Prepositions And Comma Usage

Prepositions And Comma Usage. The cat sat on the mat. Ok, now for the rules:

Prepositional Phrases Monday Comma Rules With Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional Phrases Monday Comma Rules With Prepositional Phrases from slidetodoc.com

For short introductory phrases (fewer than four words), you can choose to add a comma or not. Commas are especially important if the object of the preposition is a verb acting like a noun. Prepositions are most commonly followed by a.

The Sun Dropped Below The Horizon.


Often, prepositions (e.g., during, after, before, in, on, at) tell us when things are. But if the phrase is longer than four words, use a comma. On the morning before my birthday , my parents surprised me with a trip to hawaii.

Lots Of Prepositions (E.g., On, In, Near, Behind, Under, Inside) Tell Us Where Things Are Relative To Each Other.


An introductory prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (words like in, on, after, before). Of, to, for, from, in, on, by, between, about, with, around, across, through, over, under. If it has less than five words in the phrase, the comma is not required.

When An Introductory Prepositional Phrase Is Very Short (Less Than Four Words), The Comma Is Usually Optional.


The following show preposition usage and the relationships of prepositions with the other words in the sentences they are in. We saw a movie at the theater. Writers may use clarifying commas even if the prepositional phrase contains four or fewer words as in the following examples:

I First Met John In 1987.


Both of them are stylistic choices for writers. Most often prepositions are used to introduce prepositional phrases. Consider the below examples of sentences containing properly placed and omitted commas:

One Of The Most Common Grammatical Errors On The Act English Test And, To A Slightly Lesser Extent, The Sat Writing Test Is The Use Of A Comma Before Or After A Preposition (A “Time” Or “Location” Word).


It’s always cold in january; If the phrase is more than three or four words, i would usually add a comma. For short introductory phrases (fewer than four words), you can choose to add a comma or not.