Where should I put comma in this sentence?

1 2
   Share on Facebook  
IreneBS  #146546  Mon, 10 Oct 05 07:15 PM

1.  I don't want to go to the dance, however; my mother is making me go.

2.  The playwright handles her material quite well I must admit, however; that her play is too short to be full performance. 

3.  If you are planning to spend your vacation at home let me know; if your plans are not set, do you want to go to the beach with me?

4.  There are many advantages to studying classical Latin, for example; the Latin vocabulary will help you with your English vocabulary. 

5.  The following students are not eligible for dress down day; Anna Mason, Laura Simm, and Evelyn Moore.

  
Not Ranked
Joined on Mon, Oct 10 2005
New Member (03)
davkett  #146580  Mon, 10 Oct 05 09:00 PM

Here's my opinion:

1.  Mr. Jones, who teaches History, tried out for the Olympic trials.

2.  Each girl who plays soccer needs to meet with Ms. Kaplan at break.

3.  We have a history test, I think, on next Tuesday.

4.  Because we are not going to be in class next Monday, we don't have any homework.

5.  I have to drive to New York for the marathon.

6.  I don't want to run today, and I don't think that I will.

7.  She is a famous movie actress; don't you know who she is?

8.  It was a dark stormy night, and I was frightened.

9.  Why, I can't believe it!

10. Rapping her gavel on the table, Shirley called the meeting to order.

  
Top 50 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005
Pennsylvania, USA
Senior Member (2,788)
Proficient Speaker
"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay
davkett  #146583  Mon, 10 Oct 05 09:07 PM

Here's my opinion on these five:

1.  I don't want to go to the dance; however, my mother is making me go.

2.  The playwright handles her material quite well; I must admit, however, that her play is too short to be a full performance. 

3.  If you are planning to spend your vacation at home, let me know; if your plans are not set, do you want to go to the beach with me?

4.  There are many advantages to studying classical Latin; for example, the Latin vocabulary will help you with your English vocabulary. 

5.  The following students are not eligible for dress-down day:  Anna Mason, Laura Simm and Evelyn Moore.

 

  
Clive  #146984  Wed, 12 Oct 05 12:48 AM
Hi Irene,

When I wrote The way this is punctuated suggests to me that Mr. Jones who teaches Chemistry wasn't as athletically successful as Mr. Jones who teaches History I was trying to tell you, in a brief and slightly amusing way,  that it is correct punctuation, but that it has the kind of meaning I suggested.

In other words, in  ...Mr. Jones, who teaches Chemistry, ... the commas make who teaches Chemistry  just optional extra information about Mr. Jones.

But in ...Mr. Jones who teaches Chemistry ...  the lack of commas means that who teaches Chemistry is needed to identify Mr. Jones. In other words, it suggests that there are two teachers called Mr. Jones and only one of them teaches Chemistry.

So, both versions are correct. It just depends on what you mean.

I'm sorry if you didn't understand or appreciate my attempt at humour. Some people don't think I'm funny. On the other hand, I notice that Davkett did a lot of work to give you complete answers, and you don't seem to have had time to thank him yet. I think these small human gestures, like politeness and even weak humour, are pleasant and important, don't you?

Best wishes, and please write again if you need any more help,

Clive

 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (23,116)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
1 2
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service