[Grammar] Correct comma placement.

[mark1987]

Hello to all and thank you for all your previous help. I have another question.

'He introduced me to Mr Brown, his teacher, and his friend'.
The above sentence is taken from a grammar instruction book. The book goes on to explain that the speaker is being introduced to two people: the unnamed friend and his teacher, Mr Brown. It then goes on to say that if the speaker was grammatically unaware perhaps he was talking about three people; Mr Brown, the teacher and his friend.

I realise that I am only starting my journey in learning grammar but I automatically assumed that the speaker was referring to three people, which indicates that I am grammatically unaware.

How would the above sentence need to be constructed if the speaker was referring to three people?

Thank you.

 

[Rover_KE]

The only certain way to avoid ambiguity is to mention 'three people'.

'He introduced me to three people – Mr Brown, his teacher, and his friend'.


Please note that a better title would have been 'Mr Brown, his teacher, and his friend.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[emsr2d2]

He introduced me to his teacher (Mr Brown) and to his friend.

 

[Rover_KE]

But Mark wants three people to be referred to.

 

[emsr2d2]

But Mark wants three people to be referred to.

Oops, totally misread that! I suggest:

He introduced me to his teacher, to his friend and to Mr Brown.

I changed the order of the people because "He introduced me to his teacher, to Mr Brown and to his friend" could mean "He introduced me to his teacher, to Mr Brown and to Mr Brown's friend".

 

[BobK]

I find these clever-clever books about comma placement a bit tiresome. If you want to be clear, spell it out in words - as Rover and Ems have suggested.

b

 

[Barb_D]

I find these clever-clever books about comma placement a bit tiresome. If you want to be clear, spell it out in words - as Rover and Ems have suggested.

b

AMEN!