comma before "that"?

[jirikoo]

under what circumstances do we put a comma before "that" in a clause?

Can you give me examples?

thanks a lot
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[Pete]

under what circumstances do we put a comma before "that" in a clause?

Can you give me examples?

thanks a lot

(Note: your attempt to put a strange image in your posting was not allowed by the forum's settings.)

The short answer to your question is:
You can put a comma before "that" anytime a comma would be required in that place whatever the next word is. Examples:
- If I see a movie tomorrow, that movie will be the 3rd one I've seen this month.

- "Excuse me sir, but may I see the green sweater behind the counter?"
--- "Do you mean this one?"
--- "No, that one next to the shirt."

- "Which books did you read last month?"
---"This one, that one, and 2 others, which aren't here.


There is really no rule that says not to put a comma before "that". There is a rule (or really a pair of rules) that says: put a comma before a non-restrictive relative adjective clause, but don't put a comma before a restrictive relative adjective clause. It also happens to be the case that only restrictive relative adjective clauses begin with "that", so if a relative adjective clause begins with "that", you do not separate it from the word it modifies with a comma. It also happens that "that" is used as a subordinating conjunction to introduce other clauses that generally are not separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

But "that" is used in other ways than as a relative pronoun or a conjunction (e.g. demonstrative adjective, demonstrative pronoun). With any of the other uses, you must analyze the sentence as a whole and see whether or not there is some rule that requires a comma before it.

[jirikoo]

(Note: your attempt to put a strange image in your posting was not allowed by the forum's settings.)

The short answer to your question is:
You can put a comma before "that" anytime a comma would be required in that place whatever the next word is. Examples:
- If I see a movie tomorrow, that movie will be the 3rd one I've seen this month.

- "Excuse me sir, but may I see the green sweater behind the counter?"
--- "Do you mean this one?"
--- "No, that one next to the shirt."

- "Which books did you read last month?"
---"This one, that one, and 2 others, which aren't here.


There is really no rule that says not to put a comma before "that". There is a rule (or really a pair of rules) that says: put a comma before a non-restrictive relative adjective clause, but don't put a comma before a restrictive relative adjective clause. It also happens to be the case that only restrictive relative adjective clauses begin with "that", so if a relative adjective clause begins with "that", you do not separate it from the word it modifies with a comma. It also happens that "that" is used as a subordinating conjunction to introduce other clauses that generally are not separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

But "that" is used in other ways than as a relative pronoun or a conjunction (e.g. demonstrative adjective, demonstrative pronoun). With any of the other uses, you must analyze the sentence as a whole and see whether or not there is some rule that requires a comma before it.


thats what i was looking for. thanks a lot