present participle

[Matthew Wai]

I would not use a comma after 'stood', as no comma is needed in 'I sat sleeping'.
'Over' should be omitted after 'watching'.

 

[captain1]

Why I stood watching the rain fall is O.K and I sat sleeping is O.K and I sat watching a movie is OK
Why do in these sentences we don't have to put 'comma'?

Thanks.

 

[Tarheel]

"I stood watching the rain fall" doesn't get a comma because there is no need for one. That should be enough of a reason.

 

[captain1]

To sum up:
in this case, I sat on the couch watching BBC
Is it O.K? (comma is not needed)?

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

Why in these sentences do we not use a comma?

 

[Tarheel]

In the sentence 'I sat on the couch watching BBC" no comma is needed..

 

[captain1]

Because we are not "mixing" the words. There is no fear from creating misreading.
But why here we are using comma?:
In English-Chinese dictionaries, the two verbs translate the same, causing confusion.

Because it may bring us to think that the dictionaries translate the same for the words "causing confusion"?

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

There is no risk of a misunderstanding.

 

[Tarheel]

Are we making any progress here?

 

[captain1]

In this case- comma no.
When you are a native speaker you understand things that not a native may not understand.

 

[Tarheel]

In this case- comma no.
When you are a native speaker you understand things that not a native may not understand.

As a native speaker I understand things that a non-native might not understand--true.

 

[captain1]

I took the hint.

 

[captain1]

Are we making any progress here?

I just wanted to say - I'm sure you can be more polite.

 

[Tarheel]

Two things.

1. What was the hint?
2. How could I have been more polite?

 

[MikeNewYork]

This thread was closed earlier. Who closed it and who reopened it?

 

[Tarheel]

This thread was closed earlier. Who closed it and who reopened it?

Yes, it is strange.

 

[captain1]

I wanted to ask about the purpose of the comma but you told me "This thread is not going anywhere" - I expect from someone to help not to speak harshly.

I understood the purpose of modifying but not of the comma.

 

[Tarheel]

I wanted to ask about the purpose of the comma but you told me "This thread is not going anywhere" - I expect from someone to help not to speak harshly.

I understood the purpose of modifying but not of the comma.

I did not say that. I said: "Are we making any progress?"

 

[captain1]

This is the same.

Can you just tell me the meaning of the comma?

 

[captain1]

Why here there is a comma(after the same)? :
In English-Chinese dictionaries, the two verbs translate the same, causing confusion.

And why here there is no comma? - I sat watching TV

After I will get the answers for these questions - the post will be closed.