Commas With protams and manuprāt

Commas with Comment Words

Level 5

Words that show your opinion or comment on the sentence are set off by commas: Protams, es nākšu. (Of course I will come.) Viņš, manuprāt, kļūdās. (In my opinion, he is wrong.)

How It Works

1. Words that take commas. These comment words are not part of the sentence's main structure, so Latvian punctuation sets them off:

  • protams (of course), manuprāt (in my opinion), mūsuprāt (in our opinion)
  • pirmkārt, otrkārt (firstly, secondly)
  • starp citu (by the way), piemēram (for example)
  • savukārt when it means on the other hand (see savukārt and turpretī)

2. Where the commas go.

  • At the start: Protams, es nākšu.
  • In the middle, on both sides: Tas, protams, nav viegli.
  • At the end: Tā ir laba ideja, manuprāt.

3. Words without commas. Some words that show how sure you are look similar but are not set off: varbūt (maybe), laikam and droši vien (probably), diemžēl (unfortunately) and acīmredzot (apparently). See laikam droši vien varbūt.

  • Varbūt viņš nāks. (Maybe he will come.)
  • Diemžēl laiks šķirties. (Unfortunately, it is time to part.)

4. When the word is a real part of the sentence. A word like savukārt takes no commas when it is not a comment but a normal part of the clause.

Examples (6)

  1. Protams, es nākšu.

    Of course I will come.

    Word by Word: Of-course, I will-come.

  2. Manuprāt, tā ir laba ideja.

    In my opinion, it is a good idea.

    Word by Word: In-my-opinion, that is good idea.

  3. Viņš, manuprāt, kļūdās.

    In my opinion, he is wrong.

    Word by Word: He, in-my-opinion, errs.

    In the middle of the sentence, manuprāt has a comma on both sides.

  4. Tas, protams, nav viegli.

    Of course, it is not easy.

    Word by Word: That, of-course, is-not easy.

  5. Pirmkārt, mums vajag plānu.

    First, we need a plan.

    Word by Word: Firstly, to-us needs plan.

  6. Varbūt viņš nāks.

    Maybe he will come.

    Word by Word: Maybe he will-come.

    Varbūt is not set off by commas.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the comma after a comment word at the start.

    Protams es nākšu.
    Protams, es nākšu.

    Protams comments on the whole sentence, so a comma follows it.

  • Putting only one comma around a word in the middle.

    Viņš, manuprāt kļūdās.
    Viņš, manuprāt, kļūdās.

    In the middle of a sentence, a comment word needs a comma on both sides.

  • Setting off varbūt with a comma.

    Varbūt, viņš nāks.
    Varbūt viņš nāks.

    Varbūt, laikam, droši vien, diemžēl and acīmredzot are written without commas.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Commas With protams and manuprātLevel 5Commas with Comment Words

Learn This First

Comment words take commas.

Words in This Pattern

protamsmanuprātpirmkārtcitu