Parenthetical Words

Level 4

A parenthetical word (kirish soʻz) adds the speaker's comment to a sentence: Afsuski, poyezd ketib qoldi (Unfortunately, the train has left). In writing it is set off by commas.

How It Works

A parenthetical word comments on the sentence from outside. You could take it out and the sentence would still be complete.

Common groups

  • Feelings about the news: afsuski (unfortunately), baxtimga (luckily for me)
  • How sure you are: albatta (of course), shubhasiz (undoubtedly), ehtimol (perhaps), shekilli (it seems)
  • Whose view it is: menimcha (in my opinion), aytishlaricha (they say)
  • How ideas connect: masalan (for example), demak (so, that means), aslida (actually), xullas (in short), birinchidan (firstly), aytgancha (by the way), bundan tashqari (besides)

Commas
At the start of a sentence, put a comma after the word: Demak, ishga bormaymiz. In the middle, put a comma before and after it: Bu kitob, menimcha, juda qiziqarli. In speech, it has its own short pause.

Albatta with and without commas
With commas, albatta is the speaker's comment, of course: Men, albatta, yordam beraman (Of course I will help). Without commas, it is part of the sentence and means definitely: Men albatta yordam beraman (I will definitely help). So a firm promise has no commas.

Not a conjunction
Yaʼni (that is) and chunki (because) join two parts of a sentence, so they are not parenthetical words and do not take a comma after them.

Examples (6)

  1. Albatta, kelaman.

    Of course I will come.

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

  2. Men sportni yaxshi koʻraman. Masalan, har kuni ertalab yuguraman.

    I love sport. For example, I run every morning.

    Word by Word: I sport-(object) good see-I. For-example, every day morning run-I.

  3. Afsuski, poyezd ketib qoldi.

    Unfortunately, the train has already left.

    Word by Word: Unfortunately, train leaving remained.

  4. Aslida, u juda mehribon odam.

    Actually, he is a very kind person.

    Word by Word: Actually, he very kind person.

  5. Bugun dam olish kuni. Demak, ishga bormaymiz.

    Today is a day off. So we are not going to work.

    Word by Word: Today rest taking day. So, work-to go-not-we.

  6. Bu kitob, menimcha, juda qiziqarli.

    This book, I think, is very interesting.

    Word by Word: This book, in-my-opinion, very interesting.

    In the middle of a sentence the word takes a comma on both sides.

Common Mistakes

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

    Bu kitob menimcha, juda qiziqarli.
    Bu kitob, menimcha, juda qiziqarli.

    In the middle of a sentence, a parenthetical word is closed off on both sides. Only at the very start does it take a single comma after it.

  • Setting albatta off with commas in a firm promise (meant: I will definitely help).

    Men, albatta, yordam beraman.
    Men albatta yordam beraman.

    With commas, albatta becomes a comment meaning of course, and the promise loses its firmness. Without commas it means definitely.

How It Connects

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Parenthetical WordsLevel 4

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Builds on In My Opinion.

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Words in This Pattern

albattamasalandemak