Commas Before Clauses
Write a comma where a subordinate clause begins or ends.
How It Works
| Sentence | Where the comma goes |
|---|---|
| Mi scias, ke vi venos. | before ke |
| Mi vidis virinon, kiu portis valizon. | before kiu |
| Ana ne venas, ĉar ŝi estas laca. | before ĉar |
| Kiam mi venos, ni manĝos. | after the first clause |
The comma stands where the voice pauses. A word that starts the clause, such as ke, kiu or ĉar, comes after the comma, not before it.
When the subordinate clause comes first, the comma comes after the whole clause: Se pluvas, ni restas hejme.
Main clauses joined by a word like sed also get a comma: Mi volis veni, sed mi ne havis tempon. PMEG describes all these commas as marks for natural pauses and gives no binding rule, so you will see small differences in real texts.
Examples (5)
- Mi scias, ke vi venos.
I know that you will come.
The comma stands before ke.
- Kiam mi venos, ni manĝos.
When I come, we will eat.
The clause with kiam comes first, so the comma follows it.
- Ana ne venas, ĉar ŝi estas laca.
Ana is not coming because she is tired.
The comma stands before ĉar.
- Mi vidis virinon, kiu portis valizon.
I saw a woman who was carrying a suitcase.
The comma stands before kiu.
- Se pluvas, ni restas en la hotelo.
If it rains, we stay in the hotel.
A first clause with se is followed by a comma.
Common Mistakes
Putting the comma after ke.
Mi scias ke, vi venos.Mi scias, ke vi venos.The pause comes before ke, so the comma stands there.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The comma rule is seen in the clauses with se and ke.
Related Patterns
Practice Commas Before Clauses in Bubblegum
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