If you were to say a dependent clause out loud, people would expect you to say more: Use a comma to join a dependent clause to an independent clause when the dependent clause is first.Ī dependent clause is a clause with a subject and verb that can’t stand alone because of its first word (often one of the words from the first list above). After the race came the victory lap.Īt night the stars come out. Running the race is the fulfillment of his dream. However, if you’re in doubt, use a comma. You can tell if you need a comma by whether you pause while reading the introductory element out loud. A comma is also sometimes optional after certain prepositional phrases. ![]() Such a case occurs if the introduction is serving as the subject of the sentence or if the sentence uses inverted word order. When a verb immediately follows an introductory element, however, don’t use a comma. She was free as a bird, flying through the colorful fields. Running through the meadow, she ignored the demands of school. Participles are often used with the above introductory words, but they can also stand alone. A participle is a verb ending in –ing that acts as an adjective. In fact, he wrote more than two dozen of them.Finally, a comma is used to separate a participial phrase from an independent clause. It can lead to a train wreck like this:Įxample: Mark Twain's book, Tom Sawyer, is a delight.īecause of the commas, that sentence states that Twain wrote only one book. In the second sentence, Bill is nonessential information-whom else but Bill could I mean?-hence the commas.Ĭomma misuse is nothing to take lightly. Why? In the first sentence, Bill is essential information: it identifies which of my two (or more) brothers I'm speaking of. The commas in the second sentence mean that Bill is my only brother. Now, see how adding two commas changes that sentence's meaning:Ĭareful writers and readers understand that the first sentence means I have more than one brother. ![]() We do not know which boy is meant without further description therefore,no commas are used. The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident. If we already know which Freddy is meant, the description is not essential. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description that follows is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.įreddy, who has a limp, was in an auto accident. ![]() If such a phrase contains more than one preposition, a comma may be used unless a verb immediately follows the phrase.īetween your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue, the mayor's mansion stands proudly.īetween your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue is the mayor's mansion. When an introductory phrase begins with a preposition, a comma may not be necessary even if the phrase contains more than three or four words.Įxample: Into the sparkling crystal ball he gazed. However, if the introductory phrase is clear and brief (three or four words), the comma is optional.īut always add a comma if it would avoid confusion.Įxample: Last Sunday, evening classes were canceled. When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it.Įxample: If you are not sure about this, let me know now.įollow the same policy with introductory phrases.Įxample: Having finally arrived in town, we went shopping.
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