The Understood Introductory Word for Dependent Clauses

Margie Wakeman WellsClauses, Sentence Structure, The Comma, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

The explanation begins with the grammatical fact that a coordinate conjunction — “and,” “but,” “or,” “nor” — must link grammatically EQUAL parts. It cannot link an independent clause to a dependent clause. Remember that it can never be “He is tall and Bob.” So if this is true — and it is — we have to look at this construction: …

Margie Wakeman WellsEssential versus Nonessential, MWW Blog, Phrases, Sentence Structure, The Comma, The Semicolon Leave a Comment

Just a reminder: Sentence Structure, a study of clauses and phrases, begins this Saturday, August 10, at 8:30 A.M. PDT. Go to margieholdsclass.com for details and registration. And, yes, I had a MAJOR grammar mistake in my last post!!! …I give this class ONLY once a year. The placement of “only” matters!!!! Happy punctuating! Margie

Phrases and Clauses — The Never-ending Dilemma

Margie Wakeman WellsClauses, MWW Blog, Phrases, Sentence Structure Leave a Comment

Phrases and Clauses: How can I tell the difference? Does it matter? Can I punctuate them the same? Do adverb phrases always take commas or never take commas? Does “essential” have anything to do with it? These two language elements, phrases and clauses, function differently from each other and are punctuated according to two different sets of rules. Understanding how …

Clauses, Part 2

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Comma Leave a Comment

When dependent clauses are joined by a coordinate conjunction, there is no comma because there is not an independent subject and verb after the conjunction. …I was more concerned when I got there and when I saw his condition. Sometimes the second “when” is omitted — and it is perfectly correct to do so. …I was more concerned when I …

Is It a Phrase or a Clause? It Matters

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral, The Comma Leave a Comment

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb; a phrase does not. …after lunch (phrase) …after we ate lunch (clause) …since Friday (phrase) …since I left Friday (clause) …before the session (phrase) …before the session ended (clause) The difference matters. For example, at the beginning of a sentence, the phrases above do NOT take a comma; the clauses do. …

The Word “That” — Omitted

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral, The Comma 2 Comments

We have to be aware when the word “that” is omitted — which usually makes something a dependent clause, needing no comma, rather than an independent clause, which would need a comma. …Suppose [that] a patient arrives on an afternoon and [that] you’ve been in there in the morning. No comma before “and” because the “that” is understood, beginning a …

Questions of the Day: “Because” and Email Addresses

Margie Wakeman WellsGeneral 28 Comments

These are two questions I have answered this morning: I hate “because” clauses. Does this get a comma? “I am not asking about conversations you had with your attorney because that’s privileged. A clause that starts with “because” is an adverb clause. When an adverb clause is at the end of the unit it modifies, it does NOT take a …