Is there a comma before "either"?

The Russian language is as beautiful as it is difficult. And as for foreigners, so sometimes for those who speak it from early childhood. The greatest difficulties arise with a stylistic combination of words, spelling and, of course, punctuation. Many rules are complicated by the fact that they have many nuances and exceptions. For example, a comma before the union "either." A detailed analysis of this rule will be devoted to this article.

What are the alliances in Russian for?

This service part of speech performs a syntactic function, ensuring the connection of words in the sentence. Non-union combinations are also possible, but do not convey many important elements of meaning.

The classification of these parts of speech is very extensive. They are simple and compound, single and double, paired and unpaired, etc. In their function in the sentence are divided into two more groups - the coherent and subordinate. And in meaning they can be divided into more than 15 species, including explanatory, modes of action, goals, connective, adversative, separative and many others. The last of the listed types we will consider in this article. And we will concentrate in detail on one of the examples of separation alliances, as well as the rules of its punctuation.

The meaning of the

By sense this word conveys separation or opposition. A union is used when the situation described excludes the other.

For example, two objects or phenomena are opposed:

She will buy milk or kefir.

Separate or contrast the attributes of any objects:

Either he is brave or crazy.

Often the object of opposition are actions:

Open the door, or we'll break it!

Most likely, you managed to notice that in some of the above examples before the word "either" a comma is put, but in others there is not. What affects this? First of all, the features of the sentence itself.

Single union with homogeneous members

In a simple sentence, it is often the case that some of its members respond to the same question and relate to the same word. It can be two (and more) predicates, definitions, additions, circumstances. Such terms of the sentence are called homogeneous.

They can be separated by commas:

There was a soft, gentle, melodic sound.

Can be preceded by a colon:

There were dishes on the table: cups, plates, teapot.

Also, unions "and", "a", "but" are often used. In some cases, homogeneous terms are joined by a separation union. The sense in such a proposal is to separate something similar (objects, attributes).

Let's look at examples of how a comma is put before "or" in such cases, and whether it is put at all.

In good weather, they usually went on a picnic or strolled on foot around the neighborhood.

He was going to go to Paris or to London.

The application can be printed on the computer or written by hand.

As we see, an alliance with a separating function connects different kinds of homogeneous sentence members. Is a comma before "either" in such cases? No, it's not.

Single union in a complex sentence

The grammatical basis - subject and predicate - can be present not only in a single quantity. If there are two (or more) such bases in a sentence, it calls complex. Two parts can be joined as an alliance way, and with the help of various alliances, including separative ones. Do I need a comma before "either" in a complex sentence? Let's consider examples.

Tomorrow we will go to the Petrovs, or they will visit us.

We must act now, or it will be too late.

The examples clearly show that the comma in front of "either" connects parts of a complex sentence (two grammatical bases, united by a semantic unity). Between these parts this punctuation mark is always necessary.

Double union ("either ... or")

Some proposals express an intensified opposition or division of certain objects, actions, qualities. This function has a double separation union. As, for example, in the saying:

Sink or swim.

In this case, before "or" a comma is put, since a double union is used. One can give an example of a simple sentence having homogeneous terms:

There will be either rain or hail.

Similarly, also a comma before "either" is necessary if we have a complex sentence before us:

Either you calm down, or I'm gone.

In the latter case, it is required to put this punctuation mark for two reasons:

• Type of proposal (complex, two grammatical bases);
• Double separation alliance.

So, do you need a comma before "either" if this union is double? Yes, always. This rule is not affected by the accompanying grammatical circumstances.

When not comma

We sorted out a few difficult cases. But there is a logical question: is the comma before the "either" always?

As we have already understood, in a simple sentence this union does not require the separation of a punctuation mark. For example:

Food could be tasty or tasteless.

What other similar cases are there?

For example, in a complex sentence, when there is a common element that unites all parts.

Look at the clouds: soon it will rain or there will be hail.

Separation is also not required if the composite elements of a complex sentence are indefinitely personal or impersonal sentences that have the same form of predicate. For example:

I wanted to sleep or just became cold.

It was getting dark or light, it was hard to tell what time of day it was.

Sometimes there are cases when the unifying factor is intonation. For example, interrogative:

Would it be better to return tomorrow or postpone until the day after tomorrow?

In the cases described above, there is a common element that unites the parts of the sentence. Under such conditions, a comma is not necessary before "either".

And now consider other separative alliances. Many of them mean the same thing as the official part of speech, which became the topic of this article.

A similar "or" union

This part of speech may well replace the word "either", since it expresses the same meaning: an alternative in the form of two (usually opposite) phenomena, properties or objects. For example:

Will you have tea or coffee?

I do not like it when it's too hot or too cold.

They can wait for you or go themselves.

She spends summer in the city or at the dacha.

This union has cases of isolation or non-isolation. This will be discussed in more detail below.

When a comma is put

The separation of this union is similar to the rules by which a comma is placed before the word "or". These are the cases:

• A double union "either - or";
• difficult sentence;
• A double name for a work of art.

For each of these situations, you can give an example:

Either he is stupid, or he pretends (a double union).

We have to get out early, or the bus will leave without us (a difficult offer).

"The Golden Key, or The Adventures of Pinocchio" (the title of the work).

When not comma

There are also rules that regulate the punctuation in cases with a similar union. You do not need to isolate "or" in the following situations:

• Simple sentence, in which a single union joins homogeneous members;
• A complex sentence with the presence of a common element for all constituent parts (a sentence member, a group of words, intonation).

An example of a sentence suitable for the first case:

Everyone has already gone to the street or went to bed.

The second situation can be illustrated by the following examples:

Let's bake something for tea: pie, rolls or biscuits.

Is it quiet or have we just stopped noticing the noise?

As we see, the separation unions are similar not only to the expressed semantic meaning, but also to their grammatical functions and interaction with the rules of punctuation.

Other Separation Unions

In addition to the official part of the speech and its double version, which became the topic of this article, there are a number of similar unions that carry the same meaning. Here they are:

• or;
• Otherwise;
• But then;
• Whether or not;
• Not that - not that;
• Then something;
• Whether;
• or or.

Examples of sentences with these parts of speech clearly demonstrate that they are quite similar in meaning to each other. Compare:

She will cook fish or chicken.

Leave in a good way, otherwise you will be expelled.

Hush, otherwise the child will wake up.

Whether there is no one at home, or do not want to open the door.

Outside, it's not rain or snow.

He is disturbed by one thing or another.

Do you want this, do not you want - it does not matter.

He is either very brave or crazy.

We see that the rules for placing commas in separating unions are also very similar.

conclusions

A comma before "either", "or" and other separative unions is a rather difficult question. Not all cases can be unambiguously defined, this punctuation mark is needed here or not.

If it is a simple or complex sentence without any accompanying features, then the solution is more or less clear.

With homogeneous members, a single union "either" does not separate. The exception is when the union is double.

In a complex sentence, a comma before the separation union is usually required. But some factors (common intonation, combining a word or a group of words, impersonal and indefinitely personal types of sentences) can create exceptions to this rule.

For this reason, it is necessary to carefully analyze the proposal and verify the appropriateness of the arrangement of punctuation marks. In disputable cases, it will be superfluous to consult the punctuation manual. A classic variant of this was written by Professor E. E. Rosenthal.