Commas and clauses.
There’s a nice artwork to utilizing commas. In the present day we’ll have a look at how commas work with clauses — each dependent clauses and unbiased clauses. And don’t fear when you’re unsure which clause is which. The whole lot might be defined.
Unbiased Clauses and Commas
An unbiased clause can stand alone as a sentence: I watch films.
Two unbiased clauses will be joined with a conjunction: I watch films and I watch tv.
A comma will be positioned earlier than the conjunction: I watch films, and I watch tv.
So, must you use commas earlier than conjunctions that join two unbiased clauses?That relies upon. In accordance with The Chicago Handbook of Model, “…a comma often precedes the conjunction. If the clauses are very brief and intently related, the comma could also be omitted.” For a sentence as brief as “I watch films and I watch tv,” the comma is elective, however contemplate the next:
I’ve been watching films and tv since I used to be only a little one, and I’m positive I’ll proceed to observe films and tv for a lot of extra years to return.
Within the sentence above, which is significantly longer that the primary one, the comma provides rhythm and helps to interrupt up an in any other case prolonged and wordy sentence.
Dependent Clauses and Commas
What about dependent clauses? Dependent clauses are put collectively to type a sentence, and no less than one of many clauses depends on the opposite.
Clause #1:
After I go to the flicks
Clause #2:
I spend an excessive amount of cash
The primary clause is a dependent clause as a result of it requires the second, or principal clause, in an effort to make sense. These clauses will be flipped:
I spend an excessive amount of cash
once I go to the flicks
When the dependent clause comes first, it ought to all the time be adopted by a comma:
After I go to the flicks, I spend an excessive amount of cash.
But when the primary clause comes first, no comma is required:
I spend an excessive amount of cash once I go to the flicks.
Commas and Clauses
As you all know, writing can deliver up some fascinating points, and it’s not all the time clear whether or not commas ought to or shouldn’t be utilized in varied conditions. Nonetheless, the usage of commas typically provides to the readability and rhythm of a sentence and due to this fact makes a whole piece circulation extra easily.
This has been a short introduction to utilizing commas with clauses. Are you able to consider some extra elaborate examples? Go away a remark!
