punctuation marks are a set of signalsgraphics which indicate, in a syntactic construction, the greater or lesser degree of cohesion between structures and, in some cases, may manifest aspectsprosodic (of speech) in a written statement. Are they:
1. Comma;
2. Semicolon;
3. End;
4. Exclamation mark;
5. Question Mark;
6. Two points;
7. Quotation marks;
8. Indent;
9. Parentheses.
Read too:Five Grammatical Mistakes No One Should Make!
♦ Comma
⇒ General rule
A comma is a punctuation mark that manifests a low degree of cohesion (connection) between neighboring structures. Note that it does not generate a low degree of cohesion, but rather manifests a low degree of cohesion that already exists between syntactic structures.
For example:
Pedro found new companions, neighbors and co-workers.
The word "new" has a low degree of cohesion with the term "neighbors" and a high degree of cohesion with the term "companions".
Pedro found companions, new neighbors and co-workers.
The word "new" has a high degree of cohesion with the term "neighbors", but not with "companions".
It is verified, therefore, that the comma demarcates an interruption between syntactic functions or clauses that are independent of each other, that is, syntactic functions or clauses that have a low degree of cohesion with each other.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
⇒ Comma and simple period:
The)subject and predicate
The subject is not separated from the predicate, as they are terms essential to prayer and have a high degree of cohesion with each other.
- Direct order:
The poetand a liar.
that ladyshe is polite.
- Indirect order:
And a liar the poet (the poet = subject)
is polite that lady (that lady = guy)
B)Verbal complements (direct object and indirect object)
The verb from its complement (object) is not separated by a comma.
- Direct order:
Neither left sons...
- Indirect order:
... nor sons left.
(children = direct object)
- NOTE: However, the object is separated by a comma when there is pleonastic object.
My children, me you I loved. (the = my children)
to man, it gave-you God is wisdom. (to them = to man)
ç) Adverbial Adjunct
- In direct order (end of sentence), the adverbial adjunct does not receive the comma:
The bodies were found at sea. (at sea = adverbial adjunct)
- In indirect order (at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence), the adverbial adjunct must receive the comma if it is an adverbial phrase (more than one word):
At sea, the bodies were found.
the bodies, at sea, were found.
- In indirect order (at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence), the adverbial adjunct receives the comma optionally if it is an adverb:
Yesterday, everybody left.
Yesterday everybody left.
The students, today, studied Portuguese language.
The students today studied Portuguese language.
d) Predicative
- In direct order (end of sentence), the predicative of the subject does not receive the comma:
The girl was waiting for her father anxiously. (anxious = subject's predicate)
- In reverse order (at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence), this term will receive the comma:
Anxious, the girl was waiting for her father.
The girl, anxious, expected the father.
and) I bet
Comma is separated by the bet explanatory:
Goiania, the capital of Goiás, is champion in quality of life.
f)Vocative
Comma is separated by the vocative, whatever your position.
João, do me a favor.
Read too: Three Myths About Comma Usage You Need to Know
⇒ Comma and period composed of subordination:
The) Subordinate nouns:
- Only the appositional noun subordinate clause is separated by commas.
He just wanted one thing, let everyone go away!
B) Adjective subordinates:
- Restrictive adjectives do not receive the comma:
The cups that were on the table are dirty.
- Explanatory adjectives are separated by a comma:
The books, which are sources of knowledge, must be preserved.
ç) Adverbial subordinates:
- In indirect order (subordinate clause + main clause), the comma is mandatory:
when they arrived in town, they looked for the mayor.
- In direct order (main clause + subordinate clause), the comma is optional:
They looked for the mayor, when they arrived in the city.
They looked for the mayor when they arrived in town.
⇒ Comma and period composed by coordination:
The) asyndetic coordinates
The asyndetic coordinates are separated by a comma:
He opened the bank's website, searched for his name, it was approved!
B) syndetic coordinates
- Syndetic coordinates receive the comma, except for the additives:
- He was a brave man, but he had a horror of cockroaches.(adversative)
- Sometimes he played classical music, sometimes he performed a choro. (alternatives)
- Comes, because nature is in a hurry. (explanatory)
- He had many stints with the police, therefore he was the main suspect.(conclusive)
- he visited the parents and returned home. (additive)
In additive coordinates, the comma appears when the guys are different or when there is the reiteration of the conjunction (polysyndeton).
Maria he left home and went to work. (Mary is the subject of both prayers)
Maria got married, and Peter was alone. (The subjects are different: Maria and Pedro)
AND sings, and laugh, and dance, and rejoices. (polysyndeton)
⇒ Comma and terms with the same syntactic function (enumerations):
The comma is used to separate terms with the same syntactic function (enumeration).
arrived mother, fathers and children.
⇒ Comma and zeugma:
The comma is used to demarcate the verbal zeugma.
We want peace; they, war.
- Observation:
Zeugma: form of Ellipse (omission) which consists in the suppression, in subsequent clauses, of a term expressed in the first.
Example:
Each child chose a toy; the boy, a car; the girl, a doll.
⇒ Comma and place and date, in correspondences:
A comma is used to separate place and date in correspondences:
Goiania, March 24, 2019
⇒ Comma and explanatory and conclusive terms:
- There are a number of expressions in Portuguese that have the purpose of explaining, concluding and correcting a previous term. Inserted in the sentence, they are separated by a comma.
Our class ends now, in fact, it ends at 11:30 am.
- Some of these expressions: moreover, that is, namely, by the way, I say, I lie, or rather, or rather, also, too much, moreover, then, in effect.
⇒ Comma and anacolutton:
- Anacoluto (broken phrase) is always separated by a comma.
Example:
The health, this is a very serious problem.
Observation:
Anacoluto: period beginning with a word or phrase, followed by a pause (comma), which continues with a prayer in which this word or phrase is not syntactically integrated, although it is integrated by the sense.
See too: How to avoid ten common Portuguese mistakes?
♦ Semicolon
O semicolon is a punctuation mark that indicates a degree of cohesion less than that represented by the comma.
Example:
John prepared a lot for the test; but that day he was not well.
Note that the semicolon separates coordinated clauses, and the commas indicate that the adverbial adjunct is displaced. Coordinated clauses – syntactically independent from each other – have a lower degree of cohesion than a displaced adverbial adjunct.
We want peace; they, war.
In the second example, the semicolon separates coordinated clauses; the comma, however, indicates verbal zeugma.
The main function of the semicolon is to separate coordinate structures that have internal commas.
- In addition to the aforementioned function, the semicolon is used in topic enumerations. Look:
A good speech features:
- clarity;
- logic;
- empathy;
- lexical richness;
- informativeness;
- interlocution.
The colon has the following functions:
a) Introduce direct speech:
And John said:
- I am tired!
b) Enter a quote:
According to the Houais Dictionary, subject is: “term on which verbal predication falls and with which the verb agrees”.
c) Clarify, comment or detail (list) a previous term:
Goiás and Vila, last Sunday: Vila gave a show!
♦ Ellipsis
a) To indicate the suppression of some words in a citation:
As stated in the concept of subject, “... term with which the verb agrees”.
b) To indicate a break in the sentence:
- Doctor, I can...
- No! Be quiet, please!
c) To indicate hesitation, doubt:
- Mary, did you do your homework?
- Well...I...actually...no, Mom!
d) To indicate that the meaning goes beyond what was said:
Everyone laughed, had fun, were happy...
♦ Parentheses
a) Make scenic indications of theater texts and bibliographical indications (initial):
João:
(with a match in hand)
- I'll set fire to these old letters.
b) Make comments and incidental additions:
"Let's add that in Portuguese vowel alternation can be what we can call submorphemic. This happens when it is not (as, on the contrary, it happens in the face of doing) the unique mark of the grammatical notion to be expressed."
Joaquim Mattoso Câmara Jr.
In this case, when using parentheses, the intention is to indicate that the interspersed term is accessory, that is, it does not have, according to the author, so much importance or prominence.
c) Enter the word sic (there is an error in the original text):
The problem (sic) is the lack of employment.
Also access: Five tips on using the backtack
♦ Quotation marks
The) To indicate the beginning and end of the citation:
"Navigating is necessary, living is not necessary."
Fernando Pessoa
b) To highlight a word or to indicate an irony or any figurative sense (connotative):
The mayor has "applied" public money; this is clear and notorious.
c) To introduce direct speech:
With the rage of a wounded animal, he said, "Who will be the man who will face me?"
d) To indicate that the word is a neologism or a foreignism
The United States wants the “lulalization” of leftist leaders.
The) Indicate the change or speech in direct speech:
- We are tired! We want to stop!
- No! The class only ends at 11:30 am.
B) To introduce interleaving periods that have many commas, comments and explanations:
In this case, the dashes generate emphasis on the interspersed term, that is, they indicate that the element between dashes is highlighted, relevant in the context.
"In other words: the nasal vowel is understood as a group of two phonemes that combine in the syllable – vowel and nasal element."
Joaquim Mattoso Câmara Jr.
♦ Exclamation mark
Graphic sign (!) that comes after the term that expresses admiration, surprise, joy, pain, amazement, exaltation, etc.
Example:
Get out of here now!
♦ Question Mark
Graphic sign (?) that is placed at the end of a direct interrogative sentence.
Example:
Why is everyone laughing?
Summary
Punctuation marks |
Uses |
Comma |
- Never use between:
- Use cases:
|
Semicolon |
|
Two points |
|
Question Mark |
|
Exclamation mark |
|
Ellipsis |
|
Parentheses |
|
indent |
|
Quotation marks |
|
by Jairo Beraldo
Portuguese Language Teacher
Discuss about punctuation marks, in view of the peculiarities inherent to orality and writing.
(F.E. Bauru) Check the alternative where there is a punctuation error:
a – ( ) It was common knowledge the time of the test, but some were late.
b – ( ) The time of the test was known to all; some were late, however.
c – ( ) Everyone knows the time of the test; don't be late, then.
d- ( ) Everyone knows the time of the exam, so don't be late.
and – ( ) N.D.A.
