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TaraC Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Comma Usage & "Fast" vs."Quickly"
Are these examples of using commas inappropriately because they separate subject & verb?
1) "The hesitant student comes up first, releasing a howl reminiscent of a wounded animal."
2) "...until a dust cloud appears on the horizon, approaching fast."
Also with sentence #2...should "quickly" be used instead of "fast" or should it be "fast approaching" or is it okay the way it is? Thanks.
1) "The hesitant student comes up first, releasing a howl reminiscent of a wounded animal."
2) "...until a dust cloud appears on the horizon, approaching fast."
Also with sentence #2...should "quickly" be used instead of "fast" or should it be "fast approaching" or is it okay the way it is? Thanks.
Top answer
They are fine; they do not separate the subject ( student, cloud ) from its verb ( comes, appears ); they merely offset the nonfinite clauses. I would use quickly .
- They are fine; they do not separate the subject ( student, cloud ) from its verb ( comes, appears ); they merely offset the nonfinite clauses.
- I would use quickly .
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2 Answers
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They are fine; they do not separate the subject (student, cloud) from its verb (comes, appears); they merely offset the nonfinite clauses.
I would use quickly.
I would use quickly.
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Hello TaraC
I think you need the comma in your sentences. There the present participle construct is used to give additional information about the subject, and the rule is to put a comma in such a case. Otherwise, some confusion could take place. For example, let's compare the two sentences below.
[1] Bill gazed at Monica, talking on the phone.
[2] Bill gaze
I think you need the comma in your sentences. There the present participle construct is used to give additional information about the subject, and the rule is to put a comma in such a case. Otherwise, some confusion could take place. For example, let's compare the two sentences below.
[1] Bill gazed at Monica, talking on the phone.
[2] Bill gaze
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