9 cases when commas are not needed, but many people put them

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Sometimes it seems that the comma should be exactly. But the Russian language would be too simple if it were not for the nuances.

1. Got something to say

I'd like to put a comma before “what”, but expressions that are integral in meaning, which consist of the verb “to be” or “to find”, an interrogative pronoun (“who”, “what”, “where”, “where” and so on) and infinitive, are not separated. This applies to all forms of the verbs “to be” and “to find”: “will”, “is”, “was”, “found”, “I will find”, “find”.

• "I have something to say."
• "He had a place to go."
• "We will have someone to turn to."
• "She found something to write."
• "I'll find someone to turn to."
• "Find something to live on."

That is, the scheme is as follows: "to be" or "to find" + interrogative pronoun + infinitive = no commas.

2. Come when you want

Another type of meaningful expressions is a combination of an interrogative pronoun with the verb “want”. In this case, the comma between the parts of the expression is also not needed. To make sure that this is exactly the expression in front of you, try replacing it with a synonymous word or phrase:

• "She does what she wants" = "… whatever."
• “Come whenever you want” = “… any time”.
• "Take a walk where you want" = "… everywhere."
• "Show off as he wanted" = "… in every way."
• "Draw whatever picture you want" = "… any".

3. Of course yes

At the beginning of a confidence response, the comma after “of course” may not be used.

- Have you come already?

- Of course yes.

- Did you have time to eat?

- Of course not.

- Are you going to be soup or cake?

- Of course the cake!

If after "of course" there is an extended sentence, and not a short answer, then the comma is definitely needed: "Of course, I will have a cake."

4. If (and) not … then

Homogeneous members of the sentence can be connected by a double union "if (and) not … then …". In this case, the first part is an unrealistic condition, and the second is an assumption. In this case, the comma is placed only before "then", before "if" it is not needed.

• “Your appearance, if not upsetting her, certainly didn’t make her happy.”
• "I would buy, if not all, then most of the things."

5. It's finally over

The word "finally" can be introductory, then it is separated by commas. In this case, the author sums up everything that has been said and reports that after “finally” there will be a final phrase: “First, it’s too late. Secondly, it's cold outside. Finally, we are very tired today."

But "finally" may also be a circumstance. Then it means "in the end, in the end, in the end." In this case, commas are not needed: "I have been waiting for you all day, and finally you have come."

You can easily check whether the introductory word is in front of us or the circumstance: replace "finally" with "finally". If it fits the meaning, then you do not need to separate it with commas.

• "He picked his plate and finally finished his porridge."
• "He was picking his plate and finally finished his porridge."

6. I don't know where

In a complex sentence, a comma is placed between its parts. But not always. For example, it is not needed if the subordinate part consists of one word - a subordinate union or a union word: "I lost my hat, but I don't know where."

Compare with a complex sentence, where there is more than one word in the subordinate clause: "I lost my cap, but I don't know where exactly it happened."

A sentence may contain several subordinate clauses of one word, the comma in this case is also not put: "If they call me - find out who and why."

However, separating a comma or a dash is possible if the author wants to logically and intonationally separate the union word.

• “I don’t understand how I can do it! Explain - how?"
• “Are you muttering something? Repeat that."

7. Not that

There may be a situation when we have a negative particle with a pronoun and a union that already refers to another part of the sentence. In this case, a comma is needed: "He did not bring something to play for time."

But very often these three words are used as a particle or as part of a compound union "not that …, but (a) …". In this case, they refer to one part of the sentence, you cannot separate them or omit one of the words without changing the meaning. There is no comma inside this indecomposable combination.

• "We are not that against …"
• "I'm not really hungry, but I would eat."
• "It's not that far, but I don't want to spend so much time traveling."

8. I bought a lot of things, such as a garland

Introductory words are usually separated by commas. But not always. When the introductory word appears at the beginning or at the end of a separate turnover, only the turnover itself is highlighted, but not the introductory word.

We often attach some qualification with the word "for example". In this case, there is no need for a comma after it: "I bought a lot of all sorts of nonsense, such as a garland and incense sticks."

But if the turnover is enclosed in brackets or in a separate sentence, a comma is needed.

• "I bought a lot of stuff (like garlands and incense sticks)."
• “I bought a lot of stuff. For example, a garland and incense sticks."

9. Please tell me

If we politely ask you to tell us something, then, of course, we put a comma: "Tell me, please, how to get to the library?"

But if this expression is used as an interjection, then the comma between its parts is not needed. In this case, it expresses not a request to say something, but indignation or surprise.

• Please tell me if he wants to eat soup!
• How gentle we are, please tell me!