Commas?
In a participial construction, I wonder the use of commas is required in the following cases. Could you tell me when it's generally appropriate to use commas in participial constructions?
1) My mother is sitting on the sofa (,) reading a magazine with a pipe in her mouth.
2) I always sat in the corner of my room(,) lost in a book quietly.
Top answer
I would use commas in those examples.. But not in examples like the following. eg My mother is sitting on the sofa sagging in the middle.
- I would use commas in those examples..
- But not in examples like the following.
- eg My mother is sitting on the sofa sagging in the middle.
- eg I always sat in the corner of my room painted yellow.
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I would use commas in those examples..
But not in examples like the following.
eg My mother is sitting on the sofa sagging in the middle.
eg I always sat in the corner of my room painted yellow.
01) The comma would usually be used here, but in certain contexts it might also be omitted, for example, for stylistic or rhythmic reasons.
2) Again, the comma would usually be used, except if stylistic or rhythmic concerns make its omission preferable. Note: there's an error in the sentence; it should be "...quietly lost in a book."
0teacherJapanCould you tell me when it's generally appropriate to use commas in participial constructions?
Generally they take a comma if they are at the beginning of the sentence, but they're optional at the end. (This conforms with much of the usual advice for other subordinate clauses, by the way.) In your examples I would omit the commas, especially if
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