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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Commas with then?

Which way is correct for this sentence?

Why did Jay then want to ride up to the maintenance office?

Why did Jay, then, want to ride up to the maintenance office?

I've had suggestions that "then" is not necessary in the sentence and needs to be either separated by commas or taken out of the sentence, but in this case I have to leave it there.

Thanks for any help. Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Hi Other teachers may disagree, but I would say the commas are there only to show the natural way that you wish to say the sentence Possibly the first is just a mark of time.. - He said we should go to the office at midday - Why did Jay then want to ride up to the maintenance office? And the second, possibly, is raising a question "why?..

— Dave_anon

  • Hi Other teachers may disagree, but I would say the commas are there only to show the natural way that you wish to say the sentence Possibly the first is just a mark of time..
  • - He said we should go to the office at midday - Why did Jay then want to ride up to the maintenance office?
  • And the second, possibly, is raising a question "why?..
  • - Before, he had always said that he hated the people who worked in the maintenance office - Why did Jay,then, want to ride up to the maintenance office?
  • Either is correct - I think you have to listen to how you would say it Best regards, Dave
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2 Answers
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Hi

Other teachers may disagree, but I would say the commas are there only to show the natural way that you wish to say the sentence

Possibly the first is just a mark of time..

- He said we should go to the office at midday

- Why did Jay then want to ride up to the maintenance office?

And the second, possibly, is raising a question "why?..

- Bef
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Why did Jay want to ride up to the maintenance office then?
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