Isolated inconsistent definitions. Separation of inconsistent definitions

The inconsistent definition often causes punctuation difficulties. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is not always easy to distinguish it from the agreed one, which will be separated by a comma. hard to find good text, in which there are no these members of the sentence, because their use enriches speech. However, agreed and inconsistent definitions, examples of which are presented below, are an attribute only of written speech.

Secondary members of the sentence explain the main ones, but can also refer to the same minor ones. If they complement the grammatical basis, they will be called secondary members of the subject or predicate group.

For example:

The high, cloudless sky completely occupied the horizon.

The subject is the sky. Its group: the definitions are high, cloudless. The predicate - occupied. His group: addition horizon, circumstance completely.

Definition, addition, circumstance - these are the three minor members of the sentence. To determine which of them is used in a sentence, you need to ask a question and determine the part of speech. So, additions are most often nouns or pronouns in indirect cases. Definitions - adjectives and parts of speech close to them (pronouns, participles, ordinal numbers, also nouns). Circumstances are adverbs or participles, as well as nouns.

Sometimes there is ambiguity minor member: He answers two questions at the same time. As an example, consider the sentence:

The train to Omsk left without delay.

The secondary member to Omsk can act as a circumstance (train (where?) to Omsk) or as a definition (train (what?) to Omsk).

Another example:

Snow lies on spruce paws.

The secondary member on the paws is both a circumstance (lies (where?) on the paws) and an addition (lies (on what?) on the paws).

What is definition

Definition - such a secondary member of the sentence, to which you can ask questions: “What?”, “What?”, “What?”, “What?”, “Whose?”

Distinguish agreed and inconsistent definitions. Gradation depends on how this member of the sentence is expressed.

A definition can be an adjective, a noun, a numeral, a pronoun, a participle, and even an infinitive. They extend the subject, object, and circumstance.

For example:

The last leaves hung from the frozen branches.

The definition of the latter refers to the subject leaflets; the definition of frozen refers to the addition-circumstance on the branches.

Sometimes these minor members of the sentence can carry the main semantic load of the subject and be included in its composition.

For example:

A villager does not like to get out into a stuffy city.

Here the role of the definition village is very interesting, without which the subject inhabitant would not make sense. That is why it will be part of the main member of the proposal. Thus, in this example subject - village dweller.

Semantic functions of definitions

Both agreed and non-agreed definitions can express the following meanings:

1. item quality ( Nice dress, interesting book).
2. Quality of action (opened door, thinking student).
3. Place (forest fire - fire in the forest).
4. Time (December holidays - holidays in December).
5. Attitude to another object (clay vase - clay vase).
6. Affiliation ( maternal heart mother's heart).

Agreed Definition

Definitions agreed may act following parts speeches:

• Adjective name (children's toy, deep lake).
• Pronoun (your car, a certain amount).
• Communion (meowing kitten, waving flag).
• Numerals (eighteenth fighter, first student).

Between this definition and the word to which it refers, there is an agreement in gender, number and case.

Our majestic history spans twenty centuries.

Here are the following agreed definitions:

History (whose?) Ours - pronoun;

History (what?) majestic - adjective;

Centuries (how many?) Twenty - numeral.

As a rule, the agreed definition in the sentence is before the word to which it refers.

Definition inconsistent

Another, more expressive kind is the inconsistent definition. They can be the following parts of speech:

1. Nouns with or without a preposition.

2. Adjectives in comparative degree.

3. Verb-infinitive.

Let's analyze a sentence with an inconsistent definition:

The meeting with classmates will take place on Friday.

Meeting (what?) With classmates. An inconsistent definition with classmates is expressed by a noun with a preposition.

Next example:

I have never met a friendlier person than you.

The inconsistent definition is expressed by the comparative degree of the adjective: a person (which one?) Is more friendly.

Let's analyze the sentence, where the definition is expressed by the infinitive:

I had great opportunity come to the beach every morning.

There was an opportunity (what?) to come - this is an inconsistent definition.

The examples of sentences discussed above allow us to conclude that this type of definition is most often found after the word to which it refers.

How to distinguish an agreed definition from a non-agreed one

In order not to get confused about which definition is in the sentence, you can follow the algorithm:

1. Find out what part of speech the definition is.
2. Look at the type of connection between the definition and the word to which it refers (agreement - an agreed definition, control and adjacency - an inconsistent definition). Examples: meowing kitten - connection agreement, definition meowing - agreed; a box made of wood - communication control, the definition of wood is inconsistent.
3. Pay attention to where the definition is in relation to the main word. Most often, the main word is preceded by an agreed definition, and after it, an inconsistent definition. Examples: a meeting (what?) with investors - the definition is inconsistent, it is after the main word; deep ravine - the definition is agreed, it stands after the main word.
4. If the definition is expressed by a stable combination or phraseological turn, it will certainly be inconsistent: it was (what?) neither fish nor meat. Phraseologism neither fish nor meat acts as an inconsistent definition.

A table will help distinguish between agreed and inconsistent definitions.

The concept of isolation

Situations often arise when in a sentence there are separate agreed and inconsistent definitions that require separation by appropriate punctuation marks (commas or dashes). Separation always implies two identical punctuation marks, it should not be confused, for example, with commas with homogeneous members, where single commas are used. In addition, the use of two different characters in isolation is a gross mistake, which indicates a misunderstanding of this linguistic phenomenon.

Separating agreed definitions with commas is a more frequent phenomenon than separating inconsistent ones. To determine whether a comma is necessary, you need to pay attention to two aspects:

• The position of a separate definition in relation to the word being defined.
• How are the members of the sentence participating in the isolation expressed (the definition itself and the word being defined): history (what?) majestic - adjective; centuries (how many?) twenty - numeral.

Separation of agreed definitions

If the agreed definition is after the word being defined, it must be separated by commas if:

1. It is a participle. For example: A basket of mushrooms, collected the day before, stood in the cellar. Here, the isolated definition collected the day before is a participle turnover, which is located after the word basket being defined.
2. It is an adjective with dependent words. For example: Through the glass, crystal clear, you could see everything that was happening in the yard. Here, the definition of crystal clear is an adjective (pure) and its dependent word (crystal). It is required to put commas, because this revolution is located after the word glass, which is being defined.
3. Definitions are necessarily separated if there is another definition before the word being defined. For example: Autumn days, bright and sunny, soon faded away. The definition of autumn is in front of the defined word days, respectively, the definition of bright and sunny must be separated by commas.
4. Definitions are not common, they are in the sentence after the word being defined. Eg: South night, black and warm, was full of mysterious sounds. The definition black and warm are two uncommon adjectives connected by the union and. There may be such an option: the southern night, black, warm, was full of mysterious sounds. In this example, the union is absent, but the definition is still isolated.

In the latter case, you need to be more careful, because there are situations when the definition is closely related in meaning to the word to which it refers, so it is not required to separate it with commas. For example:

In a country far from home, loneliness is somehow felt in a special way.

The definition far from home should not be separated by commas, because without it the meaning of the sentence is not clear.

Separation of the agreed definition, which is before the word being defined, is necessary if it has the meaning of cause or concession. For example:

Exhausted by the difficult transition, the tourists were glad to set up camp.

In this case, the definition exhausted by a long transition is isolated, because it is used in the sense of a reason: since the tourists were exhausted by a difficult transition, they were glad to set up camp. Another example:

Not yet greened, the trees are elegant and festive.

Here the definition has a concession that has not yet been planted with greenery: despite the fact that the trees have not yet been planted with greenery, they are elegant and festive.

Separation of inconsistent definitions

Separate inconsistent definitions are a rather rare phenomenon. Usually they are paired with matched ones. Thus, isolated inconsistent definitions are usually used after the word being defined and are associated with the agreed connection by agreement.

For example:

This coat, new, ribbed, suited Natasha very well.

In this example, the inconsistent ribbed definition is related to the agreed new definition, so it needs to be isolated.

Here is another sentence with a separate, inconsistent definition:

Quite by accident we met Andrey, in the dust, tired.

In this case, the inconsistent definition in the dust is related to the consistent definition of tired, so commas are required.

It is not necessary to separate with commas the cases when there are isolated inconsistent definitions before the agreed one. Examples:

From a distance we saw sailors in pressed uniforms, happy and contented.

In this case, it is possible not to isolate the inconsistent definition in a smoothed form, because after it there are agreed: happy, satisfied.

IN classical literature one can meet both non-isolated and isolated inconsistent definitions. Examples:

Two stearin candles, in travel silver chandeliers, burned in front of him. (Turgenev I.S.) and Three soldiers in overcoats, with guns on their shoulders, walked in step to replace the company box (Tolstoy L.N.).

In a sentence from Turgenev's work, the inconsistent definition in travel silver chandeliers is isolated, but Tolstoy's sentence of the same construction is not. In the latter there are no punctuation marks in the definitions in overcoats, with guns.

As a rule, inconsistent definitions related to the predicate group are not isolated. Let's look at the last example: they walked (how? in what?) with guns, in overcoats.

Application as a special kind of definition

A special kind of definition is an application. It is always expressed by a noun. Applications and inconsistent definitions should be distinguished. The latter are associated with the word being defined by means of control, while between the application and the main word there is an agreement.

For example, let's compare two sentences:

1. You, as the chief engineer, must oversee this project.

2. This woman in a white coat made the guys grumble.

In the first case, we have an application engineer. Let us prove this by declining the main and the definition of the word. You are an engineer - you are an engineer - you are an engineer - you are an engineer, etc. The connection between the words is clearly visible agreement, respectively, we have an application. Let's try to do the same with the definition from the second sentence. A woman in a white coat - a woman in a white coat - a woman in a white coat. Communication is control, so here we observe an inconsistent definition.

In addition, the application simply names the subject differently, while the inconsistent definition is some kind of its sign.

Application isolation

A single application, as a rule, is written with a hyphen: hostess sister, lord commander. In certain cases, the application will stand apart. Let's sort them out.

The application that refers to the personal pronoun is separated. Examples:

1. Does she, an excellent student, take care of the control.

Here the application of an excellent student refers to the pronoun to her.

2. Here it is, the reason.

We isolate the application reason, because it refers to the pronoun she.

A common application is isolated if it is located after the word being defined. Examples:

1. A brave captain, a thunderstorm of the seas, easily passed any reefs.

The thunderstorm application is a common one (thunderstorm (what?) of the seas), so you need to separate it with commas.

2. The girl, everyone's favorite, received the best gift.

The application universal favorite is used after the word girl being defined.

Applications are separated with the meaning of reason, concession, clarification (with it there is a union like). Example:

You, as an investor, can control the work of employees. - You can control the work of subordinates because you are an investor (reason value).

Here you need to be careful, because the application with the union as in the meaning of "as" is not isolated. For example:

How school discipline mathematics develops well logical thinking. - As a school discipline, mathematics develops logical thinking well. Separation is not needed.

If standalone application located at the end of a sentence - it can be distinguished with a dash. For example:

The rest of the sisters are similar to each other - Elizabeth and Sophia.

The application Elizabeth and Sophia is at the end of the sentence, so a dash is separated.

Separate agreed definitions

1. As a rule, common definitions are isolated, expressed by a participle or an adjective with words dependent on them and standing after the noun being defined, for example: A cloud hanging over high peaks poplars, it was already raining (Kor.); Sciences alien to music were disgusting to me (P.).

Definitions of this type are not isolated if the noun being defined in itself in this sentence does not lexically express desired concept and needs a definition, for example: I have not seen a person more exquisitely calm, self-confident and autocratic (T.).

Common post-positive definitions are also not isolated if, in meaning, they are connected not only with the subject, but also with the predicate, for example: I sat immersed in deep thought (P.); The taiga stood silent and full of mystery (Kor.). This usually happens with verbs of motion and state that can act as a significant connective.

2. Two or more post-positive single definitions are isolated, explaining the noun, for example: In the air, sultry and dusty, a thousand-voiced dialect (M. G.).

However, the separation of two uncommon definitions is necessary only when the noun being defined is preceded by another definition. Wed: I want to know the secrets of a wise and simple life (Bruce). - Spring spirit, cheerful and dissolute, went everywhere (Bagr.).

3. A single post-positive definition is isolated if it has an additional circumstantial meaning, for example: People, amazed, became like stones (M. G.).

4. The definition is isolated if it is torn off from the noun being defined by other members of the sentence; in these cases, the definition in meaning is also connected with the predicate and has an additional adverbial connotation. For example: Here, alarmed by a whirlwind, a corncrake flew out of the grass (Ch.); Sun-drenched, buckwheat and wheat fields lay behind the river (Shol.).

5. The definition immediately before the noun being defined is isolated if, in addition to the attributive, it also has a circumstantial value (causal, conditional, concessive), for example: Growing up in poverty and hunger, Paul was hostile to those who were rich in his understanding (I. Ostr.); Cut off from the whole world, the Urals withstood the Cossack siege with honor (Furm.).

6. Definitions related to the personal pronoun are always isolated; such definitions are attributive-predicative in nature and have an additional circumstantial value. For example: Exhausted, dirty, wet, we finally reached the shore (T.); How, poor thing, should I not grieve? (Cr.).

Separate inconsistent definitions

1. Inconsistent definitions, expressed by indirect cases of nouns, are isolated if it is necessary to emphasize the meaning they express, for example: The headman, in boots and an army jacket, with a cloak in his hand, noticing the priest from afar, took off his bright hat (L. T.).

Most often, inconsistent definitions are isolated with a proper name, since it, being the bearer of an individual name, in itself quite specifically designates a person or object, and an indication of a sign in this case has the character of an additional message clarifying the indication, for example: Shabashkin, with a cap on his head , stood akimbo and proudly looked around him (P.).

The same is observed with personal pronouns that indicate an object or person already known from the context, for example: He, with his mind and experience, could already notice that she distinguished him (P.).

Often the isolation of an inconsistent definition serves as a means of deliberately separating it from one member of the sentence (usually the predicate), to which it could be related in meaning and syntactically, and referring to another (usually the subject), for example: Baba, with a long rake in their hands, wander in the field (T.).

2. Usually, inconsistent post-positive definitions are separated, expressed by the comparative degree of the adjective; in these cases, the commonly defined noun is preceded by an agreed definition. For example: Another room, almost twice as large, was called the hall ... (Ch.).

Standalone Applications

Separate applications in some cases have a purely attributive meaning, in others adverbial shades of meaning are attached to it, which is associated with the degree of prevalence of a separate construction, its place in relation to the word being defined, and the morphological nature of the latter.

1. A common application is isolated, expressed by a common noun with dependent words and related to a common noun; such applications are usually postpositive, less often they occur in the prepositive position. For example: a) On the trash, always with a pipe in his teeth, lies a hospital watchman, an old retired soldier (Ch.); b) Unfortunately faithful sister, hope in a gloomy dungeon will awaken cheerfulness and fun (P.);

2. A single application related to a common noun is isolated if the noun being defined has explanatory words with it, for example: One girl took care of me, a polka (M. G.).

Less commonly, an uncommon application is isolated with a single definable noun, for example: And the enemies, fools, think that we are afraid of death (Fad.).

3. An application related to a proper name is isolated if it is in a postposition; a prepositive application is isolated if it has an additional adverbial value. For example: a) Lies under a mound overgrown with weeds, sailor Zheleznyak, partisan (Utk.); b) An admirer of Bach and Handel, an expert in his field, ...Lemme with time - who knows? - would become one of the great composers of his homeland (T.).

4. Given name persons can act as a separate application if it serves to explain or clarify a common noun (in front of such an application, you can put the words namely, without changing the meaning). For example: The rest of the brothers, Martyn and Prokhor, are similar to Alexei (Shol.) to the smallest detail.

5. The application is always isolated with a personal pronoun, for example: It's a shame for me, an old man, to listen to such speeches (M. G.).

6. A separate application may refer to a word that is missing in this sentence, but clear from the context or situation, for example: The child herself, did not want to play and jump in a crowd of children (P.).

7. A separate application can be joined by a union like (with a causal meaning), words by name, surname, nickname, family, etc. For example: The commandant friendly advised me to leave poetry, as it is contrary to the service and does not lead to anything good (P.); At the gatehouse there was a huge black dog of an unknown breed, named Arapka (Ch.).

The inconsistent definition often causes punctuation difficulties. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is not always easy to distinguish it from the agreed one, which will be separated by a comma. It is difficult to find a good text that does not contain these sentence members, because their use enriches speech. However, agreed and inconsistent definitions, examples of which are presented below, are an attribute only of written speech.

Secondary members of the sentence explain the main ones, but can also refer to the same minor ones. If they complement the grammatical basis, they will be called secondary members of the subject or predicate group.

For example:

The high, cloudless sky completely occupied the horizon.

The subject is the sky. Its group: the definitions are high, cloudless. The predicate - occupied. His group: addition horizon, circumstance completely.

Definition, addition, circumstance - these are the three minor members of the sentence. To determine which of them is used in a sentence, you need to ask a question and determine the part of speech. So, additions are most often nouns or pronouns in indirect cases. Definitions - adjectives and parts of speech close to them (pronouns, participles, ordinal numbers, also nouns). Circumstances are adverbs or participles, as well as nouns.

Sometimes there is a polysemy of the secondary term: it answers two questions at the same time. As an example, consider the sentence:

The train to Omsk left without delay.

The secondary member to Omsk can act as a circumstance (train (where?) to Omsk) or as a definition (train (what?) to Omsk).

Another example:

Snow lies on spruce paws.

The secondary member on the paws is both a circumstance (lies (where?) on the paws) and an addition (lies (on what?) on the paws).

What is definition

Definition - such a secondary member of the sentence, to which you can ask questions: “What?”, “What?”, “What?”, “What?”, “Whose?”

Distinguish agreed and inconsistent definitions. Gradation depends on how this member of the sentence is expressed.

A definition can be an adjective, a noun, a numeral, a pronoun, a participle, and even an infinitive. They extend the subject, object, and circumstance.

For example:

The last leaves hung from the frozen branches.

The definition of the latter refers to the subject leaflets; the definition of frozen refers to the addition-circumstance on the branches.

Sometimes these minor members of the sentence can carry the main semantic load of the subject and be included in its composition.

For example:

A villager does not like to get out into a stuffy city.

Here the role of the definition village is very interesting, without which the subject inhabitant would not make sense. That is why it will be part of the main member of the proposal. Thus, in this example, the subject is a villager.

Semantic functions of definitions

Both agreed and non-agreed definitions can express the following meanings:

1. The quality of the item (beautiful dress, interesting book).
2. Quality of action (opened door, thinking student).
3. Place (forest fire - fire in the forest).
4. Time (December holidays - holidays in December).
5. Attitude to another object (clay vase - clay vase).
6. Belonging (mother's heart - mother's heart).

Agreed Definition

Definitions agreed can act as the following parts of speech:

• Adjective name (children's toy, deep lake).
• Pronoun (your car, a certain amount).
• Communion (meowing kitten, waving flag).
• Numerals (eighteenth fighter, first student).

Between this definition and the word to which it refers, there is an agreement in gender, number and case.

Our majestic history spans twenty centuries.

Here are the following agreed definitions:

History (whose?) Ours - pronoun;

History (what?) majestic - adjective;

Centuries (how many?) Twenty - numeral.

As a rule, the agreed definition in the sentence is before the word to which it refers.

Definition inconsistent

Another, more expressive kind is the inconsistent definition. They can be the following parts of speech:

1. Nouns with or without a preposition.

2. Adjectives in the comparative degree.

3. Verb-infinitive.

Let's analyze a sentence with an inconsistent definition:

The meeting with classmates will take place on Friday.

Meeting (what?) With classmates. An inconsistent definition with classmates is expressed by a noun with a preposition.

Next example:

I have never met a friendlier person than you.

The inconsistent definition is expressed by the comparative degree of the adjective: a person (which one?) Is more friendly.

Let's analyze the sentence, where the definition is expressed by the infinitive:

I had a great opportunity to come to the seashore every morning.

There was an opportunity (what?) to come - this is an inconsistent definition.

The examples of sentences discussed above allow us to conclude that this type of definition is most often found after the word to which it refers.

How to distinguish an agreed definition from a non-agreed one

In order not to get confused about which definition is in the sentence, you can follow the algorithm:

1. Find out what part of speech the definition is.
2. Look at the type of connection between the definition and the word to which it refers (agreement - an agreed definition, control and adjacency - an inconsistent definition). Examples: meowing kitten - connection agreement, definition meowing - agreed; a box made of wood - communication control, the definition of wood is inconsistent.
3. Pay attention to where the definition is in relation to the main word. Most often, the main word is preceded by an agreed definition, and after it, an inconsistent definition. Examples: a meeting (what?) with investors - the definition is inconsistent, it is after the main word; deep ravine - the definition is agreed, it stands after the main word.
4. If the definition is expressed by a stable combination or phraseological phrase, it will certainly be inconsistent: it was (what?) Neither fish nor meat. Phraseologism neither fish nor meat acts as an inconsistent definition.

A table will help distinguish between agreed and inconsistent definitions.

The concept of isolation

Situations often arise when in a sentence there are separate agreed and inconsistent definitions that require separation by appropriate punctuation marks (commas or dashes). Separation always implies two identical punctuation marks, it should not be confused, for example, with commas with homogeneous members, where single commas are used. In addition, the use of two different characters in isolation is a gross mistake, which indicates a misunderstanding of this linguistic phenomenon.

Separating agreed definitions with commas is a more frequent phenomenon than separating inconsistent ones. To determine whether a comma is necessary, you need to pay attention to two aspects:

• The position of a separate definition in relation to the word being defined.
• How are the members of the sentence participating in the isolation expressed (the definition itself and the word being defined): history (what?) majestic - adjective; centuries (how many?) twenty - numeral.

Separation of agreed definitions

If the agreed definition is after the word being defined, it must be separated by commas if:

1. It is a participle. For example: A basket of mushrooms, collected the day before, stood in the cellar. Here, the isolated definition collected the day before is a participle turnover, which is located after the word basket being defined.
2. It is an adjective with dependent words. For example: Through the glass, crystal clear, you could see everything that was happening in the yard. Here, the definition of crystal clear is an adjective (pure) and its dependent word (crystal). It is required to put commas, because this revolution is located after the word glass, which is being defined.
3. Definitions are necessarily separated if there is another definition before the word being defined. For example: Autumn days, bright and sunny, soon faded away. The definition of autumn is in front of the defined word days, respectively, the definition of bright and sunny must be separated by commas.
4. Definitions are not common, they are in the sentence after the word being defined. For example: The southern night, black and warm, was full of mysterious sounds. The definition black and warm are two uncommon adjectives connected by the union and. There may be such an option: the southern night, black, warm, was full of mysterious sounds. In this example, the union is absent, but the definition is still isolated.

In the latter case, you need to be more careful, because there are situations when the definition is closely related in meaning to the word to which it refers, so it is not required to separate it with commas. For example:

In a country far from home, loneliness is somehow felt in a special way.

The definition far from home should not be separated by commas, because without it the meaning of the sentence is not clear.

Separation of the agreed definition, which is before the word being defined, is necessary if it has the meaning of cause or concession. For example:

Exhausted by the difficult transition, the tourists were glad to set up camp.

In this case, the definition exhausted by a long transition is isolated, because it is used in the sense of a reason: since the tourists were exhausted by a difficult transition, they were glad to set up camp. Another example:

Not yet greened, the trees are elegant and festive.

Here the definition has a concession that has not yet been planted with greenery: despite the fact that the trees have not yet been planted with greenery, they are elegant and festive.

Separation of inconsistent definitions

Separate inconsistent definitions are a rather rare phenomenon. Usually they are paired with matched ones. Thus, isolated inconsistent definitions are usually used after the word being defined and are associated with the agreed connection by agreement.

For example:

This coat, new, ribbed, suited Natasha very well.

In this example, the inconsistent ribbed definition is related to the agreed new definition, so it needs to be isolated.

Here is another sentence with a separate, inconsistent definition:

Quite by accident we met Andrey, in the dust, tired.

In this case, the inconsistent definition in the dust is related to the consistent definition of tired, so commas are required.

It is not necessary to separate with commas the cases when there are isolated inconsistent definitions before the agreed one. Examples:

From a distance we saw sailors in pressed uniforms, happy and contented.

In this case, it is possible not to isolate the inconsistent definition in a smoothed form, because after it there are agreed: happy, satisfied.

In classical literature, one can find both non-isolated and isolated inconsistent definitions. Examples:

Two stearin candles, in travel silver chandeliers, burned in front of him. (Turgenev I.S.) and Three soldiers in overcoats, with guns on their shoulders, walked in step to replace the company box (Tolstoy L.N.).

In a sentence from Turgenev's work, the inconsistent definition in travel silver chandeliers is isolated, but Tolstoy's sentence of the same construction is not. In the latter there are no punctuation marks in the definitions in overcoats, with guns.

As a rule, inconsistent definitions related to the predicate group are not isolated. Let's look at the last example: they walked (how? in what?) with guns, in overcoats.

Application as a special kind of definition

A special kind of definition is an application. It is always expressed by a noun. Applications and inconsistent definitions should be distinguished. The latter are associated with the word being defined by means of control, while between the application and the main word there is an agreement.

For example, let's compare two sentences:

1. You, as the chief engineer, must oversee this project.

2. This woman in a white coat made the guys grumble.

In the first case, we have an application engineer. Let us prove this by declining the main and the definition of the word. You are an engineer - you are an engineer - you are an engineer - you are an engineer, etc. The connection between the words is clearly visible agreement, respectively, we have an application. Let's try to do the same with the definition from the second sentence. A woman in a white coat - a woman in a white coat - a woman in a white coat. Communication is control, so here we observe an inconsistent definition.

In addition, the application simply names the subject differently, while the inconsistent definition is some kind of its sign.

Application isolation

A single application, as a rule, is written with a hyphen: hostess sister, lord commander. In certain cases, the application will stand apart. Let's sort them out.

The application that refers to the personal pronoun is separated. Examples:

1. Does she, an excellent student, take care of the control.

Here the application of an excellent student refers to the pronoun to her.

2. Here it is, the reason.

We isolate the application reason, because it refers to the pronoun she.

A common application is isolated if it is located after the word being defined. Examples:

1. A brave captain, a thunderstorm of the seas, easily passed any reefs.

The thunderstorm application is a common one (thunderstorm (what?) of the seas), so you need to separate it with commas.

2. The girl, everyone's favorite, received the best gift.

The application universal favorite is used after the word girl being defined.

Applications are separated with the meaning of reason, concession, clarification (with it there is a union like). Example:

You, as an investor, can control the work of employees. - You can control the work of subordinates because you are an investor (reason value).

Here you need to be careful, because the application with the union as in the meaning of "as" is not isolated. For example:

As a school discipline, mathematics develops logical thinking well. - As a school discipline, mathematics develops logical thinking well. Separation is not needed.

If a separate application is at the end of a sentence, it can be distinguished with a dash. For example:

The rest of the sisters are similar to each other - Elizabeth and Sophia.

The application Elizabeth and Sophia is at the end of the sentence, so a dash is separated.

Isolation(separated by commas) inconsistent definitions also depends on several factors:

a) from the part of speech of the defined (main) word;
b) from the position of the definition in relation to the defined (main) word - before the main word, after the main word;
c) from the presence of additional shades of meaning in the definition (circumstantial, explanatory);
d) on the degree of distribution and the way of expressing the definition.

However, in general, the isolation of inconsistent definitions is less categorical than the isolation of agreed definitions. It occurs in the event that in this context it is required to highlight any feature, to strengthen the meaning expressed by it.

Conditions for separating inconsistent definitions

A) Definition expressed by indirect cases of nouns (more often with prepositions)

1. Noun definitions are isolated if they refer to a personal pronoun:

Today she, in a new blue hood, was especially young and impressively beautiful(M. Gorky).

2. Noun definitions are isolated if they are separated from the defined word by other members of the sentence:

After dessert, everyone moved to the buffet, where, in a black dress with black headband, sitting Carolina(Goncharov).

3. Definitions-nouns are isolated if they form a series homogeneous members preceded or followed by a stand-alone agreed definition:

This crowd people gaily dressed, with tanned faces And with squirrel tails on headdresses, made a strange impression(Arseniev).

4. Definitions-nouns are usually isolated if they refer to a proper name, since they complement, clarify the idea of ​​a person or an object.

Sasha Berezhnova, in a silk dress, in a cap on the back of the head and in a shawl sitting on the couch(Goncharov).

5. Definitions-nouns are usually isolated if they refer to a noun that characterizes a person by the degree of kinship, position, profession, etc. The noun definition in this case gives additional feature face. Such a definition is more common, that is, it contains dependent words. Quite often there are several such definitions.

came out majestically mother, in a lilac dress, in lace, with a long string of pearls around the neck (Goncharov).

Note!

1) When placing punctuation marks, it is very important to correctly determine the type of a minor member expressed by a noun, since it can be not only a definition, but also an addition, a circumstance.

Wed: came out majestically mother, in a lilac dress, in lace. - Mother came out in a lilac dress, in lace.

2) If the inconsistent definition expressed by the noun is isolated, it is distinguished by pauses.

3) The isolation of inconsistent definitions expressed by a noun is often not mandatory, but optional. If the author wants to give an additional characteristic to the person, if the isolation of the definition serves as a way of intentionally separating the turnover from the neighboring predicate, then such a definition is isolated.

women, with a long rake in hand, wandering into the field(Turgenev).

In this case, I.S. Turgenev wanted to emphasize that the turnover with a long rake in hand does not refer to the predicate wander, and to the subject women(“Women with a rake”, not “wandering with a rake”).

4) Separate inconsistent definitions are synonymous with subordinate clauses.

Wed: women, with a long rake in hand, wander in the field. - Women with a rake in their hands, wander in the field.

B) Definition expressed by turnover with the form of the comparative degree of the adjective

1. Inconsistent definitions, expressed by a turnover with the form of the comparative degree of the adjective, are usually isolated, since they are close in meaning to a weakened, secondary predicate. Therefore, such definitions can be replaced subordinate clause or a standalone offer. Such turns usually come after the word being defined and have dependent words:

Force, stronger than his will, threw him out of there(Turgenev). - Wed: This power was stronger than his will. This force threw him out of there.

Often, before the noun being defined, there is another definition, agreed upon. In this case, the definitions have a hint of explanation (meaning "namely"):

short beard, slightly darker hair, slightly shaded the lips and chin(A.K. Tolstoy); Other guys, come on, looked at us with delight(Trifonov).

2. A definition with the form of the comparative degree of an adjective is not isolated if it is closely related to the noun being defined:

But at other times it was not man is more active (Turgenev).

C) Definition expressed by the indefinite form of the verb

1. A definition expressed by the indefinite form of the verb (infinitive) is isolated (using a dash) if it has an explanatory meaning and you can put words in front of it, namely. IN oral speech such infinitive definitions are preceded by a pause:

But this lot is beautiful - to shine and die(Bryusov).

2. The definition expressed by the indefinite form of the verb (infinitive) is not isolated if it forms a single phrase together with the noun. Usually such definitions are in the middle of a sentence and are pronounced without pauses:

Thought marry Olesya more and more often came to my mind(Kuprin).

Note!

1) Infinitive definitions are marked with a dash, not a comma or colon.

2) If a separate definition, expressed by the infinitive, is in the middle of a sentence, then it is separated by a dash on both sides.

Each of them solved this the question is to leave or stay- for yourself, for your loved ones(Ketlinskaya).

But if, according to the conditions of the context, a comma should be after the definition, then the second dash is usually omitted.

Since there was only one choice - lose the army and Moscow or one Moscow, then the field marshal had to choose the last(L. Tolstoy).