How to Use a Comma to Combine Sentences

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Perhaps it is your keen interest on writing sentences with flair though you are an ESL. You may have the idea of writing lengthy sentences. These sentences can be complex sentences preceded by a principal clause or a number of compound sentences which are connected quite aptly by conjunctions. All these types clearly show your writing skill. But you may opt for another type where you can use commas in a rampant way to make the bunch of sentences meaningful.

Now as you are an ESL you are in search of new patterns of writing and hence you have to learn some fundamental things of writing English in an efficient manner. You may try to join three sentences with a comma. This comma is to sit between the first and the second sentence and an ‘and’ stands in front of the third sentence consecutively. You may now note the example quite minutely to grasp the idea. Mr. Smith lives near the market. Mr. Strong lives by him. Mr. Freddy is their close neighbor.

Now if we join the three sentences in the proper manner with the perfect use of commas the sentences would run thus.” Mr. Smith lives near the market, Mr. Strong lives by him and Mr. Freddy is their close neighbor.” We can easily write the sentences in some different manner too. The sentences would run in this type. “Mr. Smith lives near the market and Mr. Strong lives by him. Mr. Freddy is their close neighbor.

Now if the subject of the sentences is the same man how can we write them in a combined manner? Look you may find some variation in the second type but this is a very important process to write lengthy sentences. While writing his type you must note that the comma comes in the first group of words or phrase and before the hinted verb in the phrase no two. Now go through the sentence-

The thief went to the cash counter. He threatened the cashier. He snatched the key of the vault.

Now when we have to combine the three sentences we have to write them in this manner. “The thief went to the bank, threatened the cashier and snatched the key of the vault.” This example is a fine specimen to watch how different verbs are used quite nicely.

Now when we have to join lengthy sentences where there are at least five or six sentences we can write them in this manner. In this style of writing the use of comma is mandatory but we are sure to use an ‘and ‘ in between the final sentences.

There is another way to combine the sentences. In this style the first three or for sentences may be connected with commas but he final sentence is left alone to be used independently. This style may seem vague to someone but it is a perfect style of using commas and make the sentence perfectly meaningful.

Now here is a type of using commas in between sentences. This type is called inflection where it is the reader can find out the exact location of a pause.

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