カンマの使い方についてNana講師が解説します！ | バリューイングリッシュブログ

ライティング講座を受講いただいているお客様より、カンマの使い方について質問がございました。Nana講師がわかりやすく解説してくれましたので、シェアさせていただきます。

Sorry it is lengthy. But it is important.
In this sentence, like functions as such as.

1. If their role in the sentence is nonrestrictive, it is necessary to put comma. When we say nonrestrictive, it means, we can remove the phrase without affecting the meaning of the sentence. Putting comma is very important for emphasis and to make the sentence easily understood.

For example,

a. Competitive team sports, like baseball, help children learn how to collaborate with their teammates to accomplish the same goal.

b. Competitive team sports help children learn how to collaborate with their teammates to accomplish the same goal.

In these sentences, whether the phrase is there or not, the meaning is still the same. In this case, we need to put comma.

2. On the other hand, if the phrase is important to retain the meaning of the sentence, we don’t need to put comma.

For example,

a. Foods, like pizza and hamburger, are bad for health.
Now, let us take out the phrase.
b. Foods are bad for health.

The meaning has changed, right? This is restrictive phrase and we do not put comma in this situation.

So, the correct sentence should be :
Foods like pizza and hamburger are bad for health.

The restrictive phrase : like pizza and hamburger limits the types of food to this unhealthy food.

Competitive team sports, like baseball, help children learn how to collaborate with their teammates to accomplish the same goal.
= This sentence follows the proper punctuation rule : put a comma before a nonrestrictive phrase, like + ______. The subject -Competitive team sports- is emphasized.

Competitive team sports like baseball help children learn how to collaborate with their teammates to accomplish the same goal.
= This sentence does not follow the proper punctuation rule. It can cause confusion as to which your subject is. Is it the -Competitive team sports- or the baseball?

Not using punctuation marks appears OK. However, I recommend following rules to be safe.

皆様の学習の参考になれば幸いです。またライティング対策講座では、こちらで提示したトピックに限らず、お客様ご自身でトピックをご用意いただくことも可能になりました。その場合には、お送りしたシートのトピックを直接書き直していただいて構いません。お申し込みをお待ち申し上げます。

英検1級ライティング対策講座の詳細及びお申し込みは、こちらからお願いします。

英検準1級ライティング対策講座の詳細及びお申し込みは、こちらからお願いします。

英検2級ライティング対策講座の詳細及びお申し込みは、こちらからお願いします。