sayantanc2k wrote:
"Garden path sentences" such as "The woman whistling tunes pianos" are grammatically correct but require reinterpretation by the end, and are used in psycholinguistics to show that people build their understanding of a sentence one word at a time
The three parallel elements in this structure are predicates such as 1. are grammatically correct, 2. require reinterpretation, and 3. are used. Therefore, we need to use the comma.
If we do not use the comma before the last and, this choice must be wrong. If so, what is the correct choice for this question?
Thank you
daagh Sir for the wonderful article and your explanation.
I actually thought over the issue before questioning the supposedly correct choice:
If we consider that there are three elements, we must use a comma before the second element as well.
Correct: Sentences
are correct
, but
require, and
are used.
The 3 verbs refer to the same subject correctly.
However absence of a comma before the second element (
but require) implies that we have just 2 elements, not 3:
first element: are correct but require
second element: are used
If these two elements refer to the same subject (
sentences), we should not have the comma. However introducing a comma before
are used (and not having a comma before
but require) implies that the second element (
are used) should have its own subject - isn't it?
Moreover as I understand, using comma before
and (in case there are 3 or more elements) is optional, whereas using comma before
and (in case there are 2 verbs referring to the same subject) would be wrong.
Kindly correct me if I am wrong.[/quote]
Hi
sayantanc2k,
Firstly its great that we all are open to each other ideas, and I, too, truly believe the VERBAL grammer gives us an ending resource to learn from.
I believe we are having an issue on usage of COMMA before 'and'.
My two cents on it, and I do not know that same cents have been earlier too claimed by someone or not, as I have not gone through the entire thread.
l do not think that usage of 'and' is wrong/right in this particular option, it may be more to do with the MEANING..
1) with comma..
"Garden path sentences" such as "The woman whistling tunes pianos" are grammatically correct but require reinterpretation by the end, and are used in psycholinguistics to show that people build their understanding of a sentence one word at a time..
Its all about parallelism..
here it is between --
"Garden path sentences" such as "The woman whistling tunes pianos" are grammatically correct but require reinterpretation by the end, and "Garden path sentences" such as "The woman whistling tunes pianos" are used in psycholinguistics to show that people build their understanding of a sentence one word at a time..
2) without COMMA--
"Garden path sentences" such as "The woman whistling tunes pianos" are grammatically correct but require reinterpretation by the end and are used in psycholinguistics to show that people build their understanding of a sentence one word at a time..
The parallelism here shifts between REQUIRE and ARE USED..
basically now "are used in psycholinguistics to show that people build their understanding of a sentence one word at a time.." ha sshifted from the parallelism role to CONTRAST by being a part of BUT clause.. _________________