By Verbs, Commas

Re: comma usage

.First: No comma before to establish. the context of the nonfinite clause is restrictive of failure, not parenthetical.Second: definitely NO comma before sparked. You cannot place a single comma between Subject and Verb.

Re: 'Adjective Phrases' can function as subject

were in both casesI'd use were in the 2nd too too, because this is a plurality of items which are all printed, and you have AND (not or) between them. The author went after the singular in "name," but I think this was wrong.

Re: as

Hi N2g, I'm probably too pooped to make any sense. After you confirmed that this was not a "stand-alone" exercise sentence, but an excerpt from a news article, I began thinking in terms of "previous context," specifically that it had already been extablished that food...

Re: need help from experts

Hi, I had a few questions, or rather need clarification on a few things. “You can't do that”, they shouted from the balcony, “you can't, you can't.” ( Why is the comma outside the quote and not inside it?) It's a matter of the style you choose to follow. If you search the Forum,...

Re: just because... doesn't mean

No comma. That would be a comma between subject and verb -- at least by my interpretation. You can use the comma and add it, or reverse the order of the clauses, also adding it:It doesn't mean I don't know how to use a taser just because I'm a doctor.But the original order, without...

Re: conjunctive adverb with comma and semicolon

Hi, I think you said the following do not need a conjunction because a semicolon establishes the connection. She loved him with all her heart; she never told him. sounds OK I took out the garbage; it was smelly. sounds stupid. Can I write like these for those two examples of yours? Yes. She...

Re: conjunctive adverb with comma and semicolon

Thank you, Clive. I think you said the following do not need a conjunction because a semicolon establishes the connection. She loved him with all her heart; she never told him. sounds OK I took out the garbage; it was smelly. sounds stupid. Can I write like these for those two examples of...

Re: conjunctive adverb with comma and semicolon

Hi, Usually a semicolon is used to with two independent clauses when a conjunctive adverb is used. I don't agree. A semi-colon joins two independent clauses. eg correct Tom loved Mary; Mary did not love Tom. eg incorrect Tom loved Mary; whereas Mary did not love Tom. 'Whereas Mary did...

Re: be it ...

Speaking of "totally clear" I have to agree with Philip. I know this wasn't part of your question, but I had to imagine a comma after "people who are able," else the verb "require" has no object. It took me several readings to sort it out, and I'm still...

conjunctive adverb with comma and semicolon

Hi, Usually a semicolon is used to with two independent clauses when a conjunctive adverb is used. Good. But I feel the two independent clauses can be independent in structure but cannot be independent in thought linkage -- that is, they have to related in thoughta and ideas. Am I right? I think...