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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Re: need to place a comma before a restrictive phrase
Hi.
1. Do you think the underlined parts are restrictive or nonrestrictive to these sentences?
He searched the refrigerator(a comma or no comma here?) looking for some cold milk.
He looked into the refrigerator (a comma or no comma here?) looking for some cold milk.
2. Do you think we should always put a comma before a restrictive phrase, either adjectival or adverbial, no matter what comes in between, or are we allowed not to place a comma before it eventhough it is restrictive if there are some prepositional phrases or interrupting phrases (as I call them) that come before it?
He came to school looking for his son. -- the underlined adverbial phrase seems restrictive/essential to the overall sentence and thus it seems there should be no comma.
But if we place some things like below before it, it seems to be there is a need to place a comma. Could these be done? Or should it be done under these situations?
He came to school, which is located two milles north of his house, looking for his son.
He came to school in the northern part of town, looking for his son.
1. Do you think the underlined parts are restrictive or nonrestrictive to these sentences?
He searched the refrigerator(a comma or no comma here?) looking for some cold milk.
He looked into the refrigerator (a comma or no comma here?) looking for some cold milk.
2. Do you think we should always put a comma before a restrictive phrase, either adjectival or adverbial, no matter what comes in between, or are we allowed not to place a comma before it eventhough it is restrictive if there are some prepositional phrases or interrupting phrases (as I call them) that come before it?
He came to school looking for his son. -- the underlined adverbial phrase seems restrictive/essential to the overall sentence and thus it seems there should be no comma.
But if we place some things like below before it, it seems to be there is a need to place a comma. Could these be done? Or should it be done under these situations?
He came to school, which is located two milles north of his house, looking for his son.
He came to school in the northern part of town, looking for his son.
Top answer
1. I say use a comma. I'd consider both phrases nonrestrictive.
- 1.
- I say use a comma.
- I'd consider both phrases nonrestrictive.
- 2.
- I agree with your analysis of the first example.
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3 Answers
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1. I say use a comma. I'd consider both phrases nonrestrictive.
2. I agree with your analysis of the first example. I'm confused by your written description of the use of commas: "Do you think we should always put a comma before a restrictive phrase?" It sounds to me as if you have it backward.
Generally, a nonrestrictive phrase is preceded by a comma.
A restrictiv
2. I agree with your analysis of the first example. I'm confused by your written description of the use of commas: "Do you think we should always put a comma before a restrictive phrase?" It sounds to me as if you have it backward.
Generally, a nonrestrictive phrase is preceded by a comma.
A restrictiv
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I guess that last sentence could be confusing. Perhaps you intended "in the northern part of town" to be nonrestrictive, and only "looking for his son" to be restrictive. In that case, you'd omit the "the" as you did, and place a comma before "in the northern part of town."
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Edit. Perhaps I'm reading too much into these sentences.
Why is "He searched the refrigerator, looking for milk" nonrestrictive, and
"He went to school looking for his son" restrictive? Perhaps its just my interpretation of the context.
Actually, you could reverse them by simply removing the comma from the refrigerator example and placing it in the school example.
Why is "He searched the refrigerator, looking for milk" nonrestrictive, and
"He went to school looking for his son" restrictive? Perhaps its just my interpretation of the context.
Actually, you could reverse them by simply removing the comma from the refrigerator example and placing it in the school example.
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