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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Participial construction
I have a question.
I thought the participial construction should be with a comma(,) in a formal writining.
but I found out participial constructions without a comma so many times from not only
informal writings but also even formal essays.
for example,
1. The dog busted a tooth playing catch.
StartFragment>
2. They are in a large music hall waiting for a concert to begin.
I considered 'playing catch' and 'waiting for a concert to begin' as participial constructions.
If they are participial constructions, why they don't have commas in even formal
compositons?
Aren't they participial constructions, then?
please help me to solve the problem.
I thought the participial construction should be with a comma(,) in a formal writining.
but I found out participial constructions without a comma so many times from not only
informal writings but also even formal essays.
for example,
1. The dog busted a tooth playing catch.
StartFragment>
2. They are in a large music hall waiting for a concert to begin.
I considered 'playing catch' and 'waiting for a concert to begin' as participial constructions.
If they are participial constructions, why they don't have commas in even formal
compositons?
Aren't they participial constructions, then?
please help me to solve the problem.
Top answer
I have always called these structures clause equivalents, but terminology isn't important. In English, commas are usually used to make the meaning clear. This very often means that the reader is supposed to pause when he sees a comma because that will help him to understand the sentence better.
- I have always called these structures clause equivalents, but terminology isn't important.
- In English, commas are usually used to make the meaning clear.
- This very often means that the reader is supposed to pause when he sees a comma because that will help him to understand the sentence better.
- As a result, clause equivalents often have a comma after them, not so often when the main clause precedes them.
- Examples: When turning a corner, I ran into an old friend.
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3 Answers
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I have always called these structures clause equivalents, but terminology isn't important. In English, commas are usually used to make the meaning clear. This very often means that the reader is supposed to pause when he sees a comma because that will help him to understand the sentence better.
As a result, clause equivalents often have a comma after them, not so often when
As a result, clause equivalents often have a comma after them, not so often when
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AnonymousI thought the participial construction should be with a commaThis normally applies only when the participial construction is at the beginning:
Playing catch, the dog ...
CJ
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I would approach this type of sentences this way.
The main sentence body + modified by and adverbial structure.
John fished patiently on his boat + while enjoying the view with a cold beer on a hot summer day.
The underlined is an adverbial clause with participle construction which is further supported by a pr
The main sentence body + modified by and adverbial structure.
John fished patiently on his boat + while enjoying the view with a cold beer on a hot summer day.
The underlined is an adverbial clause with participle construction which is further supported by a pr
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