Ch 13 · Lesson 9English · Chapter 13 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
Commas: which one, or extra news?
No commas when the clause tells you which one; commas when it only adds extra news. And never that after a comma.
The short version
Commas change what the sentence means
, Leeds, .
Why?Hide
A defining clause tells you which one and takes no commas. A non-defining clause only adds extra detail you could delete, and it needs commas on both sides. The difference is real: the passengers who were injured went to hospital means only the injured ones, while commas would mean all of them.
Commas: which one, or extra news?
Ask one question: does the clause tell you ?
| Kind | Commas? | Example |
|---|---|---|
. | ||
, 70, . |
You have one mother, so who is 70 does not tell you which one. It is extra news: take it out, and My mother still works is complete.
The commas can change the meaning:
Leeds .(I have more than one sister: this one), Leeds, .(I have one sister; she lives in Leeds)
Going further: Who, which and that: people and things and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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