Comma could be used before that or that's: why?

Tom · Mon Jun 12, 2006 21:23 pm *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

Hello everybody

I was just wondering if a comma could be used before that or that's why . Is the given sentence correct keeping the comma in mind?

1- The real problem is that, I hardly know any people in that city.

I need a few examples of the same, please.

Thanks

Tom

Jamie (K) · Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:37 am *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

In English we normally don't use a comma before "that" when it is joining two clauses. Of course, if you have a series of subordinate clauses, the commas will start before the second in the series.

Anyway, the sentence you gave is punctuated incorrectly, and that comma should not be there.

Tere · Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:43 am *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

Jamie (K) · Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:53 am *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

Sure, Tere, but we use "which" in a nondefining relative clause, and not "that", so you won't usually (maybe ever) find a relative clause with "that" preceded by a comma.

The movie that I saw yesterday was great. (No commas, and you don't even need "that".)
The movie, which I saw yesterday, was great. (Commas, and you can't use "that".)

Tere · Tue Jun 13, 2006 17:03 pm *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

[quote="Jamie (K)"]Sure, Tere, but we use "which" in a nondefining relative clause, and not "that",
quote]

Ooops...Did I say that...or use it wrongly in my examples?
I don?t think so.
What I said is quite right. You may claim it??s not complete because I didn?t mention the relative pronouns to be used in each case...but I just focused on the use of commas according to the type.

Yankee · Tue Jun 13, 2006 18:11 pm *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

What I want to know is why Tom asked about a comma 'before' the word that and then placed one after the word that in his example. Laughing

Is it possible (that) Tom wanted to confuse us? Laughing

(By the way, the above sentences are supposed to be examples of sentences not needing a comma.) Very Happy

I've got to admit that my "comma-finger" doesn't always work properly in English on the first try anymore. Since coming to Germany and learning German, my "comma-finger" has gone "comma-crazy" on my keyboard. Very Happy

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

Tom · Tue Jun 13, 2006 20:47 pm *Comma could be used before that or that's: why?*

Thank you, everybody.

No, I did not want to confuse anybody, Very Happy

...it is only that I read a sentence in a novel a few days back( By the way I have lost it and furiously looking for it) in which the author wrote a long sentence and it came this way:

" ..., that's why..."

or this way:

" ...; that's why..."

Thanks again
Tom

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