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David Hatton Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Clause or no clause...
'Full of impatience, the class waited to enter the hall.'
In the above sentence, it is clearly reasonable to have a comma between the two parts. However, I think 'full of impatience' is an adverbial phrase but it's been suggested that the two parts are separated by a comma because 'the comma goes between two clauses'. I see this as an incorrect statement for this sentence - am I right?
In the above sentence, it is clearly reasonable to have a comma between the two parts. However, I think 'full of impatience' is an adverbial phrase but it's been suggested that the two parts are separated by a comma because 'the comma goes between two clauses'. I see this as an incorrect statement for this sentence - am I right?
Top answer
David Hatton 'the comma goes between two clauses'. I have never heard of this "rule". It certainly isn't true: I know that he is here.
- David Hatton 'the comma goes between two clauses'.
- I have never heard of this "rule".
- It certainly isn't true: I know that he is here.
- In your sentence, a comma is needed for the sake of clarity.
- In speech there is a short pause after impatience and whenever there's a pause in speech, it's a good idea to use a comma.
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4 Answers
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David Hatton'the comma goes between two clauses'.I have never heard of this "rule". It certainly isn't true: I know that he is here. In your sentence, a comma is needed for the sake of clarity. In speech there is a short pause after impatience and whenever there's a pause in speech, it's a good idea to use a comma.
CB
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That's how I've always taught it; I thought the 'rule' was a spurious one and could see no point in it. And, with no verb in 'Full of impatience', that's not a clause anyway.
Thanks - just needed a second brain to check it wasn't just me!
Thanks - just needed a second brain to check it wasn't just me!
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David Hatton it's been suggested that the two parts are separated by a comma because 'the comma goes between two clauses'.I think the only way you can get a clause out of that is to theorize that it's implicitly a non-finite participle clause from which the initial "being" has been deleted.
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Quite; I'm of the opinion it's an adverbial phrase and can't justify calling it a clause, at least not to the 10 / 11 year-olds to whom I have to get the concept...
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