Commas help us, first of all, to correctly understand the meaning of what is written.

For example, take these sentences:

If you cook Lisa will wash the dishes.

While we were eating a rattlesnake approached our campsite.

Place a comma after cook And eating, and no one cooks Lisa anymore ( cook Lisa), and no one eats rattlesnake (eating a rattlesnake).

Logic for placing commas in English language radically different from what is generally accepted among us.

The comma is often used to separate simple clauses in complex sentences, but is rarely used to separate simple clauses in complex sentences.

1. You should use a comma to separate simple sentences in a compound before : and, but, or, nor, so, And yet:
   

   Nearly everyone has heard of love at first sight, but I fell in love at first dance.

   There is no need to use a comma if the simple sentences in the complex sentence are short:

   John came and we set off.

2. Use a comma after any introductory phrase that says when or where the action took place. Such phrases represent time or place, and in Russian there is no comma after them.
   

   That bleak December night of 1999, I learned the secret of their house.

   Near the old oak just in the middle of the glade, we found a big mushroom.

   Don't use a comma if the phrase is short:

   In December I learned the secret of their house.

   Near the old oak we found a big mushroom.

3. A comma is needed even after a short introductory phrase if it contains a gerund ( partial).
   

   Thinking about all the problems, he could not fall asleep.

   Puzzled, he stared at her.

4. Use a comma when present in a sentence homogeneous members or enumerations:
   

   My uncle willed me all his property, houses, and warehouses.

   Please note that, unlike the Russian language, in English there is a comma before the conjunction “and” ( and). Sometimes this comma may be especially necessary to avoid misunderstandings. If, for example, in the above sentence we delete the comma after the word houses, it will change the meaning. It turns out that my uncle willed me his property, consisting of houses and warehouses.

5. When separating homogeneous ones with a comma, the same rule applies as in the Russian language - only those definitions that describe the same property should be separated. For example, such a property could be character:
   

   Mother has become a strong, confident, independent woman.

   And here is an example where all definitions describe different properties, namely: impression, size, color:

   The frightening large gray shapes moved slowly towards us.

6. Do not separate phrases that narrow the meaning of your sentence with commas ( restrictive elements or closes). Usually such phrases cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. For example:
   

   Although the dessert made with fresh strawberries was delicious, the dessert made with cream was too sweet.

   In this sentence we cannot remove phrases made with fresh strawberries And made with cream, therefore, they should not be separated with commas.

   One corner of the attic was filled with newspapers.

   If we remove the phrase dating from the turn of the century, the meaning of the sentence will turn out to be broader than we need (there were simply some newspapers in the attic, and not those that were published at the beginning of the century), which means there is no need to highlight the phrase with commas.

7. Separate qualifying phrases with commas ( non-restrictive closes or elements), which do not narrow the meaning of the sentence and can be deleted without changing its meaning:
   

   For camp the children needed sturdy shoes, which were expensive.

   In this case, clarification which was expensive(which is expensive) can be removed without losing the meaning of the sentence.

8. The following expressions are separated by commas: however, moreover, for example, as a matter of fact, in other words etc.
9. Separate introductory phrases with commas:
   

   Evolution, so far as we know, does not work this way.

10. at the beginning of the sentence they are also separated by a comma:
    

    On April 12, 1994, I came to visit him.

11. Use commas in direct speech sentences:
    

    I said, “It's quite strange.”

    “Unlike you,” she said, “I love ballet.”

    “Please!” she cried. “Stop it!”

    Pay attention to the use of not only commas, but also other punctuation marks in direct speech, as well as how the formatting of direct speech in English differs from its formatting in Russian.

12. Do not separate complex sentences with a conjunction with a comma that:
    

    He right away noticed that she was in a hurry.

13. Be careful! Union and can separate two complex sentences with a conjunction that, you shouldn’t separate them with commas either:
    

    Jane still does not know that he came yesterday and that he is preparing a surprise party for her.

14. Do not separate simple sentences that begin with the words: after, as soon as, before, if, since, unless, until, when. More often than not, these simple sentences are the ones without which your complex sentence would change its meaning completely. From paragraph 6 we already know that such simple sentences cannot be separated with commas as part of a complex one:
    

    Don't visit Paris at the height of the tourist season unless you have booked hotel reservations.

At levels upper-intermediate And advanced When language learners' vocabulary is quite rich and serves to express more complex ideas, correct punctuation becomes essential. Without it, it is impossible to write a good essay, annotation, business letter, article, term paper or thesis. If you often have to express your thoughts in writing or you are going to study abroad, get a reference book ( A Writer's Reference). There are now a lot of such books by different authors. As a rule, they pay attention to editing, typical grammatical and spelling errors. The best option there will be a reference book aimed not at language learners, but at language speakers. I consider it necessary to mention here such an author as Diana Hacker. She has a very simple and understandable style of presentation, and her “ A Writer's Reference” has been my reference book for several years. Some examples in the article are taken from this book.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Today I want to talk about English punctuation. Perhaps I will even write a whole block of articles devoted to this topic. I suggest starting with a comma, because as many of you have already noticed, the comma in the English language has its own orders, different from the Russian comma, and sometimes these orders seem completely incomprehensible.

It is in cases with the use of a comma that the largest number of different options and improvisations are observed, which is largely determined by the erudition of the author, his emotional perception and interpretation of the situations presented in the text. The main difference between the use of a comma in English compared to Russian is that in Russian subordinate clauses are always separated from the main clause by a comma, but in English this is not always the case.

Not separated by comma:

• subordinate clauses / predicates / additional:

It is important that you should be here tomorrow.
Our advice is that you should not smoke.
We insist that you call him immediately.
I know what men are and just remember what they say cleanliness is next to godliness.
Caliban was surprised that I seemed so positively gay when he came in.

• adverbial clauses when they come after the main clause:

She told him everything when he went downstairs.
I had to finish my work earlier to help mother.
The police will take your car away if you park it here.
The only chance I might have is when he comes in with the tray.
He always asks me if he may stay.

The most typical cases of using a comma in English writing:

1. Used to highlight appeal:

Waiter, I"d like the menu, please.
But mother, there is no one here.
Ferdinand, what's wrong?
But... Ferdinand, if a young man gives a girl a present like this, it can only mean one thing.

2. Placed to separate individual elements of the enumeration:

Red, pink, yellow(,) and white flowers filled the vases.
Notrose, went around the desk, leaned down(,) and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Noteats, drinks(,) and talks too much.
Well, we stood there, she made me laugh, she kept on pretending that the room was full of people, waving at them, and telling me about them, and them about my new life, and then she put a record on the gramophone, it was soft music, and she looked beautiful.

In this case, a comma can be placed before and, but is not required.

3. Placed (optional) between two main clauses connected by conjunctions and/as/but etc. This technique is used especially often if the first sentence is long:

You will confirm it(.) and I shall help you with the money
They turned back to look at each other, and again she wondered if this man knew he was being cuckolded.
The crowd sat stupefied (,) as the death dance whirled towards its climax.
They’re only little stones (,) but they’re high quality.
Mostly she just sat with her back to me as if she didn’t hear me.
That night I cooked her a supper of fresh frozen peas and frozen chicken in white sauce and she ate it and seemed to like it.
Will you stay down here with me and let the door be open for air?

4. Used after adverbial subordinate clauses and phrases preceding the main clause:

When he went downstairs, she told him everyone had gone to the tennis court.
Thathelp mother, I had to finish my work earlier.
Having called Sam, she immediately went to the airport.
When in doubt, you should come to visit me.
If you park your car here, the police will take it away.
When I came out, wearing the least horrid of the shirts he’d bought for me, he stood up.
When I got home, I washed the necklace and hid it so that I could get it out at the correct time.

5. Placed before and after any part of the sentence containing additional information about the subject:

The driver, who was very young, insisted that he knew me.
It’s only small stones, she said, but all very fine water and these Victorian designs.
Toinette, with her silly female House and Garden ideas of austere good taste, calling it ‘cluttered’.
I gave you that book, the Catcher in the Rye, because I thought you would feel identified with him.

One of the strictest rules of English punctuation is the rule prohibiting the use of a comma between the subject (subject group) and the predicate; this case describes one of the few options when a comma can be placed, but it should be remembered that only additional information is highlighted, and always on both sides:

The driver who was very young, insisted that he knew me.
The driver, who was very young insisted that he knew me. –this option incorrect, So How No second comma.
The driver, who helped me that morning, insisted that he knew me. – this option is incorrect, since there is not additional information about the subject, but simply an explanation - no commas are needed.

Right:

The driver who helped me that morning insisted that he knew me.
The strike at the carpet factory, which lasted two weeks, is now over. -additional information - stands out commas.
The girl with whom he fell in love left him after a few weeks. -explanation – Not stands out commas.
The house, which has been empty for a year, has just been sold.
The man whom I wanted to see was away on holiday.

6. Placed to separate any part of the sentence containing additional information about the addition (however, if such part of the sentence is in the nature of an explanation or clarification, a comma is not placed):

She is the woman, whose husband has been dead for three years.
A widow is a woman whose husband is dead.
Yesterday I met John, who told me he was getting married.
I don't want to go back to the town where I was born.
They would like to stay in this town, where their son was born.
Norman won $10,000, half of which he gave to his sister.
What was the name of the girl whose passport was stolen?

7. Used to indicate missing words in the text:

Fishing forms a quiet man; hunting, an eager man; gambling, a greedy man.

On 10 hectares, you can produce meat to feed just two people, maize, 10 people, grain , 24 people or soya to feed 61 people.

8. Placed on both sides of any element that interrupts a sentence:

The fire, although it had been put out, was still very hot.
Can't you see, Peter, how big he is?
Look, Ferdinand, I don’t know what you see in me.
It was embarrassing, of course, I didn’t know what to say.
There had, of course, been other women along the way.
Then again, it may not have been that first morning she drew me, I can’t remember which day it was, she suddenly started crying.

9. Placed after introductory words or expressions to separate them from the rest of the sentence:

Well, I like this.
Well, the next day she brought up the business about having a bath and fresh air again.
Well, after supper she was on to me again about the bath and I let her begin to go sulky again.
By the way, I also need money.
However, nobody drank much.

10. Placed in cases where there is a possibility of misperception of the meaning of the sentence:

As the police car pulled up, the crowd surged forward.(without the comma, you would think that the car crashed into the crowd)
After a period of calm, college students have begun to demonstrate again.(without a comma, the word college could be classified as calm)

11. Often used to separate adverbial phrases that appear at the beginning of a sentence and are weakly related in meaning to the rest of it:

In the summer of 1984, many trees died.
After the coffee and three cigarettes, he dressed in what he always dressed in.
At forty-two, he was a deceptive-looking man.
In thirteen months, he had parted with all of them.
For some reason, sex and politics for him had always gone hand in hand.
In search of gold, my great-grandfather landed in America.

12. Placed to separate the interrogative part in dividing questions:

You saw this film, didn't you?
She was here yesterday, wasn't she?
They haven't come today, have they?
You are going to show me your house, aren’t you?
You’re definitely going to come an live in London, aren’t you?

13. Placed before words too(in affirmative sentences) and either(in negative sentences), if they belong to the group subject - predicate and also denote (like someone else):

Hasn't been to London, too. - He too (like you/me/anyone) was in London.
Has not been to London too. - He was also in London (as well as in Moscow/Paris/elsewhere). - no comma is used.
Has not been to London, either. - He, too (like you/me/anyone) has not been to London.
Has not been to London either. - He wasn’t in London (as well as in Moscow / Paris / anywhere else). - no comma is used.

14. Placed before the word for, if it acts as a conjunction (subordinate clauses attached to this conjunction very rarely come before the main one):

I asked her to stay, for I had something to tell her.
I could tell much about this man, for I had met him before.

15. Placed in dates to separate the day and month from the year:

Notwas born June 14, 1940.
It happened in May, 1977.

16. Placed to highlight digits in large numbers:

Notonce estimated that he was living slightly more than $1,000 a year.
The federal government's official poverty line that year was $4,680.

17. Placed in the English version (in the American version a colon is used) for business correspondence after requests:

Dear Mr. Johnson, I have received your letter...
(Amer.) Dear Sir:
I have received your letter...

18. Placed in business correspondence after the final greeting phrases, separating the greeting from the last name and position (between which there is no punctuation):

Yours faithfully, / Yours truly, ABCDCo-.Ltd. R. Johnson President

19. Placed in the address on the envelope or at the top of the letter (above the text), highlighting the addressee's last name / organization name / district / city / state (district) / country (a comma is not used between the house number and street name):

Stephen P.Naere, 2141 Starling Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10462

20. Placed to separate explanatory words from direct speech if there are no other punctuation marks:

“How was he?” Dirk asked. “He was well,” she said.
“Do they still hurt?” he asked. “No,” she said, “not much.”
He said, “I don't know.”

Asya ©

The comma in the English language is the most common and, therefore, the most difficult to write. It is in cases with the use of a comma that there are the greatest number of different difficulties and questions, which is often determined by the opinion of the author, personal emotional perception and interpretation of a particular case and situation described in the text. A comma in English, unlike Russian, is not always placed to separate it from the main clause, while in Russian subordinate clauses are always separated by a comma.

When a comma is not used

Commas are not separated in English:

• subordinate subject / predicate / object:

It is important that she should be there on Wednesday.It's important that she be there on Wednesday.

My rule is that you should not drink.My condition is that you don't drink.

I insist that you call him soon.We insist that you call him quickly.

• subordinate clauses, where there is a circumstance when they come after the main clause:

She told her all when she went downstairs.She told her everything as she walked down the stairs.

I had to end my work earlier to aid mother.I had to finish work early to help my mother.

The police may take your car if you park it there.The police may confiscate your car if you park there.

The most typical situations of using a comma

The most typical situations of using a comma.

• The comma in English is always used when addressing.

Waiteress, I would like a menu, please.Waitress, bring menu, Please.

Father, there is no one here.Father, there is no one here.

• The comma in English is used to separate individual items of enumeration:

Purple, lily, red flowers filled several vases.The vases were filled with purple, lilac, and red flowers.

Notrose, went around the table, leaned down and took the little armchair.He stood up, walked around the table, bent down and took a small chair.

She laughs, drinks and speaks too much. He laughs, drinks and talks too much.

It should be remembered that in this case a comma before and can be used, but not necessarily.

• Used (but not necessarily) between 2 main clauses connected by conjunctions and / as / but / and others. The comma is used especially often in English when the first sentence is long:

He will affirm it, and I will help him with his problems. him with his problems.

They stopped to look at each other, and she asked about this hard day.They stopped to look at each other and she asked about this difficult day.

The crowd was stupefied, as the clown tried to entertain with his jokes.The crowd was mesmerized as the clown tried to entertain with his jokes.

• Used after circumstances in subordinate clauses coming before the main clause:

When she went downstairs, she told him that Selena had already come.When she went downstairs, she told him that Selena had already arrived.

To support my sister, he had to leave Moscow.To help my sister, he had to leave Moscow.

Having called Sara, she quickly went to the station.After calling Sarah, she quickly drove to the station.

When in doubt, you should come to see me.When in doubt, come to me.

If you park the car there, the police will seize it.If you park your car there, the police will confiscate it.

• Used after any part of a sentence where there is additional information about the subject:

The waiter, who was old, told that he knew me. .

Subtleties of use

The strict principle of the English language is that the use of a comma between the subject (several subjects) and the predicate is prohibited. This case represents one of the few situations where a comma can be used, but keep in mind that only additional information is underlined by a comma, and on both sides:

The girl who was so pretty, assured that he saw me. / The girl, who was so pretty assuared that he saw me. — Both sentences are incorrect. No second comma .

The girl, who was so pretty, assured that he saw me - Right.

The man, who aided me that night, told that he recognized me.The man who helped me that night said he recognized me. — Incorrect, there is no additional information about the subject here, but only an explanation, no commas are required.

Right : The man who aided me that night told that he recognized me.

The strike at the nuclear plant, which lasted theree days, is already over. — D Additional data is separated by commas, as there is additional information. Strike on nuclear factory, lasted three day, finished.

The woman with whom Tom was in love left him after five years. - P clarification, no commas required . Woman, V which Volume was in love, left his later five years.

The manson, which was empty for three years, has been sold out.The mansion, which had been empty for three years, was sold.

The girl whom I desired to meet was away on vacations.The girl I wanted to meet went on vacation.

Apostrophe

An apostrophe, or in common parlance a comma (in English it is placed at the top) goes together with the letter s in all cases of using the possessive case, except plural objects and things, is formed according to the standard rule (then the apostrophe goes without s):

father's look;

the princess's ring;

men's gloves (man-men);

students" tasks.

Note:

The comma in English is on top when forming the possessive case of proper names ending with a letter -s, you can use both options:

King Charles's wife/ King Charles' wife.

Used in abbreviated forms to indicate missing letters or numbers:

I"m - I am;

he "s - he is / has;

"86 - 1986.

The apostrophe is placed together with the letter -s when forming the plural of letters, numbers or abbreviations (with numbers and capital letters the apostrophe can be omitted):

In the 1970's /the 1970s;

VIP's / VIPs;

He could not distinguish his L's. He did not clearly pronounce the letter L.

Separation upon handling

The comma in English when addressed is used in the English dialect (in the American dialect a colon is used) when preparing business correspondence, as well as in simple everyday speech.

Dear Mr. Frendick, We have received your letter...

Used in official or business correspondence after the last phrases of the greeting, separating it from the surname and position (between which there is no punctuation):

Yours faithfully, / Yours sincerely, Ranason-.Ltd.A. Simpson Manager.

A comma is used in addresses on an envelope or in the upper zone of a letter (above the text), emphasizing the addressee's last name / organization name / address / (a ​​comma is not required between house numbers and street names):

Stephen P. Denny, 5678 Starling Avenue, Harlem, L.A. 10857.

Also used to separate explanatory words from direct speech if there is no other punctuation:

"How were you?" Nick asked. "He was ok," she replied. "Do you still hurt?" he asked. "No", she said, "not much." He said, "I am not aware."

Comma for introductory phrases and other words

There is no comma before because in English.

He can't get into the house because she had lost the keys.

Because he was strange, I broke up with him.Because he was strange, I broke up with him.

Comma in English after so, well, however, probably, certainly, naturally)

In fact, I had a little chance to do it.

Probably, Tom would come to Paris at 8 pm.

In the presence of those having a participle or gerund:

Heartbroken, he has gone to his cottage.Heartbroken, she went to the cottage.

Used before the word for , if it comes as a conjunction (secondary clauses joined by this conjunction extremely rarely go ahead of the main one):

I begged her to be there, for I had some information to tell her.I asked her to be there because I needed to tell her some information.

I Could tell about this woman, for I had seen him before.I could talk about this woman because I have seen her before.

Features of use

This is just a fraction of the rules that need to be used in everyday life. And this has always helped to be on top when communicating with educated people and, without hesitation, to make contact and discuss topics on forums.

In the English language, or more precisely, in the American dialect used in the United States, everything is much simpler. Americans do not pay as much attention to this grammatical issue as, for example, in Russian grammar.

The fact is that two different teachers can tell you different rules about the correct use of a comma in an English sentence, and both may be right. And all because in America there is no strict, organized system for using commas. But still, there are general rules by adhering to which a person can gain basic knowledge about English punctuation.

Conclusion

In standard English, the comma is a multifunctional punctuation mark, and its modern use is an example of not only transformations in the use of punctuation, but also how the entire target concept of what counts as a normative sentence in English is being modified. Until the very end of the 19th century, authors and writers used a semicolon where a single comma is now usually used, and a comma in cases where no punctuation is now required at all. Throughout the 20th century, dramatic changes have occurred in the punctuation rules of modern English.

Listed below are the main cases in which commas should be used, i.e. those cases when a comma is required in English:

1. A comma must be placed if 2 independent subordinate clauses are connected using one of the following linking words: and, not, for, but, yet, or, so. Each independent clause can be a separate clause. When at least 2 such sentences are combined into one sentence using any of the above words, a comma is used to separate them. But, if these sentences are quite short, then a comma may not be used, as for example - I was swimming and caught a cold (I swam and caught a cold).

Paul wanted to say something, but he was interrupted. – Paul wanted to say something, but he was interrupted.

2. A comma in English is used when listing 3 or more items.

I brought skates, skis, ski poles. – He brought skates, skis, ski poles.

3. When there are 2 or more adjectives that describe an object or person.

Example: My mother is a beautiful, kind woman. – My mother is a beautiful, kind woman.

4. If we put a dependent subordinate clause before the main clause.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot be used separately from the main clause.

For example:

Unless you are rested, we are not going anywhere. “Until you rest, we won’t go anywhere.”

Because it was cold, we did not go out of town. – Since it was cold, we didn’t go out of town

5. A comma is used when providing additional information about an object or person (adjective clause)

For example: Jorge, who is a clever man, answered this question. – Jschrj, a smart man, answered this question.

6. When asking a direct question or quoting.

For example: Helen said, “I want some juce.” – Helen said I want to drink juice.

7. If you want to draw the attention of another person to something.

For example:

Golf, Jorge, is a very interesting game – Golf, Jorge, this is a very interesting game

You, sir, are not very smart. -You, sir, are not very smart.

8. When using connecting words such as: therefore(therefore, therefore) consequently(as a result, as a result), etc.

For example:

Mary didn't go to geography lessons. Therefore, she didn’t say where the northern part of the country is. Mary didn’t go to geography lessons, so she didn’t say where the northern part of the country is.

9. When highlighting an address, just as we do in Russian:

John, where's your bookbag? - John, where is your briefcase?

10. A comma is also placed before the signature in a letter after the last phrase, such as Sincerely yours (Sincerely yours); Yours faithfully - devoted to you, etc.:

For example:

Sincerely yours, - Sincerely yours,

George. George.

11. Sometimes a comma is used when writing multi-digit numbers or dates:

11.1. to designate cardinal numbers using numbers, every 3 digits (from right to left) must be separated by a comma: 4.564; 3,873,000. Although in mathematics, according to the SI system, instead of a comma after every three digits, spaces are placed: 4,625; 5,531,000;

11.2. When writing dates, you can use a comma to separate the date from the year. Eg:

11.3. A comma is not used in writing dates if there is already another comma nearby. Example:

We´ll go to New York on Tuesday, - We will go to New York on Tuesday,

12. You should never put a punctuation mark in indirect speech after the following verbs: to say, to tell, etc.:

My mother said that I could not go to this lesson. – My mother said that I cannot go to this lesson.

Our teacher told that the lesson was over - Our teacher said that the lesson was over.

13. A comma in English is placed before direct speech immediately after introductory words, whereas in Russian in this case it would be necessary to put a colon:

My brother said, ‘I’ll be at home at 6’. “My brother said: “I’ll come home at six.”

Punctuation marks in English are used less frequently than in Russian. Let us recall that punctuation marks are special elements of writing that serve to indicate in writing the formal grammatical, semantic and intonation division of speech.
In English, the same punctuation marks are used as in Russian: for example, a period, a question mark, an exclamation mark are placed at the end. Quotations are used to highlight direct speech and quotations.
In both languages, the placement of punctuation marks in the text is governed by certain rules, but in English these rules are less strict. Good punctuation is the ability to do right choice in the right place so that the reader can best understand the author's intonation.

Let's take a closer look at the rules for using each sign:

Full Stop - English / Period - American - dot

1. at the end of a declarative sentence:
Wasn't there.
I study English.

2. when abbreviating words:
etc. - from Latin et cetera - and so on
co. - company - company
i.e. - from the Latin id est - that is
e.g. - from Latin exempli gratia - for example

3. at the end of an interrogative sentence in the form of a request:
Could you give me this book.

4. abbreviations (shortened words):
Dr or Dr. - doctor, doctor
Mr or Mr. - mister, master
Mrs or Mrs. - mistress, mistress
Prof. -Professor Nov. -November

5. When abbreviating the names of countries or organizations, it is possible to use abbreviations with or without a period.
USA or U.S.A.
U.K. - United Kingdom

Note 1:
The period is not used in acronyms (words consisting of the initial letters of other words or parts of words): NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

Note 2:
if a sentence ends with an abbreviation indicated by a dot, then the same dot serves to complete the entire sentence.

6. in decimals an integer is separated from a fraction by a dot (unlike the Russian language).
The dot is read point . Zero - thought.
If an integer is zero, then it is often unreadable.
0.25 - thoughtless point two five or point two five.
57.5
0.0001
.45

7. to separate larger and smaller monetary units of one system: $10.75

8. when indicating time, separating hours and minutes: 6.45 a.m. - English 6:45 a.m. - Amer.

Comma - Comma

The difference between English and Russian with regard to punctuation marks is manifested mainly in the use of the comma (the comma). Main cases:

Separate with a comma:

1. adverbial subordinate clauses, if they are at the beginning of the sentence before the main one. If the subordinate clause follows the main clause, then it is not separated by a comma:
When it was convenient for him, he went to the office.
Cp. We worked overtime whenever it was necessary.

2. participial and absolute phrases at the beginning of a sentence:
The rain having stopped, we went for a walk.
A doctor, called to the scene, exam¬ined the injured man.

3. introductory infinitive constructions, if the infinitive construction performs the function of the subject, then it is not separated by a comma:
Then become a doctor was his dream.
Wed. That be successful, one must work hard.

4. after introductory words or expressions to separate them from the rest of the sentence:
Well, I like this.
By the way, I also need money.
However, nobody drank much.

5. is put in cases where there is a possibility of misperception of the meaning of the sentence:
As the police car pulled up, the crowd surged forward(without the comma, you would think that the car crashed into the crowd)
After a period of calm, college students have begun to demonstrate again(without a comma, the word college could be classified as calm)

6. if the word also is at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis (in other cases also is not separated by a comma):
Also, we noticed that the prices were going up.
We also noticed that the prices were going up.

7. to separate any part of a sentence containing additional information (but: if such part of the sentence is in the nature of an explanation or clarification, a comma is not used):
Yesterday I met John, who told me he was getting married.
A widow is a woman whose husband is dead.

8. to indicate words missing in the text:
Fishing forms a quiet man; hunting, an eager man; gambling, a greedy man.

9. a number of homogeneous definitions:
Red, pink, yellow and white flowers filled the vases.

10. parts of complex sentences connected by one of the coordinating conjunctions and, but, for, or, nor, while (meaning but):
I dictated the letter, but she didn’t put it down correctly.

When there is no coordinating conjunction, but parts of a complex sentence are common and have their own punctuation marks, a semicolon or period is preferable.
Unexpanded parts of complex sentences, even if there is a conjunction, are not separated by a comma.

11. words expressing oppositions:
I asked you to fill the document, not to destroy it.
Children should be seen, but not heard.

12. to separate the interrogative part in dividing questions:
You saw this film, didn't you?
They haven't come today, have they?

13. before the words too and either, if they mean too/also:
Hasn't been to London, too.

14. in dates to separate the day and month from the year:
Was not born June 14, 1940.
April 8, 1872
Moscow, July 12, 1972

15. in large numbers:
$1,000 a year / 1,767 / 2,565,727

16. in the English version (in the American version a colon is used) when preparing business correspondence after requests:
Dear Mr. Johnson, I have received your letter... - English.
Dear Sir:
I have received your letter... - Amer.

17. to separate explanatory words from direct speech, if there are no other punctuation marks:
He asked, "How long will it take you."

Commas are not separated:

1. words in city addresses: 115 Oxford Street

2. when designating pages, years: page 15 / in the year 1986

3. subordinate clauses, when they come after the main clause:
I had to finish my work earlier to help mother.
It is important that you should be here tomorrow.
Our advice is that you should not smoke.

4. between the subject and the predicate, when the information is mandatory, not additional:
The driver who helped me that morning insisted that he knew me.
The girl with whom he fell in love left him after a few weeks.

Semicolon - Semicolon
The semicolon is used in formal writing, which contains many long sentences and syntactically complex structures.

Colon - Colon
A colon is used before listing and explanation. If after a colon follows full offer, then the first word of such a sentence is written with a capital letter:
Breakfast: Picking up the remaining chicken bite from the sofa. Knock it onto the carpet and bat it under the television set.

Note: If the list of listed items is arranged in a column, each new line must begin with a capital letter, and no punctuation mark is placed after each item.

Dashes - Dash
A dash is placed before the listing of homogeneous members, with a generalizing word:
We bought some new crockery - cups, saucers, plates, dishes.

Apostrophe - Apostrophe

1. in cases of using the possessive case:
mother's hat
students" books

Note: when forming the possessive case from proper names ending with the letter -s, you can use both options:
King Charles "s crown / King Charles" crown

2. to indicate missing letters or numbers:
I"m
he's
"87
don't

3. to indicate the plural of letters, numbers or abbreviations:
In the 1980's
VIP's
I can't distinguish his L's.

Direct speech and punctuation marks

When speaking directly, the punctuation mark is placed inside the quotation marks (in Russian, a period and a comma are placed after the quotation marks).

You can use single quotes " " or double quotes "" "". Double quotes are more common in handwritten materials.
When direct speech consists only of the quotation itself, all other punctuation marks are placed inside quotation marks:
“How come I don"t get any eggs and bacon? Why don"t I have any milk in my cereal?”
When direct speech, which is a sentence, follows a quotation, we place a comma before closing the quotation marks. If a quotation ends with a question mark or exclamation mark, then these marks are also placed before the closing quotation marks.
"That's right," the guard said.
"That"s not her, I told you!" he shouted, pointing at the drawing.

When direct speech is used, a colon is placed before the quotation. The quote itself begins with a capital letter:
Guy said the first: "I wonder how deep it is?"

When a quotation is divided into two parts by direct speech: put a comma at the end of the first part of the quotation, and then the closing quotation marks. Next - again a comma at the end of the sentence introducing the second part of the quote. After this, we put quotation marks to open the second part of the quote, which is no longer capitalized:
"But I can assure you, Ginny," he added, "that you couldn't do better than Vogel."

When a quotation is formed by two complete sentences, a period is placed after the words introducing direct speech, and the second part of the quotation begins with a capital letter:
“Well,” his mother says. “I saw you kick a chicken, so you don"t get any eggs.

When the end of a quotation represents the end of the entire structure of direct speech, any final punctuation mark (period, question mark, exclamation mark) is placed before the closing quotation marks:
She didn't return his affection, but said: "I have had to make an important decision."
He said only, "May I walk home with you?"

Transmitting other people's thoughts

Sometimes we also report thoughts using the structure of indirect speech; quotation marks are not used:
Why did I marry so quickly, so foolishly, she thought to herself.
What would he say, she wondered, if he could see that now?