woman came into my store(,) wearing a hat

[Raymott]

Is the clause below defining?
'And a woman came into my store wearing the hat which I sold her previously.'

Yes. defining = restrictive. It says "which hat".
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/relative-clauses/

 

[Matthew Wai]

''He swam to the side, using the breast stroke''

Would a comma be needed after 'stroke' if 'using the breast stroke' was put before 'he swam to the side'?

 

[tedmc]

No, the comma is not required unless it helps to improve clarity of the sentence and especially with long clauses.

not a teacher

 

[Matthew Wai]

Can anyone tell me why the comma is used before the -ing form in the sentence below?
'I racked my brains, trying to remember his name.'── quoted from http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/rack_2

 

[Raymott]

Someone has used an optional comma as a pause. It's not grammatically necessary.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Someone has used an optional comma as a pause.

Could the above be the explanation mentioned below?

The burden of explanation is on the person who wants to put a comma there.

Not a teacher.

 

[Raymott]

Of course, but not if the person was claiming that the comma was necessary.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is the comma below not grammatically necessary either?
'Walking on the beach, Delores dodged jellyfish that had washed ashore.'── quoted from http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/participlephrase.htm
Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would use the comma there.

 

[Raymott]

"A woman walked into a store wearing a hat."
"Wearing a hat, a woman walked into a store."

The comma is necessary in the second form, which begins with the participal phrase.

 

[Matthew Wai]

1. Using the breast stroke he swam to the side.
2. Wearing a hat, a woman walked into a store.
Why is a comma necessary in 2 but not in 1?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would use a comma in both. It is standard to use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.

 

[Raymott]

Why is a comma necessary in 2 but not in 1?

You'll get different opinions in the dictionaries and grammar books. Sometimes[,] it comes down to what sounds right.
To me, "...a hat a women..." requires a comma whereas "...breast stroke he swam..." doesn't.
You'll have to decide for yourself.

 

[ademoglu]

Finally, I got it. However, I would like to ask if we can apply it to 'past participle' as well? For example:

- The man died(,) shot in the head.

Is the comma needed?

Thanks again!

 

[Raymott]

It depends. I'd use a comma in that sentence. It means the man died from being shot in the head.
"The man died mired in debt." This means that when the man died, he was mired in debt. The type of meaning is different.
There are no rules that I can think of.