Comma before 'who'

Question

Hello, I'm wondering if there should be a comma or no comma.I take classes alongside my mother who I am a current carer for. I take classes alongside my mother, who I am a current carer for.

GPY · Accepted Answer

Comma.

"a current carer for" is not the greatest phrase ever written, in my opinion. I wonder if it may be better to say "who I am currently caring for".

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousa comma or no comma

Comma. If the preceding expression (my mother) uniquely identifies the referent (i.e., the entity in the real world you wish to refer to), you always put a comma before the relative clause. It's impossible to restrict the referent any more than you have already done by stating that unique referent, so a restrictive clause (i.e., without a comma) makes no sense.

Now if you have a mother who you care for and another mother (or several other mothers) who you do not care for, you'd have an argument for omitting the comma. It's doubtful that that is the case.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I read your reply many times but I think I understand it now!

Laugh out loud. Only the one

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI read your reply many times but I think I understand it now!

You can always ask more questions if you need help understanding any of our answers.

CJ

Comma before 'who'

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