Intonation joins the clauses: a comma or semicolon marks a series, a dash a result, condition or contrast, and a colon an explanation. The mark between the clauses shows how they relate: Пові́яв ві́тер — посипа́лося ли́стя. Ми не пішли́ гуля́ти: надво́рі було́ сли́зько.
No information at the current level. This view starts at C1: choose C1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at C1: choose C1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetC1–C2
| Point | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | C1 |
| 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. | C1 |
| 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. | C1 |
| Dash | result, condition, contrast, time | Пові́яв ві́тер — посипа́лося ли́стя. | A wind blew up, and the leaves came falling down. | C1 |
| Colon | the second clause explains the first or gives the reason | Усе́ було́ я́сно: вони́ програ́ли. | It was all clear: they had lost. | C1 |
| Short 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. | C2 |
| Omitted 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. | C2 |
| Choosing 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. | C2 |
| 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. | C1 |
| Trap | 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. | C2 |
OverviewC1
- Without a conjunction, intonation joins the clauses, and in writing a punctuation mark does. Зашумі́в ліс, заспіва́ли пти́ці.The forest began to rustle, the birds began to sing.
- The same relations with conjunctions: Conjunctions, When and If: коли, якщо, якби.
Structure: open and closedC1
| Structure | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| open: the clauses are equal, a series of events or states, and 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. | C1 |
| closed: two clauses depend on each other, and the second states a condition, contrast or time | Не бу́де дощу́ — не бу́де врожа́ю. | If there is no rain, there will be no harvest. | C1 |
Relations between clauses and marksC1
| Relation | Mark | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sequence, simultaneity | comma | Зашумі́в ліс, заспіва́ли пти́ці. | The forest began to rustle, the birds began to sing. | C1 |
| the same, when the clauses already contain commas | semicolon | Со́нце сі́ло, не́бо поги́сло; у селі́ засвіти́лися ві́кна. | The sun set, the sky went dark; in the village, windows lit up. | C1 |
| result | dash | Пові́яв ві́тер — посипа́лося ли́стя. | A wind blew up, and the leaves came falling down. | C1 |
| condition | dash | Не бу́де дощу́ — не бу́де врожа́ю. | If there is no rain, there will be no harvest. | C1 |
| contrast | dash | Він мовча́в — вона́ говори́ла за двох. | He was silent, and she spoke for both. | C1 |
| time | dash | Мине́ зима́ — прийде́ весна́. | When winter passes, spring will come. | C1 |
| explanation, reason | colon | Ми не пішли́ гуля́ти: надво́рі було́ сли́зько. | We didn't go for a walk: it was slippery outside. | C1 |
Short clauses and omitted verbsC2
| Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| open structure with short clauses: по́тім and тоді́ show the sequence, and the mark is a comma | Споча́тку впа́ли сніги́, по́тім вда́рили моро́зи. | First the snow fell, then the frosts set in. | C2 |
| closed structure with parallel clauses: a dash stands where the verb of the second clause is omitted | У лі́сі гриби́, на лу́зі — кві́ти. | In the forest there are mushrooms, in the meadow flowers. | C2 |
- The omitted verb is easy to restore from the first clause, so a dash replaces it.
Choosing the markC2
| Mark | You can insert | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| comma | і | Ві́тер ущу́х, хма́ри розійшли́ся. | The wind died down, the clouds parted. | C2 |
| dash | то (condition), але́ (contrast), тому́ (result), коли́ (time) | Ля́жеш пі́зно — вра́нці не вста́неш. | Go to bed late, and you won't get up in the morning. | C2 |
| colon | а са́ме, тому́ що | Усе́ було́ я́сно: вони́ програ́ли. | It was all clear: they had lost. | C2 |
- The conjunction that fits the meaning tells you the mark; you do not write it in the sentence.
Proverbs as modelsC2
| Relation | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| condition: dash | Тихі́ше ї́деш — да́лі бу́деш. | Go slower, and you will get farther. | C2 |
| condition: dash | Лю́биш ката́тися — лю́би й са́ночки вози́ти. | If you love to ride, love to pull the sledge too. | C2 |
| explanation: colon, and a condition in the second part: dash | Сло́во не горобе́ць: ви́летить — не пійма́єш. | A word is not a sparrow: once it flies out, you will not catch it. | C2 |
Typical errorsC1–C2
| Wrong | Right | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Не бу́де дощу́, не бу́де врожа́ю. | Не бу́де дощу́ — не бу́де врожа́ю. | between clauses expressing a condition, we put a dash, not a comma | C1 |
| Ми не пішли́ гуля́ти, надво́рі було́ сли́зько. | Ми не пішли́ гуля́ти: надво́рі було́ сли́зько. | the second clause gives the reason: we put a colon, not a comma | C1 |
| У лі́сі гриби́, на лу́зі кві́ти. | У лі́сі гриби́, на лу́зі — кві́ти. | a dash stands where the verb is omitted | C2 |