0
GainRain Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Commas

"He is here to help, not to hinder, the team."
"He is here to help not to hinder the team."

"He is here not to hinder, but to help, the team."
"He is here not to hinder but to help the team."

Could the versions without the comma pair mean something different?

  

Top answer

Could the versions without the comma pair mean something different? All four of your sentences are understandable, but your word order and use of commas is not correct. In the first pair of sentences, use a comma when you want your reader to briefly pause in reading or speaking.

— JohnParis

  • Could the versions without the comma pair mean something different?
  • All four of your sentences are understandable, but your word order and use of commas is not correct.
  • In the first pair of sentences, use a comma when you want your reader to briefly pause in reading or speaking.
  • He is here to help, not hinder, the team .
  • This sentence flows naturally and has the proper cadence to get your point across.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0

Could the versions without the comma pair mean something different?

All four of your sentences are understandable, but your word order and use of commas is not correct.
In the first pair of sentences, use a comma when you want your reader to briefly pause in reading or sp
0
0
So,

"He is here to help, not to hinder, the team." (most-standard English)
"He is here to help, not to hinder the team." (standard E
0
0
----...---,,,----

So,

"He is here to help, not to hinder, the team." (most-standard English)
"He is here to help, not to hinde
0
0
Hi,
Please stop doing it. You are asking impatiently the very same questions over and over again; it is rude. Just wait!

I'm sure someone will answer your questions soon.

Regards
0
0
GainRain----...---,,,----So, "He is here to help, not to hinder, the team." (most-standard English)" No, I did not say that. I said that it is acceptable English; He is here to help, not to hinder the team." (standard English)" No, again, only just acceptable English.
0
0
Would this:

"He is here not to hinder the team, but to help the team."

be a good replacement for this:


"He is here not to hinder
0
0
The use of the words "he is here not to..." is awkward. That is what I am trying to tell you. Most people don't construct a sentence using that wording. It is not incorrect, it's simply not a natural, flowing way of expressing the thought. It sounds old fashioned and dated.
Why don't you say: "He isn't here to hinder the team....."
0
0
Thank you for you replies, JohnParis.

How about these:

"He is not here to hinder the team, but to help the team."

"He is not here to hinder, but
0
0
GainRainThank you for you replies, JohnParis. You're welcome. How about these: "He is not here to hinder the team, but to help the team." I don't like it because you repeat the word "team" twice. There are better ways to rephrase this sentence. "He is not here to hinder, but to help the team."
0

Related Questions