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Joon2257 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Participle phrase and comma
In using commas in participle phrases, some grammar books say that if a participle phrase comes at the end of a sentence, a comma usually precedes the phrase.
On the other hand, some people say that it is sometimes OK to omit a comma. If possible, I want you to explain using the examples below.
1. Malani watched her little baby, drinking a cup of coffee.
(Someone says that I should put a comma before 'drinking'.
In this sentence, does the meaning become different with or without a comma?)
2. Malani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee.
Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card.
(Someone says that it doesn't matter whether I put or omit a comma before 'drinking'
and 'using'. Why?)
On the other hand, some people say that it is sometimes OK to omit a comma. If possible, I want you to explain using the examples below.
1. Malani watched her little baby, drinking a cup of coffee.
(Someone says that I should put a comma before 'drinking'.
In this sentence, does the meaning become different with or without a comma?)
2. Malani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee.
Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card.
(Someone says that it doesn't matter whether I put or omit a comma before 'drinking'
and 'using'. Why?)
Top answer
#1-- The commas are not the problem; it is the placement of the participial vis a vis its referent. In your first sentence: M ary watched her baby drinking a coke -- the baby is drinking. Mary watched her baby , drinking a coke- - presumably, Mary is drinking, but the placement of the participial near 'baby' causes it to remain confusing as to who is drinking.
- #1-- The commas are not the problem; it is the placement of the participial vis a vis its referent.
- In your first sentence: M ary watched her baby drinking a coke -- the baby is drinking.
- Mary watched her baby , drinking a coke- - presumably, Mary is drinking, but the placement of the participial near 'baby' causes it to remain confusing as to who is drinking.
- This sentence should be recast; it is not good composition: Drinking a coke, Mary watched her baby .
- #2 -- Movies do not drink and bills do not use anything, so there is no semantic confusion.
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2 Answers
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#1-- The commas are not the problem; it is the placement of the participial vis a vis its referent. In your first sentence:
Mary watched her baby drinking a coke-- the baby is drinking.
Mary watched her baby, drinking a coke-- presumably, Mary is drinking, but the placement of the participial near 'baby' causes it to remain confusing as to who is drinking
Mary watched her baby drinking a coke-- the baby is drinking.
Mary watched her baby, drinking a coke-- presumably, Mary is drinking, but the placement of the participial near 'baby' causes it to remain confusing as to who is drinking
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Hi.
Joon2257 wrote these sentences to ask questions in his starting post of this thread:
2. Malani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee.
Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card.
I don't knwo but I think as to the setence "Melani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee" without a comma after the word "mo
Joon2257 wrote these sentences to ask questions in his starting post of this thread:
2. Malani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee.
Malani paid her electric bill using her credit card.
I don't knwo but I think as to the setence "Melani watched a movie drinking a cup of coffee" without a comma after the word "mo
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