Commas Before Contrast Words
A comma comes before а, но, ама, туку and ами: Сакав да дојдам, но немав време. (I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.)
How It Works
The rule. Put a comma before а, но, ама, туку, ами and меѓутоа:
- Сакав да дојдам, но немав време.
- Јас пијам кафе, а сестра ми пие чај.
- Не одам на море, туку на планина.
- Малку е скапо, ама вреди.
Short phrases too. The comma stays even when only a word or two follows: Продавницата е мала, но убава. Не јас, туку ти.
No comma before и and или. Отидов дома и легнав. (I went home and lay down.) Сакаш чај или кафе? A comma comes before и only in special cases, for example when each part has its own subject: Таа се лутеше, и тој не беше подобар.
No comma inside не само ... туку и. This pair is one unit: Таа не само што пее туку и свири. See не само ... туку и.
With negatives. A comma also comes before ниту пак: Не дојде, ниту пак се јави. See ниту пак.
Examples (6)
- Сакав да дојдам, но немав време.
I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.
Word by Word: I-wanted to I-come, but not-I-had time.
- Јас пијам кафе, а сестра ми пие чај.
I drink coffee, and my sister drinks tea.
Word by Word: I drink coffee, and sister to-me drinks tea.
- Не одам на море, туку на планина.
I'm not going to the seaside, but to the mountains.
Word by Word: Not I-go on sea, but on mountain.
- Малку е скапо, ама вреди.
It's a bit expensive, but it's worth it.
Word by Word: A-little is expensive, but it-is-worth.
- Продавницата е мала, но убава.
The shop is small but nice.
Word by Word: The-shop is small, but nice.
Only a short phrase follows но, but the comma still comes before it.
- Таа не само што пее туку и свири.
She not only sings but also plays.
Word by Word: She not only that sings but also plays.
No comma inside the pair не само ... туку и.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before но.
Сакав да дојдам но немав време.Сакав да дојдам, но немав време.When но, а, ама, туку or ами brings in a contrast, a comma comes in front of it.
Putting a comma inside не само ... туку и.
Таа не само што пее, туку и свири.Таа не само што пее туку и свири.Не само ... туку и works as one unit, so no comma goes before туку.
Putting a comma before и with the same subject.
Отидов дома, и легнав.Отидов дома и легнав.When и joins two actions of the same person, no comma is written.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Commas before contrast words follow the contrast words.
Related Patterns
- но / илиBut and or
The words но and или themselves: но takes a comma, или usually does not.
Level 2 - да / не / и / аSimple Answers and Joining
А, one of the contrast words that takes a comma before it.
Level 1 - амиWell and but Rather
Ами follows the same comma rule as туку.
Level 4 - не само ... туку иNot Only but Also
The one contrast pair that is written without a comma.
Level 5 - ниту пак / ниNot Even and nor
Ниту пак also takes a comma before it.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Commas Before Contrast Words in Bubblegum
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