Is the phrase used here restrictive or non-restrictive?
Moderator: Official Reviewer Representatives
- Kaitlyn Canedy
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3277
- Joined: 28 Jul 2019, 20:55
- Favorite Book: Too Old Too Soon
- Currently Reading: Totem
- Bookshelf Size: 511
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kaitlyn-canedy.html
- Latest Review: The Date Farm by Jack Winnick
- 2024 Reading Goal: 12
- 2024 Goal Completion: 16%
Is the phrase used here restrictive or non-restrictive?
I am really confused about the comma usage in the following sentences. Which is correct and why? I think the first one is correct, but I am unsure. Credible academic writing sources to support your response are very highly encouraged. Thank you!
"No one thought that, after playing the baseball game, he would be so tired."
"No one thought that after playing the baseball game, he would be so tired."
- MsH2k
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 4723
- Joined: 31 Jul 2019, 11:11
- Favorite Book: Crushing
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 366
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-msh2k.html
- Latest Review: Lilleah by eelonqa K harris
The ultimate credible writing source to support the correct usage would be the writer of the sentence. It depends on their intent. I think the second sentence is correct because it seems as if “that” and everything that follows is the direct object of the sentence, so the first comma is not needed. The second comma is correct after the prepositional phrase. Including the first comma would imply that “after playing the baseball game” is nonessential, but it seems that it is: he is so tired because he played the baseball game.
Another option would be to move the prepositional phrase to the end:
“No one thought he would be so tired after playing the baseball game.”
Depending on the writer’s intent, these references can support either case. https://www.englishgrammar101.com/modul ... al-phrases
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Rosa Parks
- Kaitlyn Canedy
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3277
- Joined: 28 Jul 2019, 20:55
- Favorite Book: Too Old Too Soon
- Currently Reading: Totem
- Bookshelf Size: 511
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kaitlyn-canedy.html
- Latest Review: The Date Farm by Jack Winnick
- 2024 Reading Goal: 12
- 2024 Goal Completion: 16%
Thank you so much! This explanation makes a lot of sense. The first source was very helpful for determining which of these sentences is correct.MsH2k wrote: ↑23 May 2022, 18:52 Hi,
The ultimate credible writing source to support the correct usage would be the writer of the sentence. It depends on their intent. I think the second sentence is correct because it seems as if “that” and everything that follows is the direct object of the sentence, so the first comma is not needed. The second comma is correct after the prepositional phrase. Including the first comma would imply that “after playing the baseball game” is nonessential, but it seems that it is: he is so tired because he played the baseball game.
Another option would be to move the prepositional phrase to the end:
“No one thought he would be so tired after playing the baseball game.”
Depending on the writer’s intent, these references can support either case. https://www.englishgrammar101.com/modul ... al-phrases
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
- MsH2k
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 4723
- Joined: 31 Jul 2019, 11:11
- Favorite Book: Crushing
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 366
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-msh2k.html
- Latest Review: Lilleah by eelonqa K harris
You're very welcome! I'm glad it helped.Katie Canedy wrote: ↑23 May 2022, 20:13Thank you so much! This explanation makes a lot of sense. The first source was very helpful for determining which of these sentences is correct.MsH2k wrote: ↑23 May 2022, 18:52 Hi,
The ultimate credible writing source to support the correct usage would be the writer of the sentence. It depends on their intent. I think the second sentence is correct because it seems as if “that” and everything that follows is the direct object of the sentence, so the first comma is not needed. The second comma is correct after the prepositional phrase. Including the first comma would imply that “after playing the baseball game” is nonessential, but it seems that it is: he is so tired because he played the baseball game.
Another option would be to move the prepositional phrase to the end:
“No one thought he would be so tired after playing the baseball game.”
Depending on the writer’s intent, these references can support either case. https://www.englishgrammar101.com/modul ... al-phrases
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writ ... ommas.html
Rosa Parks
- Rakesh+12345
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 15 Oct 2019, 04:10
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 16
-
- Posts: 326
- Joined: 09 Jan 2024, 11:25
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 32
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tobi-adefila.html
- Latest Review: Sex and the Sixty Something Guy by Mr. X
- 2024 Reading Goal: 20
- 2024 Goal Completion: 20%