Although and comma

Status
Not open for further replies.

Freeguy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
Look at this sentence. (Came from Cambridge) Do we need a comma If we want to use "although" at the first of the sentence? I think so. Because although shows a contrast and is used for dependent and independent clauses. If not, what's the reason?


- Although most people pass their Proficiency exam first time round a number of candidates will, sadly, fail.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
There is no reason to use a comma after 'although' in this context.
 

Freeguy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
So why we use comma in most of the context that contains although? What's the difference between them and this example?
Why can't we write:

Although most people pass their Proficiency exam, first time round a number of candidates will,sadly, fail.
 

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Are you talking about putting a comma after the word 'although', or at the end of the clause beginning with 'although'?
 

Freeguy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
1. Although in poor health, she continued to carry out her duties.
2. We decided to take rooms in Longwood House, although we knew we could not really afford the rent.
3. Although I can't help admiring the man's courage, I do not approve of his methods.

Considering these examples, shouldn't we write:
Although most people pass their Proficiency exam, first time round a number of candidates will,sadly, fail.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
I could accept a comma after 'first time round' but not where you have put it.

It still looks and sounds right to me without the comma, though.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
My problem with the sentence is that it is unclear where "first time round" belongs. Do most candidates pass the "first time round" or do a number of candidates fail "first time round"? In either case, the comma is critical. I just don't know where to put it.

Although most people pass their Proficiency exam first time round, a number of candidates will, sadly, fail.
Although most people pass their Proficiency exam, first time round a number of candidates will, sadly, fail.

Two different meanings.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
You say, Freeguy, that the sentence "came from Cambridge". Which particular publication?
 

Freeguy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
Punctuation and grammar drive me nuts at times.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I agree with Rover, it's fine as it is. It would also be OK with a comma after "round".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top