Which sentence requires one comma to indicate the location of the dog? - briefly
To determine which sentence requires a single comma to specify the dog's location, it is essential to examine the structure of each sentence. Commas are used to provide clarity and separate different parts of a sentence, especially when indicating location.
The correct sentence that requires one comma to indicate the location of the dog is: "After searching for hours, we finally found the dog in the backyard."
This sentence uses a comma to separate the introductory phrase "After searching for hours" from the main clause, clearly indicating the location of the dog.
Which sentence requires one comma to indicate the location of the dog? - in detail
To determine which sentence requires one comma to indicate the location of the dog, it is essential to understand the rules governing comma usage in English, particularly when specifying locations. Commas are used to provide clarity and to separate different parts of a sentence, especially when indicating the location of an object or a being.
Consider the following sentences and analyze where a comma might be necessary to specify the dog's location:
- The dog that is sleeping under the table belongs to my neighbor.
- The dog under the table that is sleeping belongs to my neighbor.
- The dog is sleeping under the table and belongs to my neighbor.
- The dog belongs to my neighbor that is sleeping under the table.
In the first sentence, "The dog that is sleeping under the table belongs to my neighbor," no comma is needed because the phrase "that is sleeping under the table" is a restrictive relative clause that provides essential information about which dog is being referred to. Removing this clause would change the meaning of the sentence.
In the second sentence, "The dog under the table that is sleeping belongs to my neighbor," a comma is required after "table" to separate the non-restrictive relative clause "that is sleeping" from the rest of the sentence. This clause provides additional information but is not essential to identifying the dog. The corrected sentence would be: "The dog under the table, that is sleeping, belongs to my neighbor."
The third sentence, "The dog is sleeping under the table and belongs to my neighbor," does not require a comma to indicate the dog's location. The phrase "under the table" is a prepositional phrase that acts as an adverbial modifier, specifying where the dog is sleeping. No comma is needed because it does not interrupt the flow of the sentence.
The fourth sentence, "The dog belongs to my neighbor that is sleeping under the table," is grammatically incorrect because it incorrectly places the relative clause. The intended meaning is unclear, and a comma would not resolve the issue. The sentence should be restructured for clarity.
Therefore, the sentence that requires one comma to indicate the location of the dog is the second sentence: "The dog under the table, that is sleeping, belongs to my neighbor." The comma after "table" is necessary to separate the non-restrictive relative clause from the rest of the sentence, providing clarity about the dog's location.