Commas can be used for and with prepositions?

Question

1. He is a smart, cute boy.2. He is a smart and cute boy.3. I am happy with you, with her.4. I am happy with you and with her.I have learned that commas can be used for and with adjectives and then sentences like 3 are also possible?Commas can be used for and with prepositions?What do you native English speakers think?Thank you so much as usual.

GPY · Accepted Answer

(3) feels abbreviated or stylised. It would not normally be used in ordinary English.

Hans51 · Answer

In return, she said, Pyongyang has responded only with aggression, with its nuclear test last month and long-range missile launch just a month later.

I am really sorry for dragging this question out but because of this sentence, I fell into confusion so I need your help again.

I think that ',with its nuclear test...' falls still under the influence of the verb respond like responded with its nuclear test...

But someone insists that it means that 'and its unclear test was last month...'

What do you think?

I think that the former one is a natural way of understanding these sentences.

I hope to hear from you again. Thank you so much as usual in advance.

GPY · Answer

Hans51I think that ',with its nuclear test...' falls still under the influence of the verb respond like responded with its nuclear test...But someone insists that it means that 'and its unclear test was last month...'

While it is not impossible to read it your way, I think very likely it is not intended like that, but is intended roughly as "someone" says. I would not say that the paraphrase with "and" exactly captures the meaning of the original, though. The original gives a stronger sense that the nuclear test and missile launch are part of the aggression.

Commas can be used for and with prepositions?

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