Dash before "this": how right?

A common formulation of the punctuation rule "before" is "always put in a dash" is both true and false. The fact is that in this version the rule covers only a part of the cases when this word is used. It is understood that the "dash" before this word is always necessary without exception if it is a link between the subject and the predicate, in other cases other algorithms and rules may act.

Dash in original structures

As you know, one of the main situations when it is necessary to put dashes are sentences, the basis of which is expressed by a noun, a numeral or an infinitive, in them a sign is placed between the subject and the predicate:

Jig saw is a tool that even a woman can easily master. (A sign is placed between the subject and the predicate, expressed by the nouns.)

Late spring is the time of love, hope and expectation.

School is the time for self-determination and the formation of personality.

Dashes in the same constructions containing a bunch

Often the unsuccessful formulations of primary school methodologists provoke errors in sentences, where the predicate is accompanied by a bunch. Everywhere the younger students are explained that "the dash is put instead of (!) The word" this "." This formulation works as a tool for putting signs in sentences without a bundle, but it is misleading if you need to put a sign in a sentence with this binding. The point is that from the thus formulated "clue" it follows logically that if a dash is put "instead of" a word, then when it is in the sentence, the need for a sign disappears. Many schoolchildren form a persistent stereotype, leading to stable errors: dashes are not put in sentences with a bunch.

Meanwhile, the rules of punctuation are strictly opposite. In the case when the predicate has a bunch, the dash before it is put without fail. Examples:

Autumn is a time for creativity and summing up.

To love is to sacrifice oneself.

To adopt a child is not a gift to him, but first of all to himself.

To come always in time is respect not only for others, but first of all for oneself and for one's business.

Dash before the predicate with a negative

A dash before the word "this", if it is a link between the subject and the predicate, is necessary even in those cases when there is no need for a sign without a bundle.

Thus, there is no dash when the predicate contains a negation:

A little lop-eared puppy is not a toy. (The sign is not put, because before the predicate expressed by the noun, there is a negative particle "not.")

Even the most talented movie is not a replacement for a book.

Put the controversial diagnosis of a serious patient is not the area of competence of a nurse.

In the case when the predicate with negation is accompanied by a bunch, before "this" is always a dash:

A small lop-eared puppy is not a toy. (The sign is placed, since the particle "not" follows the binder.)

Even the most talented cinema is not a replacement for a book.

Put a controversial diagnosis of a serious patient - this is not the area of competence of a nurse.

Dash before the predicate, expressed by an infinitive

In constructions with infinitive predicates, this sign is placed regardless of whether a bundle is used or not.

To re-read the book that I read in my childhood is like finding myself in my childhood. To re-read the book that I read in my childhood, it seems as if I were in my childhood.

To love a person for real - how to start living anew.

Swim in the lake in the early morning - how to look younger.

Sitting at the same table with old friends is like stopping the passage of time.

Synthesis word

The second case, which presupposes the obligatory statement of the sign, consists in the use of a generalizing sign. A dash before him is always put in these cases.

Go fishing, swim in the river, collect berries, cook at the stake - these are all the favorite signs of a country summer.

Gulls, clouds of lambs, screams of waders, tender water of the lake - all this attracts and long recalls.

Scandals, clarifying relationships, little deceptions - is not this the way to break the relationship?

Particle

Confusion with the universal formulation "before" is "always put in a dash" arises because a word that formally looks the same always, in fact, can be different parts of speech. In the case when it comes to a particle, a dash before "this" is not put:

How did they leave without waiting for the fireworks?

Well, where did you all go together?

So after all, he then called and warned that the roads are slippery.

A reference word on the boundary of parts of a complex sentence

In many cases, one of the parts of a complex sentence begins with an index word, the meaning of which is to explain, explain or supplement the previous part, and also draw a conclusion from it. In such cases, intuitively, many people put a dash in front of "this" instead of a comma. Such a sign is allowed, but it must be taken into account that the dash changes the intonational coloring of the entire sentence and puts other logical accents. A comma or dash before "this" is certainly needed, but the choice of the sign in general remains for the writer. In neutral sentences of this type, a comma is placed on the boundary of the sentences.

Suddenly a huge bird flew to the terrace - it was all night long on the roof and did not allow to sleep. (A sign on the border of the sentence parts conveys the meaning: "So who did not let me sleep!", "Ah, it turns out, who was grinning!".)

At the end of the eighteenth century, Pushkin was born, this he will change the Russian language and the fate of Russian literature. (The "neutral" sign at the junction of the parts of a complex sentence shows the meaning: "As you know, this changed the Russian language.")

On her knees lay the dachshund, this is her last year, we were all taken from Voronezh.

In the garden they grew a manchurian nut, this is a tree, the fruits of which are very similar to walnuts.

After a comparative turnover

There is no reason to put a "dash" in front of the demonstrative pronoun in intonationally neutral constructions. For example, the question of a sign can arise when a pronoun follows a comparative turnover. In these cases, always put a comma. If, in such a sentence, before the word "this" is given a dash, this is a mistake.

Like any other animal, this creature is able to get used to a person.

Like all other generations, it needs something new and different.

Like a silent and consonant with the whole neighbor, this tree lives all his life near our house and pumps branches as a sign of his participation in our life.

However, from such cases it is necessary to distinguish sentences the basis of which is expressed by a noun, a numeral or an infinitive, and which are complicated by comparative turnover. In such proposals, after a comparative turnover and before a bunch, a comma and a dash are put:

The scream of a low heron flying over the marsh, like a cry of loneliness or a voice from another world, is always a disagreeable feeling even for a seasoned hunter. (The dash is set as if there were no comparative turnover: "The cry of the low heron flying over the marsh is an unpleasant sensation, even for a seasoned hunter . " The comma closes the comparative turnover.)

The new verses of an unfamiliar talented author, like the new world that opens, are like confirming that everything is in order in the world. (A sentence without a relative turnover obviously requires a sign between the subject and the predicate.)

After a verbal participle or a single verbal participle

In addition, the mark is mistakenly placed after a participial or participial turnover. There are no logical reasons for such a sign, apparently, the writer is at the mercy of the same stereotype, transferred from special cases to all others: "before" this "is given a dash".

Forming gradually, this decision became stronger and stronger, and finally it was accepted.

Once unattainable, this journey so engulfed his thoughts that he could not think of anything else.

Running through the meadow, this herd of children released into the wild did not hear or see anything except the sun, strawberries and butterflies.

As in the case described above, from such a construction it is necessary to distinguish a sentence with a bunch before a predicate expressed by a noun, a numeral or an infinitive, and complicated by a gyro-participial turn. In such proposals, before the link following the single gerundive or turnover, two signs are put:

To leave forever, mentally looking back at the past years, is a true test. (The dash is put for the same reason that it is necessary in the sentence "To leave forever is a true test . " A comma before a dash is needed as a closing one with a de-privial turnover.)

Watching children who learn to live, play and quarrel with each other and copying the behavior of their parents is not only a pleasure and an interesting activity, but also an occasion to reflect on themselves. If we reduce the proposal by eliminating the adverbial and non-participatory turn, then the logic of the appearance of a dash is obvious: " Watching children is not only a pleasure and an interesting activity, but an occasion to reflect on oneself ." The comma before this sign closes the gerundive turnover, and in case of its exclusion, the subordinate clause.

So, whether a dash is placed before "this", if it is not a question of copyright marks, depends almost wholly on which part of speech and on what syntactic role of this word there is a speech.