Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[whiffycat]

Holding the camera tightly, I looked through the hole.

Is the comma necessary here?
If it is, is it because a comma must precede the main clause? Or is it because "holding the camera tightly" is non-restrictive?


Thanks.

[redset]

The first clause is an adverbial clause - in this case it represents a background action which was begun before the action in the main clause. And yeah, when a subordinate clause starts a sentence we usually follow it with a comma - it can also add to the sense of time progressing by putting a pause between the first action and the second one:

'Putting the camera down, I went to open the door' - first I put the camera down, and when that was done I answered the door.

The comma can be important where the separation of clauses is ambiguous too:

I looked through the hole holding the camera tightly

In this sentence it's not clear whether the subject is holding the camera, or if the hole is holding it.

I hope that makes sense!

[whiffycat]

Thanks