Should I use a comma with a participle or gerund phrase?
If a participial phrase comes at the end of a sentence, a comma usually precedes the phrase if it modifies an earlier word in the sentence but not if the phrase directly follows the word it modifies.
How do you punctuate a gerund phrase?
A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s). Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.
Can I use an ing after a comma?
When a verb-ing modifier appears after a clause preceded by a comma, then it modifies the entire preceding clause. It presents either additional information or result of the preceding clause. The verb-ing modifier must make sense with the subject of the preceding clause.
Do participle phrases need a comma?
The comma rules you need to know for participle phrases are: For participial phrases before the main clause, put a comma after the participial phrase. For participial phrases in the middle of the sentence, the phrase requires commas both before and after it.
Do you need a comma before ing words?
In most cases, a comma before a gerund is not required. However, because gerunds and gerund phrases act as nouns in sentences, if a comma would come before a noun used in the same way, then a comma should precede the gerund or gerund phrase.
What are the comma rules?
Comma Rules
- Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
- Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
What is a gerund phrase examples?
Look at these examples with the gerund phrases used in different ways: Reading books quietly is my favorite pastime. My favorite pastime is reading books quietly. I recommend reading books quietly to pass the time.
What are participial phrases?
A participle phrase is a group of words containing a participle, modifier, and pronoun or noun phrases. The Pronoun/Noun will act the recipient of the action in the phrase. You need a comma after a Participle Phrase if it comes at the beginning of a sentence and the following phrase is a complete sentence.
How do you tell the difference between a gerund and a participle phrase?
A gerund phrase contains a gerund, a verb that acts as a noun and its modifiers. A participle phrase contains a participle, a verb that acts as an adjective and its modifiers.
What are examples of participial phrases?
Examples of Participial Phrase
- The boys sitting by the road were gossiping.
- Coming to the varsity, I came to know the fact.
- I was drinking coffee in a mug made of ceramic.
- I did the assignment sitting in the library.
- The man standing by the tree is suspicious.
- We were waiting for you sitting in the canteen.
What is the difference between participle and participial phrase?
Phrases are groups of words, without both a subject and a verb, functioning as a single part of speech. Participial phrases consist of a participle along with all of its modifiers and complements.
Do gerunds always end in ing?
Gerund. A gerund is a word that is created with a verb but functions as a noun, always ending in -ing. Being used as a noun, a gerund can function as a subject, a subject complement, a direct object, an indirect object, or an object of a preposition.
When do you put in a comma before “ING”?
Commas before those wacky “ing” phrases. When you write a sentence with a phrase at the end, you don’t put a comma before the phrase. However, there is an exception: the wacky “ing” phrase. In these examples, the first four have ending phrases that don’t take a comma. But the last one uses a comma before the word “flying.”
Does a comma always come before?
When working with two closely linked clauses, we still have to break up the sentence with commas. That means a comma has to come directly before and directly after “therefore” when used in the middle of a sentence. We, therefore, don’t need your help.
Can you use comma after verb?
Usually, it is NOT necessary to use a comma after short introductory prepositional phrases. 2. After an introductory phrase made up of “to” plus a verb and any modifiers (“infinitive”) that tells why. Use a comma even after a short “to” + verb phrase that answers why.
When to put a comma before participial phrase?
– If the participial phrase comes before the main clause, put a comma after the participial phrase – If the participial phrase comes in the middle of the sentence, the phrase requires commas both before and after it – If the participial phrase comes after the main clause, put a comma before the participial phrase