Search results for 'tag:Football tag:Commas' matching tags 'Football' and 'Commas'

Re: Comma needed or not?

Clive — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:24:47 GMT

Hi,

Have a used the comma correctly?

Thanks

Plus, my heart was still in academia at the time It's not really standard to use 'plus' like this. I suggest something like 'In addition'.

Usually, I like to stay up late on a Friday

Finally, the football match ended

And so on! Is there a general rule here? The comma is really optional. It depends on whether the writer wants the reader to pause after reading the word and think carefully for a moment about what it means in the context. In addition, a comma is usually a good idea if the rest of the sentence that follows it is not short and easy to understand.

Best wishes, Clive

Comma needed or not?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:58:11 GMT

Hi all! Have a used the comma correctly?

Thanks

Plus, my heart was still in academia at the time

Usually, I like to stay up late on a Friday

Finally, the football match ended

And so on! Is there a general rule here?

Thanks again

Re: Separating verbs with the same suubject

Philip — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:47:30 GMT

Anonymous wrote:
I know that a comma does not need to be used in a compound sentence when the verbs use the same subject, but what happens when the subject is only implied?

Sandy borrowed two boxes of CDs on Tuesday, returning them on Friday.

Would this sentence need a comma after Tuesday?

I agree with the answer given by G.G. However, there is a slight error in your question.

A compound sentence is one which has two subjects and two verbs. If the subject of the first clause is the same as the subject of the second clause (and the subject is repeated), you need the comma. [He wants to go to the movie, but he also wants to stay at home to watch the football game.]

If the subject is not repeated, you have a compound verb, not a compound sentence. [He wants to go the movie but also wants to stay at home to watch the football game.]

Re: infinitive vs gerund

CalifJim — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:37:18 GMT

The structure you're asking about contains a FOR ... TO ... clause, like this basic structure:

IT IS/WAS (not) [easy, hard, difficult, pleasant, exciting, ...]
FOR subject TO verb.
(Of course these are the subject and verb of the FOR ... TO ... clause -- not the subject and verb of the sentence.)

1. Basic structure:
It is easy for me to get up early.
It was unpleasant for Jane to lose her keys.
It's hard for Helen to remember all the instructions.

Substituting a gerund for the infinitive in this structure is not possible.

*It is easy for Helen remembering all the instructions.

2. You can leave out the subject by dropping the FOR part of the FOR ... TO ... clause. This makes the subject something like (for) anybody.

It's easy to understand the rule.
It's amusing to listen to the comedy hour on the radio.
It's frightening to be in an earthquake.

Substituting a gerund for the infinitive here is possible, but I think the infinitive is more often used.

It's hard finding a parking place at this hour.
It's fun watching football games.
It's not pleasant being the last in line.

3. You can move the FOR...TO... clause to the beginning, but it's less natural and is not used often.

For John to play football is exciting.
For him to make a web page is difficult.
For Sally to be late was embarrassing.

Substituting a gerund here can make for an awkward sentence because it suggests a different meaning from the same sentence with the infinitive.

a. For John playing football is exciting says that John finds playing football exciting (no matter who plays football). To make this meaning clear, a comma can be added (For John, playing football is exciting), but it's more common to leave the FOR phrase at the end (Playing football is exciting for John.) See 4, below.

b. For John to play football is exciting says that John's participation in football playing is exciting, i.e. the excitement occurs when John plays football, and it occurs in general -- for everybody.

See Footnote at the end of this post.

4: You can move just the TO ... part of the FOR ... TO ... clause to the beginning. Again, the infinitive at the beginning is not particularly natural, so this structure is not often used.

To play chess is boring for Susan.
To arrive early is not easy for me.
To give the speech was not easy for Donald.

Substituting a gerund for the infinitive is more natural here.

Playing chess is boring for Susan.
Arriving early is not easy for us.
Giving speeches is unpleasant for the students.

5. You can drop the FOR phrase and move the TO phrase to the beginning. Again, this is not the most natural structure.

To run barefoot in the grass is pleasant.
To pay bills on time is important.
To climb Everest is not easy.

Again, substituting a gerund is more natural.

Running barefoot in the grass is pleasant.
Paying bills on time is important.
Climbing Everest is not easy.

CJ

Footnote: This gets even more complicated when you realize that there are two possible FOR phrases: The FOR ... that shows the subject of the FOR ... TO ... clause and the simple prepositional phrase with FOR that shows the person or persons affected:

It was exciting for Peter for his grandfather to talk about the old times.
For Peter, it was exciting for his grandfather to talk about the old times.
For his grandfather to talk about the old times was exciting for Peter.

(The FOR that introduces the subject of the FOR ... TO ... clause is also called "complementizing for".)

Can You check my English letter ?

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:49:52 GMT

Hi everyone.

My name's Chris, Im 16 yo guy from Poland, learning in the High School in Wroclaw.
My English teacher wanted us to write an e-mail to a girl who wanted to know something about a friend who is expected to come to her house in England for a holiday time.
Have to have it written corretly so I ask you to check whether there are any mistakes cause my English is still very poor (you can tell me whether I made any mistakes in what I've written above )

I completely don't know where to place commas in English as I've never been told how to use them - so help me with placing them in this letter - I will be grateful.

That the email.

Hi Stephanie!

I haven't heard from you for ages! Nevermind, let's talk about Marcin, then.
I can tell you a lot about him as I've know him since we were both 10. I met him quite by chance and that's how we became best friends.

As I said before, he's 16. Music is the thing he likes most. He started playing the guitar and the piano when he was 11. He loves music.
Marcin is incredibly extrovert, with a sense of humour and extremely hard-working because of everyday's music lessons and, of course, High School. Friday is the only day he can meet anyone just for fun.

His family is really big. It contains him, 3 brothers, 1 sister and parents. Each of them is much older than he is.

What can I say more about him... He likes watching Top Gear, football matches and loves eating. Is there any negative thing I can say about him ? Maybe the fact he's morbidly pedantic. Everything has to have its own place, especially in his, let's say, "music case". He doesn't even want to think about any disorder in there. But I'm not sure whether it's disadvantage of him or not...

I'm sure you will like Marcin very much. Let me know whether you find him jazzy or not.

See you in future,
Krzysiek.

Thanks in advance guys
Greets,
Krzysiek.

insist or insists

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 10:41:08 GMT

Hi!

I read the following, and I'm sure it should be 'insists'. Am I correct? Should there also be commas after 'Gretna owner' and 'director of football'?

Thanks

'Gretna owner Brooks Mileson INSIST all team team decisions are down to coach David Irons and not director of football Mick Wadsworth

Re: Verbs...

Doll — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:14:54 GMT

First of all, I must apologise. I confused everythnig with my confused mind. I will try to explain again if you want to read.

Bob is one of those people who LIKE ~~(likes?)~~ to watch football. -- Comment this sentence like that: In this sentence "who" gives an explanation of "those people". Ask this question: which people? Those people who like to watch football. so, you must use plural. ( I must too)

Marxism is one of those theories that ARE ~~(is?)~~ seen as left-wing. Same comment as above. Which theories? Those theories that are seen as left wing. "That" gives an explanation of those theories and we can assume that it belongs to "those theories."

Graham, like so many other Harry Potter fans, IS ~~(are?)~~ an avid reader. This is correct!

Jane, like most nurses, CARES ~~(care?)~~ deeply about her patients. --Such sentences confuse people. The sentence between commas is an extra explanation so when deciding whether to use singular or plural, don't read this sentence. Just read the sentence in pink. Jane is singular and you should use is. This is correct too!

Elaine is one of those people that LOVE ~~(loves?)~~ to go shopping. Same comment as your first and second sentence.

Like many people, Scott LIKES ~~(like?)~~ to relax. ---Here, the one who likes to relax is only Scott. Now that Scott is singular, use is. This is correct.

I am so sorry again.

Re: Verbs...

Doll — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:45:08 GMT

Bob is one of those people who ~~LIKE~~ (likes?) to watch football. -- Comment this sentence like that:: For example, there are four people who likes to watch football. Bob, Ana, Barbara and Deniz. Bob is one of them and yo uare talking about Bob. In your sentence, Ana, Barbara and Deniz are "those people." So, Bob is "one of them." At the same time, Ä± mean Barbara, Deniz and Ana by "them".
Marxism is one of those theories that ~~ARE~~ (is?) seen as left-wing.

Graham, like so many other Harry Potter fans, IS ~~(are?)~~ an avid reader.

Jane, like most nurses, CARES ~~(care?)~~ deeply about her patients. --Such sentences confuse people. The sentence between commas is an extra explanation so when deciding whether to use singular or plural, don't read this sentence. Just read the sentence in pink. Jane is singular and you should use is.

Elaine is one of those people that ~~LOVE~~ (loves?) to go shopping.

Like many people, Scott LIKES ~~(like?)~~ to relax. ---Here, the one who likes to relax is only Scott. Now that Scott is singular, use is.

I underlined the places where you should be careful about when you decide whether you should use is or are.

Re: Is this sentence correct (so)?

Clive — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:37:45 GMT

Hi,\

Is this sentence correct? No.

- They have played football, so have I.

If not, why? It's two sentences incorrectly joined by a comma.

Say either They have played football. So have I.

or They have played football, and so have I.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: comma and where

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:56:01 GMT

Hi...

Examples I'm not sure about:

I went to Glasgow University, where I read History.

He went to Glasgow, where he watched a football match.

He was sent to Glasgow, where he spent several days.

Thanks all...

Rob