phoenixcollege<learningcenter<owl<punctuation;commas<rule19
phoenixcollege<learningcenter<owl<punctuation;commas<rule19
 COMMAS |
| Rule #19 Commas and Participial Phrases |
Rule: Use a comma after the participial phrase when it comes at the beginning of the sentence.
A participial phrase begins with a participle which is a verb form. For example, the present participle of walk is walking. The past participle of walk is ( has/ have) walked. Participles can be used as adjectives. Words can be added to the participle to make a phrase.
Example: Walking down the street, I saw an accident.
Participial phrases can change position in the sentence.When the participial phrase comes in the middle or the last part of a sentence, you may or may not need commas because the participial phrase may be restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Example: Nonrestrictive Participial Phrase
Joyce Jones, sitting next to me, is very smart.
Use commas because you can identify Joyce Jones without the participial phrase.
Example: Restrictive Participial Phrase
The student sitting next to me is very smart.
Don't use commas because you need the participial phrase to identify the student.
Writing Tip: Be sure you have a participial phrase.
Example of Wrong Use: Walking down the street is fun.
Walking down the street is used as the subject of a sentence. It is a gerund phrase.
Example of Correct Use: Walking down the street, the children looked at the flowers.
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