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Ryansamturner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Comma before 'which'?

Is there a specific rule with regards to using commas before the word 'which'.

'Without consulting Sarah, I took a small detour and drove to the McDonald’s drive-thru, which was close to our flat.'

I don't know if the comma should be in the above sentence, I think it may disrupt the flow of speech. What do you think?
  

Top answer

ryansamturner Is there a specific rule with regards to using commas before the word 'which'. ' In your sentence, which has a comma, the 'which was close to our flat' gives extra information about one particular McDonalds known to the speaker. This is an example of a non-defining relative clause.

— Fivejedjon

  • ryansamturner Is there a specific rule with regards to using commas before the word 'which'.
  • ' In your sentence, which has a comma, the 'which was close to our flat' gives extra information about one particular McDonalds known to the speaker.
  • This is an example of a non-defining relative clause.
  • If we omit the comma, then the 'which was close to our flat' defines which particular one of several McDonalds the speaker is taking about.
  • This would be an example of a defining relative clause .
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3 Answers
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ryansamturnerIs there a specific rule with regards to using commas before the word 'which'. 'Without consulting Sarah, I took a small detour and drove to the McDonald’s drive-thru, which was close to our flat.'
In your sentence, which has a comma, the 'which was close to our flat' gives extra information about one particular McDonalds known to the speaker. Thi
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ryansamturnerrule with regards to using commas before the word 'which'.
For an example where the comma changes the meaning, see

CJ
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I think it may disrupt the flow of speech. What do you think?

Necessary commas do not disrupt the flow of "speech".

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