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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Short version wanted

Hi. I want to make the answer part "Yes, you can change your seat only if you're wearing a shirt" shorter. Can I make it "Yes, you can, only if you're wearing a shirt"? Should I put a comma before "only" when the previous full sentence version doesn't have a comma there? Perhaps, should I put a comma there in the full sentnece version, too? Thank you in advance for your help.

A: Mr. Lee, can I change my seat?
B: Yes, you can, only if you're wearing a shirt.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Can I make it "Yes, you can, only if you're wearing a shirt"? No, for semantic reasons it is unclear. Shorten it this way: A: Mr.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Can I make it "Yes, you can, only if you're wearing a shirt"?
  • No, for semantic reasons it is unclear.
  • Shorten it this way: A: Mr.
  • Lee, can I change my seat?
  • B: Yes, but only if you're wearing a shirt.
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1 Answers
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Anonymous Can I make it "Yes, you can, only if you're wearing a shirt"?
No, for semantic reasons it is unclear. Shorten it this way:

A: Mr. Lee, can I change my seat?
B: Yes, but only if you're wearing a shirt.
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