Re: Comma rules and the imperative

[Barbara Karst-Sabin <barbara -at- QUOTE -dot- COM>]

Well, the way I learned it is that if both actions are performed by the
same "actor," then it's not separate clauses but a single one with a
series of actions, so no comma.

BJ

Jim Lockard wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Here's a troublesome question I'd like
> to get some feedback on:
>
> In the sentence, "Type a new filename, and
> click OK," is it grammatically correct to
> include or omit the comma before the "and"?
>
> We often use the imperative voice (or is
> it a "tense") when we write instructions.
> The sentence subject, in the imperative,
> is an implied "you" as in, "Choose Save
> from the File menu."
>
> The grammar rules I know clearly call for
> a comma before a conjunction that joins
> two independent clauses. Take, for example,
> the sentence, "A Windoze PC is a hobby, but
> a Macintosh is a tool." You need the comma
> because the phrase, "a Macintosh is a tool,"
> is an independent clause. So, if both clauses
> in the imperative sentence example are
> independent, you need a comma.
>
> What's causing me trouble is this: Since
> the subject is implied, can we not assume
> that the second clause ("click OK") is not
> truly independent in that it shares the
> subject with the first clause--as in, "I
> read the directions and crashed my computer"?
>
> If there's any interest, I'll summarize the
> responses.
>
> TIA,
> James Lockard
>
> norton -at- megsinet -dot- net
>
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