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Taka Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Which

Do these below all work fine?

If they do, what is the semantical difference between the restrictive and the non-restrictive usage?

I received an e-mail which said he was coming here tomorrow.
I received an e-mail, which said he was coming here tomorrow.

I received an e-mail saying he was coming here tomorrow.
I received an e-mail, saying he was coming here tomorrow.
  

Top answer

They're all okay by me. The difference is in emphasis. With the comma, the emphasis is on what you received.

— Avangi

  • They're all okay by me.
  • The difference is in emphasis.
  • With the comma, the emphasis is on what you received.
  • It was an email.
  • ) Without the comma, the emphasis is on the message .
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4 Answers
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They're all okay by me.

The difference is in emphasis.

With the comma, the emphasis is on what you received. It was an email. (I got an email from him.)

Without the comma, the emphasis is on the message. (I got word that he's coming here tomorrow.)
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As Avangi is a native speaker, I am not going to argue with him. I'll just give my opinion.

I received an e-mail which said he was coming here tomorrow.
I received an e-mail, which said he was coming here tomorrow.

Without a comma, I may have received more than one e-mail and one of these s
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I'll drink to that! Emotion: beer
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