Chinn_asama wrote:Hi there

Here is a sentence from a Project syndicate article.

"central bankers focused single-mindedly on price stability, though the costs of somewhat higher inflation would have been miniscule compared to the havoc wrought by the financial excesses that they allowed, if not encouraged."

Why is there a comma before the subordinate conjunction 'though'?

Is it because it is not a restrictive clause. can anyone explain the concept of restrictive and non restrictive clauses?

Regards
chinna

Read it as :

ALTHOUGH the costs of somewhat higher inflation would have been miniscule compared to the havoc wrought by the financial excesses that they allowed, if not encouraged, central bankers focused single-mindedly on price stability.

This sentence focuses on the contrasting nature of 2 clauses :
1)The costs of somewhat higher inflation would have been miniscule compared to the havoc wrought by the financial excesses that they allowed, if not encouraged.
STILL
2)Central bankers focused single-mindedly on price stability

Hi there

I read somewhere that a comma does not go before a subordinate conjunction. that's why the Q.

Thanks

Chinn_asama wrote:Hi there

I read somewhere that a comma does not go before a subordinate conjunction. that's why the Q.

Thanks

I disagree.. I believe its actually the comma which decides whether the clause is restricitive/essential or non-restrictive/non-essential.

Eg:
1) The house THAT is painted red belongs to Sam.
THAT is attached to house without any comma.
The meaning of this sentence is that: Out of all the houses, ONLY the one which is of red color belongs to Sam.

2) This house, which is painted red, belongs to Sam.
The phrase starting with WHICH is attached to House, however it is enclosed within commas. This depicts it is NON-ESSENTIAL and generally brings ADDITIONAL INFO.
The meaning of this sentence is: This house belongs to Sam.
"WHICH IS PAINTED RED": gives additional info about THIS HOUSE.

I hope this helps !!

Hi there

Here is a general Q about 'that' usage. Whenever I see 'that' in sentences, I get confused thinking if it is a indirect speech sentence or just a reporter writing in past tense. Could you please explain little about it.

Thanks