Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

1. She ran up the steps and into the house.

Mrs. Brown caught the fish, and her husband cooked them

Why is there a comma in the second second and not in the first one?


2.

You can certainy say the "noisy and enthusiastic freshman class" or the enthusiastic, noisy freshman class"; thus "noisy and enthusiastic" are clearly cooridnate. However, to say that "noisy and freshman class" or the "freshman noisy class" would be absurd....

Could anyone clarify?

Thanks

[iitimone7]

1. niether sentence needs a comma. it is possible that in the second sentence the speaker paused between the first part of the sentence and the second part.

2. here are examples of sentences for the phrases that you provided...

The noisy and enthusiastic freshman class was difficult to control. (perfect sentence)

The enthusiastic, noisy freshman class finished their project efficiently. (if the 'and' is not used as in the first example, then use a comma)

The noisy and freshman class ended quickly. (noisy describes the freshman class - 'and' should be eliminated)

The freshman noisy class was out of control. (again, 'noisy' is describing the freshman class so it comes before 'freshman').

hope that helps, iitimone7

[CP]

1. I would put a comma in the second sentence.

The first sentence doesn't need a comma because the "and" links two prepositional phrases, both referring to where she ran: "She ran up the steps and into the house.'

The second sentence is really two complete sentences (or clauses) linked by "and." Usually you want both the comma and the "and," although if the two clauses are very short, you can do without them. For me, these are long enough to keep the comma: "Mrs. Brown caught the fish, and her husband cooked them."

You could also substitute a semicolon for the comma + "and": "Mrs. Brown caught the fish; her husband cooked them."
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[kerstin]

The noisy and enthusiastic freshman class was difficult to control.
The enthusiastic, noisy freshman class finished their project efficiently.

So, it's either one of them?


Thanks