With and without a comma

Question

Hai,They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research.(with a comma)They did a charity performance on the first night to raise money for AIDS research.(without a comma)what is the difference with and without a comma before "to-infinitive" phrase?Happy New Year & Wish you all the best next year.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hai,

They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research.(with a comma)

They did a charity performance on the first night to raise money for AIDS research.(without a comma)

what is the difference with and without a comma before "to-infinitive" phrase?

Happy New Year & Wish you all the best next year.

Hi,

Thanks.

'To raise' is used in both sentences as a verb of purpose; you don't put a comma in this sort of verb usage. So, the second sentence, without the comma in it, is the correct one.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think so, I copied this sentence (the one with a comma) from a dictionary.

According to most grammar books, a comma can be used to separate a subordinate clause from its main clause to make disintegration in meaning.

take note.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,

In my opinion it is mistake to put a comma here. I can only cite the example from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: 'an appeal to raise money for victims of the disaster.' (No comma.)

Anonymous · Answer

check this out:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/charity_1

In the case of your example: an appeal to raise money for victims of the disaster

A comma cannot be inserted before "to-infinitive" phrase because the infinitive phrase here serves as a complement; you need the to-infinitive to complete your noun "appeal". That's why it is called a complement.

My example is different.

They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research.

In my example, without the "to-infinitive" phrase, my sentence or main clause is still complete. That's why my to-infinitive phrase is an adjunct or adverbial clause.

take note.

Anonymous · Answer

Anonymouscheck this out: In the case of your example: an appeal to raise money for victims of the disaster A comma cannot be inserted before "to-infinitive" phrase because the infinitive phrase here serves as a complement; you need the to-infinitive to complete your noun "appeal". That's why it is called a complement. My example is different. They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research.In my example, without the "to-infinitive" phrase, my sentence or main clause is still complete. That's why my to-infinitive phrase is an adjunct or adverbial clause. take note.

In the "They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research"

there is a purpose "to raise money for AIDS research " which can be omitted from the whole sentence. Then you're left with the simple sentence "They did a charity performance on the first night ." We can omit an adjectival modifier 'a charity ' and the adverbial 'on the first night ' thus simplyfing the main sentence to 'They did performance'. Now, if you want to give a purpose of their activity you have to use the construction 'in order to'. In other words: "They did performance in order to raise money" (no comma) or you can omit the phrase 'in order' and simply write "They did performance to raise money" (no comma). The adverbial and adjectival modifier in your oryginal sentence have nothing to do with the comma.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous~~what~~ What is the difference with and without a comma before "to-infinitive" phrase?

The difference is simple. The version with the comma is wrong.

CJ

With and without a comma

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