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Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
"which" or "that" | Use of submit
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Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #1 (permalink) Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:33 am   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
"Many years ago Rolling Eyes I had to make a very important decision..."

Why did the writer not use a comma?
Irina Niculiu
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Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #2 (permalink) Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:33 am   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
Welcome, Irina!

The comma is optional after a short introductory adverbial phrase.
Conchita
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Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #3 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:09 am   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
And as our English teachers told us in American high school, "When in doubt, leave it out."

There's one context where speakers of continental European languages often make a mistake in English.

They write:
Quote:
"We saw, that the weather was nice."

But it should be:
Quote:
"We saw that the weather was nice."

With no comma.
Jamie (K)
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Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #4 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:10 am   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
Jamie (K) wrote:
They write:

Quote:
"We saw, that the weather was nice."


This would be wrong in French or Spanish, too, whereas in German a comma is required here.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #5 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:15 am   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
Thank you all for your help.
Laughing
Irina Niculiu
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 11
Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #6 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 13:34 pm   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
Conchita wrote:
Jamie (K) wrote:
They write:

Quote:
"We saw, that the weather was nice."


This would be wrong in French or Spanish, too, whereas in German a comma is required here.

In German and all East European languages, like Romanian, which I think is the language of the lady who posted the question.
Jamie (K)
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Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
that or which; comma #7 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 14:42 pm   that or which; comma		  
Thank you for answering.

On the other hand:
Should it not be "Eastern European" Crying or Very sad languages or decent...
"East" referes to the geographical attribute.
Irina Niculiu
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 11
Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #8 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 16:07 pm   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
You can say both "Eastern European" or "East European". It doesn't matter. Sometimes "east" is used as an adjective or in the names of regions.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma? #9 (permalink) Fri Jun 08, 2007 18:57 pm   Comma and more commas: Why did the writer not use a comma?		  
Perhaps the question does not belong in this forum, i.e. What do you want to talk about?

Tom
Tom
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Joined: 30 May 2006
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"which" or "that" | Use of submit
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