Geoff,
     A general rule of thumb is that subordinate clauses that contradict 
the main clause in some way are preceded by a comma (as we would intone 
it in speech.)
     "This quatrain cannot be read in isolation at all, although the 
syntax is inherent and incomplete on its own."
    While we're at it, does the writer explain what he/she means by 
inherent? It seems strange here, though the sentence may just be out of 
context.

Craig



On 4/12/2011 11:28 PM, Geoffrey Layton wrote:
> Although dependent clauses that follow the s-v often do get a comma - 
> is there some sort of restrictive and unrestrictive d.c. rule?
>
> Geoff Layton
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:58:51 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Punctuation Question
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> The comma is not necessary because what follows is a dependent clause.
> Kari Anderson
>
> -----Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar 
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote: -----
>
>     To: [log in to unmask]
>     From: "T. J. Ray" <[log in to unmask]>
>     Sent by: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
>     <[log in to unmask]>
>     Date: 04/12/2011 06:10PM
>     Subject: Punctuation Question
>
>     I have a doctoral student who produces sentences like the following:
>
>     "This quatrain cannot be read in isolation at all, because the syntax
>     is
>     inherent and incomplete on its own."
>
>     My question is not a search for whatever he meant to say but is about
>     his punctuation:  the comma.  Comments are welcome.
>
>     T. J.
>
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