Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Calm-mind]

I would like to know the differences a comma makes in the participial construction which shows two things happen at the same time.

He entered the room smiling.
He entered the room, smiling.

The World Cup champions took a victory lap waving their national flag.
The World Cup champions took a victory lap, waving their national flag.

Reference books say when using the participial construction meaning the same time, a comma is NOT used. But I see many constructions without a comma I can take the meanings that the two things happen at the same time in many relatively formal articles. What would you think about it? Id doesn�t matter?

[asterix]

I think that, in your examples the comma is not needed.
The comma is used to indicate a slight pause when speaking the words that are written. There is a tendency, lately, to leave out commas wherever possible, but it can lead to changes in meaning, so you have to be careful. The reverse is also true.

[Calm-mind]

Thank you very much, asterix.

So, in my examples, how do the meanings change?

[asterix]

In your examples the meaning does not change - that's why it's OK to omit the comma.
If you write, 'The Panda eats shoots and leaves", it does not mean the same thing as, "The Panda eats, shoots, and leaves."

[Calm-mind]

>'The Panda eats shoots and leaves", it does not mean the same thing as, "The Panda eats, shoots, and leaves."

Wow, really I don't know about this. How different? interesting!

[asterix]

The Panda eats, shoots, and leaves, means the Panda eats, then he shoots, and then he leaves the area.

Without the commas it is telling you what the Panda eats.

[Calm-mind]

Thank you very much, asterix.