fw
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 361
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 Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject: comma |
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Hello everyone.
My question is about punctuation.
Look at the passages below.
1. But have you ever asked yourself the more obvious question �Why does a rock fall?� It is interesting to note that great scientists from Newton to Einstein also asked similar questions: Why does an apple fall? What makes waves go forward and backward?
2. On the day before our dinner, she called up and said, �I can�t come tomorrow.� Without answering my two questions, �How come you can�t make it tomorrow?� �Then, when is it the most convenient for you?�, she just repeated, �I�m sorry.�
In the first sentence in passage (1) above there is no �comma� between �the more obvious� and �Why does a rock fall?�, while in the first sentence in passage (2) above there is a �comma� between �my two questions� and �How come you can�t make it tomorrow?� �How come you can�t make it tomorrow?� �Then, when is it the most convenient for you?�.
I understand that in a phrase like �the word �a� and �my son Tom,� you do not put a �comma� between the two portions of the phrase. Then how about expressions like above, ie. one with the second portion of a phrase being a quoted utterance?
This may seem a trivial matter to native speakers of English, but it sticks with me as a non-native.
Best regards,
fwkk8769 |
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