Many people (pause 3 seconds) who can
I have learned that without a comma, I can put a pause in spoken English and then I was wondering how you native English speakers feel or what you think when I put a pause like
There are many people who can speak English. (written English, defining relative clause)
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There are many people (pause 3 seconds) who can speak English. (spoken English, defining relative clause)
Do you happen to consider it as a non-defining relative clause with the second sentence without a comma but with a pause?
When you hear the second one, how do you feel or what do you think?
Thank you so much as usual for your help and time!
Top answer
Three seconds is too long for an ordinary "comma-like" pause. A pause that long mid-sentence would be because the speaker forgot his words, or for dramatic effect, or something like that. If a non-defining clause was intended then a short pause would probably be inserted, but that sentence with a non-defining clause is unusual/unexpected and unlikely to arise in ordinary conversation.
- Three seconds is too long for an ordinary "comma-like" pause.
- A pause that long mid-sentence would be because the speaker forgot his words, or for dramatic effect, or something like that.
- If a non-defining clause was intended then a short pause would probably be inserted, but that sentence with a non-defining clause is unusual/unexpected and unlikely to arise in ordinary conversation.
- There would probably have to be extra context to confirm this interpretation to the listener.
- In reality, for the non-defining meaning, people would use some other form of words.
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Three seconds is too long for an ordinary "comma-like" pause. A pause that long mid-sentence would be because the speaker forgot his words, or for dramatic effect, or something like that.
If a non-defining clause was intended then a short pause would probably be inserted, but that sentence with a non-defining clause is unusual/unexpected and unlikely to arise in ordinary conversation. Th
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