I have a sentence in the last post that is missing a comma. The commas are surrounding the dependent clause. …Do you remember [that, (when I saw you at Christmas), you promised to help me with that]? It just goes to show that we can miss something no matter how many times we proofread! Happy punctuating! Margie
The Adverb Clause
In my opinion, understanding dependent clauses and the way they work inside a sentence and how they are punctuated is at the very heart of understanding the language. When clauses are punctuated correctly, it helps the reader decipher what is going on in a sentence and produces a sentence that flows and is easy to read. With that said, I …
That Sneaky Dependent Clause, Part 2
I have been asked for a little more explanation on the last post. A dependent clause is dependent because it has a word out in the front of it that “introduces” it. …He left. (a sentence, an independent clause) …that he left (dependent clause) …when he left (dependent clause) …because he left (dependent clause) …if he left (dependent clause) When …
Be Wary of That Dependent Clause
You all know this rule: Cardinal Rule No. 1: Put a comma before a coordinate conjunction when it is followed by an independent subject and verb. But be careful of the dependent clause that LOOKS LIKE an independent clause. …You have to be careful that you have checked out all the details and you know the pitfalls of the deal. …She …
On My Soapbox
A discussion of this construction comes up about once a month. Is there or is there not a comma after “that” in the following sentence. …I knew that, if I turned right, I’d get there sooner. The sentence is “I knew that I’d get there sooner.” “I knew” is the subject and verb of the sentence. “That I’d get there …
Clauses, Part 1
When two INDEPENDENT clauses are linked by a coordinate conjunction, there is a comma before the conjunction; when there is not an independent clause, independent subject and verb, after the coordinate conjunction, there is NOT a comma before the conjunction. …I left the office early that day, and I went straight to the doctor. …I left the office early that …
“If” Clause
When the “if” clause at the end of the sentence is a modifier for a word in the main clause, there is no comma. …I will go if I can scrape the money together. …She will call if she gets there before 9:00. When the “if” clause is not directly related to the content of the sentence — …
Spotting Dependent Clauses, Part 2
Though there are some nuances I am omitting here, picking out a dependent clause is about finding the subject and verb and then checking for a word out in the front that goes with that subject and verb. The thing that makes this a bit easier is that there are really a limited number of words that start dependent clauses: …
Which is…
“Which is/are” begins an adjective clause. If the clause is necessary to define the word it modifies and could not be removed without losing communication, then there is no comma before it. If the clause contains information which is nice to know but does not really define the word it modifies and is not really necessary to the meaning, there …
“That” — Dependent Construction or Not?
When the word that begins a dependent clause and several of those clauses are linked together with and, there is NO comma before the and even when the word that is missing and is “understood.” NOTE: The word that can be left out of a clause when it has no other function in the clause except to introduce the clause. …
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