Place commas here?

Question

Hi. Would you place commas in the places as they are placed? Would you give me a short explanation why you would? Please see the underlined parts for commas in reference. As for no.1, I find myself confused as to what to do when there is what seems to be a subordinate clause like the one in the sentence, "if you do that," in the middle of the sentence. As to no. 2, as for me, I don't see a particularly convincing reason for placing a comma as it did, except that if there were no comma (in the place placed) the sentence as a whole wouldn't be easy to follow (if I am not mistaken).

1. These people say if you do that, you do harm/good.

2. People become joyful when they have someone always to talk to, and feel lonesome when they have no one to talk to.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Would you place commas in the places as they are placed? Would you give me a short explanation why you would? Please see the underlined parts for commas in reference. As for no.1, I find myself confused as to what to do when there is what seems to be a subordinate clause like the one in the sentence, "if you do that," in the middle of the sentence. As to no. 2, as for me, I don't see a particularly convincing reason for placing a comma as it did, except that if there were no comma (in the place placed) the sentence as a whole wouldn't be easy to follow (if I am not mistaken).

1. These people say if you do that, you do harm/good.

I'd do it this way, as the whole 'if' clause is parenthetical. In other words, the writer is saying 'Oh, wait, by the way, here's a condition'. I also find it flows better with the optional 'that'.

These people say (that), if you do that, you do harm/good.

2. People become joyful when they have someone always to talk to, and feel lonesome when they have no one to talk to. I agree with your comments about this. I prefer a comma here.

Best wishes, Clive

Place commas here?

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