with me, which was my only joy in traveling around the Caucasus and so on.

Conditions of separation

In order to understand why some minor members of the sentence are isolated, but others don’t, why in some cases separation mandatory, and in others optional, it is necessary to take into account the conditions separation.

Conditions of separation - these are the factors that favor the semantic and intonation emphasis of sentence members.

The most general and most obligatory condition of possibility separation is the absence of a close connection between the secondary member and the main word. First of all, this is manifested in the fact that separation only “optional” members of the sentence are allowed - those that are not necessary with the main word: definitions, applications, circumstances. On the contrary, those members of the sentence that are associated with the transfer of basic, rather than additional content, are not subject to isolation. For example, definitions without which a noun is unable to fully designate an object or circumstance are not isolated: Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and distant side (A. Pushkin). Additions, which most often act as an obligatory part of the sentence, closely related to the main word, are also not subject to isolation.

Thus, the conditions separation- this is all that helps to weaken the connection with the main word and strengthen the semantic significance of the most minor member.

On separation influenced by syntactic, morphological and semantic conditions.

Syntactic conditions:

1. Word order: 1) inversion (reverse word order). There is normal (direct) and unusual (reverse) word order. Thus, with direct word order, the agreed definition comes before the word being defined, and the inconsistent definition comes after the word being defined; an additional action, called a gerund, comes after the main action, designated by the predicate. If a minor member of a sentence is placed in an unusual place for it in the sentence, then it stands out, is especially emphasized - its semantic significance is enhanced. Therefore, for example, among the agreed upon definitions, those that are worth after the word being defined, and among the circumstances expressed by single gerunds - standing before predicate. Wed: He ran without stopping And He ran without stopping.

2. Distant position of the secondary member of the sentence in relation to the main word (separation of the secondary member of the sentence from the main word): And again, cut off from the tanks by fire, the infantry lay down on a bare slope (M. Sholokhov). Such a separation of the definition from the word being defined is unusual and leads to an increase in its semantic weight. And this makes it necessary to isolate such a definition.

3. The volume of an isolated member (common members of a sentence are isolated more often than non-extended ones) or the presence of two or more homogeneous minor members: Compare: I brought a bucket full of dew from the forest (S. Marshak) And I spared no effort to fill the bucket full (S. Marshak).

4. A special semantic load, unusual for a given minor member of the sentence (the appearance of an additional meaning in the minor member), when the minor member explains not only the word to which it is directly subordinate, but also some other member of the sentence. For example, an agreed definition standing even before the word being defined (direct word order) is isolated if this definition has an additional adverbial meaning: Absorbed in his thoughts, the boy did not notice anything around him(the participial phrase standing before the word being defined is isolated here because it also has a circumstantial (causal) meaning).

Morphological conditions separation:

Sometimes separation depends on the presence of a certain grammatical form or a function word of a certain lexical-grammatical category in the composition of the selected sentence member, i.e. separation in this case, it is associated with the morphological way of expressing the secondary member.

Participles, short forms of adjectives and participles that act as a definition, combinations with comparative conjunctions (comparative phrases), some combinations of nouns with prepositions, the presence of introductory words usually form separate secondary members. For example: When the letter was ready and I was about to seal it, the headman (V. Korolenko) entered, apparently angry. In this sentence, a single (non-extended) agreed definition angry, standing before the defined noun is isolated, since the introductory word refers to it apparently(which, by the way, is not separated by a comma from the definition).

Almost always (except for certain special cases) circumstances expressed by gerunds and participial phrases are isolated.

Short forms of adjectives and participles in modern Russian have become entrenched in the function of the predicate. Relatively rarely (mainly in poetry) they are used as definitions (which relate to the subject), retaining the meaning of the additional predicate, which makes them separation mandatory, regardless of location: The air vibrates, is transparent and clean (N. Zabolotsky); Rich, good-looking, Lensky was accepted everywhere as a groom (A. Pushkin); At the usual hour she woke up, she got up by candlelight (A. Pushkin).

The comparative conjunction, as a rule, requires intonation highlighting of the phrase: The stuffy air is still, like the water of a forest lake (M. Gorky).

Semantic separation conditions:

The absence or presence of a close semantic and syntactic connection between a minor member of a sentence and the word to which it refers is sometimes determined by the semantics of the word being explained. The more specific and definite the meaning of a word, the less it needs to be disseminated, the weaker the connections with it of secondary members, which are therefore easily are isolated.

For example, personal pronouns “do not recognize” ordinary definitions; one cannot say: I'm attentive, he's angry(cf.: attentive student, angry person). Therefore, definitions related to the personal pronoun are always isolated: A he, rebellious, asks for a storm... (M. Lermontov).

If the word being defined is a proper noun or refers to kinship terms (mother, father, grandfather, grandmother etc.), then this can also contribute to the isolation of the definition: Grandfather, in grandma’s jacket, in an old cap without a visor, squints, smiling at something (M. Gorky).

Vice versa: with nouns that are too general in meaning (person, thing, expression, matter and so on), the definitions form a single whole, because a noun without a definition cannot participate in the formation of a statement, for example:

This misconception is common even l smart and educated people; Funny, touching and tragic things happened (V. Astafiev)- definitions in these sentences are necessary to express the main (and not additional) message.

Isolated members of a sentence and how they behave in the text, we must delve into the meaning of the words themselves that make up the term.

Clarification of the term

To set apart means to make something special, different from something else, to highlight. Isolated members of a sentence are words that are highlighted in a sentence, separated from others. Isolation occurs using commas or dashes.

Along with the word “separation” the word “separation” can be used. Both have the right to exist.

With the term “members of a sentence” everything is more or less clear; these are, in fact, the words that make up the sentence. The members of a sentence are divided into main and secondary.

It is the secondary members of the sentence that are subject to isolation. Namely, addition and circumstance. Separately, it makes sense to consider also, which is a type of definition.

Separation of definitions

Definitions can be agreed upon or inconsistent. Agreed definitions are usually expressed as or. Inconsistent - by nouns in indirect cases.

If the agreed definition is expressed not as a single word, but as a whole phrase and stands after the word being defined, then it must be separated by commas.

If the phrase is at the very end of the sentence, then one comma is placed, if in the middle of the sentence, then the phrase is highlighted with two commas.

For example, “The clouds that hid the sun melted.” Or: “People were walking along the road, slippery after the heavy rain.”

Inconsistent definitions intended to complement or clarify something about what has already been said are also separated by commas. For example, “One man, with a black umbrella under his arm, constantly looked at the sky.”

Segregation of applications

A single or common application usually appears after the word being defined and is necessarily separated by commas. For example, “The gray-haired old man, clearly a teacher in the past, was not afraid of bad weather.”

The application is separated by a dash if an explanation is given with it. Sometimes the words “namely” can be inserted before the application in such a case. For example, “A cloud was darkening on the horizon - a reminder of a past thunderstorm.”

Separating add-ons

Additions are not always isolated, but only if required by the context. Usually, phrases with the words “except”, “instead”, “besides”, “except”, etc. are separated by commas. However, there may be options that do not require separation.

In other words, the isolation of additions is optional.

For example, “Nothing but imaginary difficulties darkened the path.” But: “In addition to the distant cloud, there was sun in the sky.”

Isolation of circumstances

Such a member of a sentence as an adverb can be expressed by an adverbial phrase, a noun and an adverb.

Participial phrases are usually separated by commas. For example, “We must move forward, regardless of fatigue.”

Circumstances expressed by nouns in indirect cases with dependent words are isolated if this is necessary for clarification or semantic highlighting in the context. For example, “People, after hearing kind words, walked more cheerfully.”

Adverbs are often used as adverbs. They can also be separated if required by the meaning of the text or for clarification. For example: “And then, unexpectedly for everyone, the horizon cleared.” “It is very important to reach the goal, together or alone.”

What are isolated members of a sentence? What are they? When are members of a sentence generally isolated, and when not? In this article we will understand what isolated members of a sentence are, what categories they are divided into, as well as what rules of isolation exist.

The concept of isolated members of a sentence

So, let's start, as we should in such cases, with a definition. Isolated members of a sentence are those minor members that are distinguished by intonation and meaning. The emphasis is made so that they acquire “independence” within the entire phrase.

How are individual members of a sentence identified?

Emphasis during oral conversation occurs through intonation. If we talk about writing, then the situation is somewhat different. To highlight isolated members of a sentence in the text, commas are used.

Comparison of detached members with non-detached members

It is worth noting one simple fact: the syntactic weight of isolated members is much greater than that of their opposites. Consequently, stylistic expressiveness also increases. One cannot fail to mention logical selection.

What can be distinguished in the Russian language?

Of all the members of a sentence, only minor ones can be isolated. The main members in the proposal have never been isolated, and this is not expected in the near future.

Why is separation necessary?

It allows you to draw attention to a particular piece of information. In addition, the fragment can be presented in more detail by resorting to isolation. As mentioned earlier, isolated secondary members of a sentence have greater weight and greater independence. Let us immediately note that the separations can be very different. These are additions, circumstances, and definitions. Next we will try to understand each of these categories and give specific examples for each group.

Separating clarifications

First of all, let's figure out what separate clarifying members of a sentence are and why they are needed. As the name implies, such minor members of the sentence serve to specify and clarify. They are inextricably linked by a syntactic function with one or another member of the sentence, the meaning of which they, in fact, explain.

When are clarifying members of a sentence isolated?

1. Isolated clarifying members of a sentence can be expressed by a definition. Example: “It was dark around, even very dark, I would say. So much so that it seemed like someone in this world had simply turned off all the lights.” In this case, the phrase “even very dark” has a clarifying meaning and is separated by commas on both sides.

It is worth noting that definitions with a clarifying meaning can be highlighted when written using a dash. Example: “There were a lot of things in the house - both his personal ones and those that clearly did not belong to him.”

2. Circumstances of relevant significance are identified. They can be expressed by nouns with prepositions, as well as adverbs. For example:

• “Only a second passed - and an explosion thundered somewhere nearby, right behind him.”
• “Once upon a time, life flowed here, in a quiet, unfamiliar village.” Third example: “This happened quite recently, just a couple of days ago.”

Explanation: in the first and second examples, the clarification is in the nature of place. The third is the nature of time. Often the isolation of clarifications depends on the author of the passage.

3. Specifications added using the words “or”, “that is”, “namely” are distinguished. For example:

• “Whatever his name was. There were rumors that he was either a wizard, a magician, or a superman.”
• “It was a balanced, individual decision, that is, not imposed on him by anyone.”
• “A lot spoke about the terrible battle that took place here, namely: helmets and scraps of uniforms, craters from artillery shells, shell casings.”

4. Clarifying members of the sentence are isolated, which are added using words such as “even”, “especially”, “including”, “in particular”. For example:

• “Everyone remembers that no one was able to defeat the magician, even those who tried to do it in a crowd.”
• “The victory was a joy for everyone, especially for those who sacrificed a lot for this.”
• “Another second - the squad went for a breakthrough, including him.”
• “Many countries welcome Russian tourists with great joy, in particular Turkey is doing this now.”

Separating add-ons

Types of isolated members of a sentence include a group of additions. These are nothing more than case forms applied to nouns. They are used with such combinations as “except”, “instead of”, “except”, “along with”, “excluding”, “besides”. Thus, it can be noted that phrases in such use have meanings corresponding to substitution and inclusion, exclusion.

Separation occurs depending on what semantic load is present, whether the author has a desire to highlight this fragment:

• “He already felt more or less stable, except that his leg still hurt a little.”
• “In addition to the rain promised the day before, the sky lit up with branches of violet lightning, momentarily leaving their bright mark on the retina.”
• “Along with the issues that were waiting to be resolved at work, it was necessary to do something about household matters.”
• “Besides all this, there was one more significant flaw in the product, which decisively deterred the purchase.”
• “And everything was fine, except, of course, for some points.”

Note that if the preposition “instead” is used in the meaning “instead”, then it is not isolated. Example: “In return for all the money he thought was promised by his friends, he received only promises, words and nothing more.”

Isolation of circumstances

Isolated members of a sentence are, as we found out earlier, secondary members that are distinguished by intonation and with the help of punctuation marks. When do circumstances become isolated? This is what we will talk about next.

1. The circumstance is separated by commas on both sides, regardless of its location in the text, if it is expressed by an adverbial phrase. Example: “The two of them, holding their breath and holding their breath, waited for the shadow to slip further past them.” Explanation: here “hidden and holding your breath” are homogeneous and isolated members of the sentence, expressed by the adverbial phrase. There is an exception to this rule. An adverbial phrase is not isolated if it is a phraseological unit.
2. The circumstance is separated by commas on both sides, regardless of its location in the text, if it is expressed by a single type gerund. Example: “He left without turning around, although he understood what he had just done.” Explanation: here “without turning around” acts as a single gerund. There is also an exception here. A single gerund is not isolated if it merges with an adverb in its meaning. Example: “While someone was telling me something, I stood thoughtful.”
3. Usually two participle phrases connected by the conjunction “and” (as well as two single participles) are isolated as one phrase. Example: “Despite the mistakes of others and not listening to common sense, I continued to persistently trample my path.” Explanation: here “despite the mistakes of others” and “without listening to common sense” are homogeneous adverbial phrases. Moreover, they refer to the same word, so they are equal. Therefore, there is no comma between them.
4. A circumstance is isolated if it is presented as a comparative phrase. Usually in comparative phrases words like “exactly”, “as if”, “as” are used. There are some exceptions to the isolation of comparative turns; they are not isolated in all cases. In general, the isolation of comparisons and comparative phrases refers to the isolation of secondary members of sentences only sometimes, so we will not talk much about this in this article. Example: “My head hurt, as if something massive had been walked on it.”

There is such a concept in Russian syntax - optional. This means “at the discretion of the author.” So, circumstances are optionally isolated in two cases:

1. If the circumstance is presented in the form of a noun. In this case, there may or may not be a pretext. But most of all there are cases when circumstances are isolated that are expressed by a combination of nouns with certain prepositions. These are: “thanks to”, “despite”, “contrary to”, “in accordance with”, “depending on”, “to avoid”, “in view of”. Examples:

   “Thanks to the availability of free time, he was able to solve almost all his problems.”
   - “Despite the rain, they still decided to go on a picnic.”
   “Despite the threats, he has not changed his policy one bit.”
   - “In accordance with the plan, all tasks were completed within the specified time frame.”
   “Depending on what decision was made, a different fate awaited him.”
   - “To avoid a fight, the people nearby separated them into different corners.”
   “Due to unforeseen circumstances, something had to be decided quickly, but thoughtfully.”

2. If there is clarification of place and time. Example: “And yet it was impossible not to notice that here, in this room forgotten by civilization, some company once worked and flourished.”

How can you find isolated circumstances in the text? To do this, you must first find an ordinary circumstance. And then see if it is really separated by punctuation marks. After this, you can begin to analyze the question of how the isolated circumstance is expressed. The easiest way to start your search is with participial phrases, as well as single gerunds. Comparative phrases are no less visible, which, as you remember, are also separate circumstances along with clarifications of place and time, the manner of action of a person. There is a questionnaire called “Test “Isolated members of a sentence”. It usually gives tasks to search for isolations. There is a task in which you need to find a separate circumstance in the text, expressed by an adverbial phrase. It is logical that there will be not just one gerund, but a certain set of dependent words. Clarifying circumstances can be found just as easily. To do this, simply search for words that are expressed by nouns in indirect cases. Next to them there should be adverbs and prepositions. These, in most cases, are isolated circumstances, expressed by clarifications of place and time.

Signs of isolation

According to the rules of the Russian language, the signs of isolated members of a sentence can be divided into four groups. The first group is semantic features. The second is grammatical. The third is intonation (that is, pauses and emphasizing intonation). And the last, fourth group is punctuation signs. As mentioned earlier, most often punctuation marks such as commas act as punctuation marks. But it is possible that the separation will be done using a dash. Author's punctuation marks are still a rather complicated thing.

The role of isolation in the Russian language

Isolation often makes it possible to endow a particular fragment of text or phrase with some special meaning, to give it an informational weight that is different from that of other parts of the sentence. That is, due to isolation, a peculiar emphasis is placed on certain facts. During a conversation, we often, when talking about something, without noticing it ourselves, highlight some words and even phrases with intonation. Accordingly, we are trying to draw attention to these fragments; they play some special role in a given situation. This may introduce some clarifications as well. Thus, to summarize, we can say that the role of isolated members of the proposal lies in increasing the information load.

Test “Isolated members of a sentence”

Before moving on to the final part of the article, where we will summarize its results, I would like to write my own unique test with sentences to help the reader consolidate the knowledge gained about the isolation of minor members. Perhaps the test may seem easy to some, but in fact, it is precisely this type of task that is used to identify the knowledge of students in secondary educational institutions. Next there will be a task to which you need to answer, then answer options, and after that an explanation for those who answered the task incorrectly and the correct answer.

1. Which numbers correctly indicate ALL commas that should appear in the text? “He approached a lake (1) which shimmered in the sunlight (2) and went somewhere further.”

Options: a) only 1; b) only 2; c) 1 and 2.

Explanation: “which shimmered in the sunlight and went somewhere further” - a construction consisting of two participial phrases. The participial phrase is one example of a separate definition. “Shimmered in the sunlight” and “went somewhere further” are two equal participial phrases that refer to the same word. This means there is no comma between them.

Correct answer: a.

2. In all the following cases, a sentence will be immediately written in which you need to place the commas correctly. “Everything was fine (1) except (2) that on the horizon there was already looming (3) a group of clouds gathered into one whole (4) predicting a thunderstorm (5) and heavy rain.”

Options: a) 1, 2, 5; b) 1, 3, 4; c) 2, 5; d) 1, 2, 4.

Explanation: “except” is an example of a separate object. It is not at the beginning of the sentence and not at the end, so it is isolated on both sides at once. “A group of clouds gathered into one whole” is a common definition, which is expressed by a participial phrase. There will be no separation at the pass location (3). But between “clouds” and “predicting” there is a necessary comma. “Thunderstorm” and “rain” are two equal additions that refer to the same word. Therefore, there is no need for a comma between them.

Correct answer: Mr.

3. “The sky (1) gradually (2) darkened (3) occasionally illuminated by the branches of lightning (4) and somewhere in the distance (5) peals of thunder (6) were heard, foreshadowing bad weather.”

Answers: a) 1, 2, 5; b) 2, 3, 4, 5; c) 3, 4, 6; d) 1, 5, 6.

Explanation: gaps 1 and 2 will not contain a comma, because there is no clarification there. “Occasionally illuminated by the ramifications of lightning” is a common isolated circumstance expressed by an adverbial phrase. It will be separated on both sides. “Foretelling bad weather” is a participial phrase at the end of a sentence. It is isolated on one side.

Correct answer: c.

Conclusion

So, what did we find out during this article?

• Firstly, the use of isolated members of a sentence is done with the aim of giving the isolated fragment independence and increased information load.
• Secondly, for isolation, commas and dashes are used in punctuation, and intonation is used in conversation.
• Thirdly, isolated members of a sentence can only be secondary.

Isolated members of a sentence, a table for which will be presented below, may have the purpose of clarifying the time and manner of action, place. They are often also expressed by gerunds, participles and phrases. Cases with comparisons are not excluded at all.

One of the sections of syntax is the isolated members of a sentence. The Russian language presupposes the presence of such minor isolated members as: additions, circumstances, definitions, clarifications and comparisons.

1. What is segregation? Which parts of the sentence are called isolated?

Isolation is the selection of sentence members by intonation and in writing in order to give them syntactic and semantic independence. Any members of a sentence can be isolated.

2. What are the conditions for the isolation of minor members of a sentence?

To isolate the minor members of the sentence, they must:
Arrange in a special order;
Clarify the nature of the relationship of one member of the sentence to another;
Have a certain semantic load;
Intentionally stand out in the sentence by the author;
Standing near other isolated members;
Does not combine syntactically and semantically with other parts of the sentence.

3. What are the rules of punctuation when separating definitions and applications?

O Definitions are distinguished:
If it refers to the personal pronoun I, you, you, we, he, she, they, it. For example: How could she, my beloved, do this?
If expressed by a participle or an adjective with dependent words and comes after the word being defined: The house, built recently, still needed finishing.
Has additional meanings of reason or concession. For example: Tired after a day of work, my mother went to rest.
Several uncommon adjectives appear after the word they define. For example: I like her character, fair and funny.
They are expressed by a noun in the indirect case and appear in the sentence after the word being defined. For example: The grandfather we already knew, with a long beard, slowly wandered towards the rising sun.

O Applications are separated if:
They are common and are expressed by a common noun with dependent words, and stand after the word being defined: May, the last month of spring, pleased with its warmth.
Single and refer to a common noun with dependent words. For example: Our granddaughter, an artist, wants to be famous.
refers to a proper noun and comes after it. For example: The poems of Tsvetaeva, the great Russian poet, cannot fail to leave a deep imprint on the reader’s heart.
They refer to the personal pronoun: They, the loons, cannot enjoy the battle of life...

4. What are the rules of punctuation when isolating circumstances?

Circumstances that are represented by phrases with prepositional combinations “despite”, “despite” are always isolated. For example: Despite the bad weather, she still went to the post office.
o The participle is isolated if:
Used in the form of a turnover. For example: Closing the window, she continued her story.
The revolution comes after the conjunction a. For example: You need to correct a mistake, and after correcting it, give the notebook back to the teacher.
A single gerund is isolated if the meaning of the action is not lost (there is no transition to an adverb).

5. Which parts of the sentence are called clarifying?

Clarifying members of a sentence are words that explain the meaning of the preceding words. In speech they are distinguished by intonation, and in writing by commas. Example: Today, at two o’clock in the afternoon, come to the assembly hall.

6. With what intonation are the isolated parts of the sentence pronounced?

Isolated members are pronounced with emphatic intonation: they are distinguished by pauses and are accompanied by a rise or fall in tone, depending on where the sentences are located.