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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Comma Confusion
Could someone please explain to me why commas are needed after "when" and "after" in sentences like these:
"You’re pregnant,” the doctor said, after completing the exam.
"Midday," the man said, after they discussed tire prices.
and
"Jane?" he said, when she'd finished.
"I'll just run in," he said, when they got back outside.
I'm confused. Are the commas necessary?
"You’re pregnant,” the doctor said, after completing the exam.
"Midday," the man said, after they discussed tire prices.
and
"Jane?" he said, when she'd finished.
"I'll just run in," he said, when they got back outside.
I'm confused. Are the commas necessary?
Top answer
Something to do with compound predicates, maybe?
- Something to do with compound predicates, maybe?
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3 Answers
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Hello, Anonymous:
Great question. I have been googling like mad ( = as if I were crazy) trying to find a rule. I have failed, so I shall NOT
answer your question.
I only wanted to point out that your quotation could be changed to:
After completing the exam, the doctor said, "You're pregnant."
With you, I shall now wait for someone to answer us.
Great question. I have been googling like mad ( = as if I were crazy) trying to find a rule. I have failed, so I shall NOT
answer your question.
I only wanted to point out that your quotation could be changed to:
After completing the exam, the doctor said, "You're pregnant."
With you, I shall now wait for someone to answer us.
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Hello, Anonymous:
It's I again! Since no one else has answered yet, I shall give you an (not "the") answer to your question: Are the
commas necessary? After getting an answer on the Web from a professional American writer, I can now suggest that
the answer is NO.
IMHO, your sentences are fine without any commas after "said."
You probably
It's I again! Since no one else has answered yet, I shall give you an (not "the") answer to your question: Are the
commas necessary? After getting an answer on the Web from a professional American writer, I can now suggest that
the answer is NO.
IMHO, your sentences are fine without any commas after "said."
You probably
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