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Can the comma be removed?

 
 
Reply Wed 15 Jun, 2022 11:36 am
Dr Koh saw her on May 19 that year, when she had diarrhoea.

Can the comma before "when" be removed and why?

Thanks.
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Type: Question • Score: 2 • Views: 247 • Replies: 2
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InfraBlue
 
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Reply Wed 15 Jun, 2022 01:31 pm
Unless you want to stress the fact that she had diarrhea at that time, the comma is unnecessary.
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hightor
 
  1  
Reply Wed 15 Jun, 2022 01:42 pm
@tanguatlay,
No comma necessary because "when she had diarrhoea" is a dependent clause following an independent clause.

Notice the difference when the position of the clauses is reversed:

Quote:
When she had diarrhoea, Dr Koh saw her on May 19 that year.


You can't really tell who has the bowel problem, but that would be made clear in the context of a paragraph.

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