Comma?

Question

Should I place the comma here:Today, I saw a big man. (yes/no?) Yesterday, I did not go to school. (yes/no?)  Generelly: Do we always place a comma after an adverb (clause), or does it depend on how long the adverb is, or? (btw: do place comma before or on both occasions here?)What about this sentence: We are happy to have you answer questions posted in our forums if you are polite and if you try to be accurate.Correct me if I'm wrong! The reason why we do not place a comma here: "(,)and if you try to be accurate" is that this sentence: "If you try to be accurate" is not a main clause (independant clause), right? This is bad punctuation, isn't it? For this topic we use a few phrasal verbs that are similar, but have different meanings, but after you've watched this lesson, you will do it right. I would rather say: For this topic we use a few phrasal verbs that are similar but have different meanings. After you've watched this lesson, you will do it right.  The reason why I leave out the comma at but have, is that 'have' is the verb related back to phrasal verb, and you cannot split here, right? The same example in: He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly Really appreciate your help, ESL Student, Jacob

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

First of all, I'll have to tell you that there are no punctuation rules that everybody observes throughout the English-speaking world. There is no Language Academy or any other similar institution anywhere in the Anglo-Saxon world. That is why it is quite common for people from different countries to use slightly different punctuation.

Lundbye95Today, I saw a big man. (yes/no?)
Yesterday, I did not go to school. (yes/no?)

No comma is needed as a comma makes the reader pause, and no pause is necessary to understand the sentence. However, if for any reason you think the initial adverbial deserves special emphasis, the comma isn't wrong.

Lundbye95Generelly: Do we always place a comma after an adverb (clause), or does it depend on how long the adverb is, or?

The longer the initial expression of time, place or manner is, the more likely a comma is.

Lundbye95What about this sentence: We are happy to have you answer questions posted in our forums if you are polite and if you try to be accurate.

It is customary not to use commas before conjunctions beginning subordinate clauses. However, an exception may be justified.

Lundbye95This is bad punctuation, isn't it?
For this topic we use a few phrasal verbs that are similar, but have different meanings, but after you've watched this lesson, you will do it right.

Yes, it is bad punctuation - or at least rather exceptional punctuation.

Lundbye95I would rather say:
For this topic we use a few phrasal verbs that are similar but have different meanings. After you've watched this lesson, you will do it right.

I would rather write in the same way as you.

Lundbye95The reason why I leave out the comma at but have, is that 'have' is the verb related back to phrasal verb, and you cannot split here, right? The same example in: He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly

As a general rule, a comma is only needed if the main clause follows the subordinate clause. But and and are a co-ordinating conjunctions and thus they don't begin subordinate clauses.

Cf.
I'll talk to him if I see him.
If I see him, I'll talk to him.

CB

Lundbye95 · Answer

Thanks a lot for your explanation - really helped.

Comma?

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