| Open structure | equal clauses: a series of events or states; you can add another | Зашумі́в ліс, заспіва́ли пти́ці, задзвені́ли струмки́. | The forest began to rustle, the birds began to sing, the brooks began to babble. |
| Closed structure | two clauses depend on each other: condition, contrast, time | Він мовча́в — вона́ говори́ла за двох. | He was silent, and she spoke for both. |
| Comma, semicolon | sequence or simultaneity; a semicolon when the clauses already contain commas | Со́нце сі́ло, не́бо поги́сло; у селі́ засвіти́лися ві́кна. | The sun set, the sky went dark; in the village, windows lit up. |
| Dash | result, condition, contrast, time | Пові́яв ві́тер — посипа́лося ли́стя. | A wind blew up, and the leaves came falling down. |
| Colon | the second clause explains the first or gives the reason | Усе́ було́ я́сно: вони́ програ́ли. | It was all clear: they had lost. |
| C2Short clauses | по́тім and тоді́ show the sequence, and the mark stays a comma | Споча́тку впа́ли сніги́, по́тім вда́рили моро́зи. | First the snow fell, then the frosts set in. |
| C2Omitted verb | in the second clause a dash stands in its place | У лі́сі гриби́, на лу́зі — кві́ти. | In the forest there are mushrooms, in the meadow flowers. |
| C2Choosing the mark | і (and): comma; то (then), але́ (but): dash; тому́ що (because): colon | Ля́жеш пі́зно — вра́нці не вста́неш. | Go to bed late, and you won't get up in the morning. |
| Trap | a reason takes a colon, not a comma | Ми не пішли́ гуля́ти: надво́рі було́ сли́зько. | We didn't go for a walk: it was slippery outside. |
| C2Trap | when the second clause has no verb, do not forget the dash | У лі́сі гриби́, на лу́зі — кві́ти. | In the forest there are mushrooms, in the meadow flowers. |