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SpoonfedBaby Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Do I need a comma before IS?

Dear Tutors,Emotion: smile

I hope that everybody is having a nice week-end.

I have a punctuation problem for this type of sentence:
One thing I have difficulty adapting to in English, is the pronunciation.
But the first question, is "Where was she born?"
Do I need a comma before "is?" Am I right to end the second sentence with an interrogation mark? I think I don't need the interrogation mark if it is an indirect question. But I don't know if it is a direct or an indirect question.Emotion: hmm

Thanks in advance,

SFB

  

Top answer

1. No, I wouldn't use the comma there; "is the pronounciation" is very directly related to "one thing". 2.

— Pieanne

  • 1.
  • No, I wouldn't use the comma there; "is the pronounciation" is very directly related to "one thing".
  • 2.
  • Yes, you need the question mark in the sentence such as you've written it: the "" say it's direct speech.
  • Reported speech - without quotation marks / question mark- would have been: "but the first question is (about/to know) where she was born".
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13 Answers
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1. No, I wouldn't use the comma there; "is the pronounciation" is very directly related to "one thing".

2. Yes, you need the question mark in the sentence such as you've written it: the "" say it's direct speech. Reported speech - without quotation marks / question mark- would have been: "but the first question is (about/to know) where she was born".
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Thanks pieanne[W]

I'm going to review what I have written lately to correct my punctuation.
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Feel free to post/ask, Baby (if I may)! See you!
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One thing I have difficulty adapting to in English, is the pronunciation.
But the first question, is "Where was she born?"


I believe both commas [above] are wrong. I'd write this:
One thing I have difficulty adapting to in English is the pronunciation.
But the first question is, "Where w
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I'm with Davkett on this one too.
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I'm with Davkett too!
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Oh yes, so am I! I had focused on the ? in the 2nd question, but there shouldn't be a comma either. Maybe " : " ?
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Hi Pieanne,

Although I have a tendency to misuse colons, I believe you are right to suggest that it would be a legitimate option here (to replace the second comma).
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Yes, I think so, especially before a direct question.
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I think this would be fair enough, though:

But the first question is, where was she born?

MrP
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