0
Lcwang Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

If commas needed

Please advise if the pair of commas needed in the following sentences?

John, talking to the professor, seemed puzzled.
The student, talking to the professor, seemed puzzled.

Thanks for reply.
  

Top answer

You need commas for the first sentence. As for the second, it is correct as it stands but the commas can be omitted. In that case the meaning also changes: The student talking to the professor seemed puzzled.

— Cool Breeze

  • You need commas for the first sentence.
  • As for the second, it is correct as it stands but the commas can be omitted.
  • In that case the meaning also changes: The student talking to the professor seemed puzzled.
  • = The student who was talking to the professor seemed puzzled.
  • There were more than one student and the one who was talking to the professor seemed puzzled.
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.

1 Answers
0
You need commas for the first sentence. As for the second, it is correct as it stands but the commas can be omitted. In that case the meaning also changes:

The student talking to the professor seemed puzzled. = The student who was talking to the professor seemed puzzled.

There were more than one student and the one who was talking to the professor seemed puzzled.

0

Related Questions