Commas in Complex Sentences
A comma separates a subordinate clause from the main clause: Я думаю, што ты маеш рацыю. (I think you are right.) It also sets off a person you are speaking to: Алесь, ідзі сюды! (Ales, come here!)
How It Works
Belarusian punctuation is stricter than English here: the comma is not optional.
1. Subordinate clauses. Put a comma between the main clause and a clause introduced by a conjunction or relative word:
- што: Я ведаю, што ён прыйдзе. (content clauses with што)
- каб: Я прыйшоў, каб дапамагчы. (purpose with каб)
- калі: Калі пойдзе дождж, мы застанемся дома.
- бо: Я не прыйду, бо захварэў.
2. Both sides in the middle. A clause inside another clause is closed off with a second comma: Кніга, якую ты мне даў, вельмі цікавая. (relative які)
3. Two-word conjunctions. With таму што, пасля таго як, для таго каб, перш чым, there is one comma, usually before the whole conjunction: Я спазніўся, таму што праспаў. When such a clause comes first, the comma goes after the whole clause: Пасля таго як мы паелі, пайшлі гуляць.
4. Main clauses. Two full clauses joined by а, але, і, ці are separated by a comma: Я хацеў ісці, але пайшоў дождж. Two verbs that share one subject do not need one: Ён прыйшоў і сеў. There is also no comma before і when both clauses share a word at the start: Увечары пахаладала і пайшоў дождж. (In the evening it got cold and it started to rain.)
5. Addressing someone. The person or thing you are speaking to is set off with commas wherever it appears: Мама, дзе мае ключы? Дзякуй, сябры, за дапамогу! The name itself may use the vocative form.
Examples (6)
- Я думаю, што ты маеш рацыю.
I think you are right.
Word by Word: I think, that you have right.
- Кніга, якую ты мне даў, вельмі цікавая.
The book you gave me is very interesting.
Word by Word: Book, which you me gave, very interesting.
The relative clause sits in the middle, so it has a comma on both sides.
- Калі пойдзе дождж, мы застанемся дома.
If it rains, we'll stay home.
Word by Word: If goes rain, we will-stay at-home.
- Я прыйшоў, каб дапамагчы.
I came to help.
Word by Word: I came, in-order to-help.
- Алесь, ідзі сюды!
Ales, come here!
Word by Word: Ales, go here!
- Дзякуй, сябры, за дапамогу!
Thank you for your help, friends!
Word by Word: Thanks, friends, for help!
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before што.
Я думаю што ты маеш рацыю.Я думаю, што ты маеш рацыю.A clause introduced by што is always separated from the main clause by a comma.
Forgetting the closing comma after a clause in the middle.
Кніга, якую ты мне даў вельмі цікавая.Кніга, якую ты мне даў, вельмі цікавая.The relative clause is inside the main clause, so it needs a comma at its end as well as at its start.
Not setting off the person being addressed.
Алесь ідзі сюды!Алесь, ідзі сюды!Without the comma, the sentence reads as if Алесь is the subject. A person you speak to is set off with commas.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Commas need the main clause types.
Related Patterns
- каб + InfinitivePurpose with Каб
Purpose clauses with каб are separated by a comma.
Level 3 - пасля таго якAfter with Пасля Таго Як
Two-word conjunctions take one comma, usually before the whole conjunction.
Level 4 - The Vocative Form
A person being addressed, often in the vocative, is set off with commas.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Commas in Complex Sentences in Bubblegum
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