Commas Before Conjunctions
A comma goes before že, ktorý, keď, ak, aby, lebo and other words that start a dependent clause: Viem, že prídeš (I know you'll come). A plain a (and) takes no comma: čaj a káva.
How It Works
Always before a dependent clause. Words like že, keď, ak, aby, lebo, či, kým, hoci and the relative words ktorý, čo, kde start a clause that needs a comma: Viem, že prídeš. English often leaves this comma out; Slovak never does.
Clause in the middle: two commas. A dependent clause inside the main clause is closed with a second comma: Kniha, ktorú čítam, je veľmi dobrá. (see relative ktorý).
No comma before a simple a, i, alebo, ani. When these words just add one thing to another, there is no comma: čaj a káva, Otec číta a mama varí. Pôjdeme vlakom alebo autobusom.
Repeated pairs take a comma. When the joining word comes twice, as in ani ... ani, i ... i, alebo ... alebo and buď ... alebo, a comma goes before the second one: Nemám ani čas, ani peniaze. Buď príde, alebo zavolá.
Two dependent clauses joined by a. Put the comma before the first že only: Povedal, že príde a že zavolá. The same goes for ak ... a ak, aby ... a aby.
When a does take a comma.
- before a preto, a tak, a teda, a predsa, a pritom: Bolo neskoro, a preto sme išli domov.
- when a clause in the middle ends just before a: Povedal, že príde, a odišiel.
Contrast words. Ale, no, lenže and však at the start of a clause always take a comma: Chcel prísť, ale nemal čas. Však can also come later in its clause, and then the comma stays at the clause boundary: Chcel prísť, nemal však čas. (see a, ale and alebo).
Examples (6)
- Viem, že prídeš.
I know you'll come.
Word by Word: I-know, that you-will-come.
- Na raňajky mám čaj a rožok.
I have tea and a roll for breakfast.
Word by Word: For breakfast I-have tea and roll.
A joins two words: no comma.
- Kniha, ktorú čítam, je veľmi dobrá.
The book I'm reading is very good.
Word by Word: Book, which I-read, is very good.
The clause in the middle has a comma on both sides.
- Povedal, že príde a že zavolá.
He said he would come and that he would call.
Word by Word: He-said, that he-will-come and that he-will-call.
No comma before a že.
- Bolo neskoro, a preto sme išli domov.
It was late, so we went home.
Word by Word: It-was late, and therefore we went home.
- Keď prídeš domov, zavolaj mi.
When you get home, call me.
Word by Word: When you-come home, call me.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before že.
Myslím že máš pravdu.Myslím, že máš pravdu.Že starts a dependent clause, and every dependent clause is separated by a comma.
Putting a comma before a simple a.
Kúpil som chlieb, a mlieko.Kúpil som chlieb a mlieko.A that simply adds another item takes no comma.
Forgetting the second comma after a clause in the middle.
Muž, ktorý tam stojí je môj učiteľ.Muž, ktorý tam stojí, je môj učiteľ.A clause inside the sentence needs a comma at its end too, before the main clause continues.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Commas Before Conjunctions, learn Saying That: že and Relative Pronoun ktorý. Commas are needed before že and other conjunctions. Relative clauses with ktorý are also set off by commas.
Related Patterns
- a / ale / aleboAnd, But and or
A and alebo usually take no comma; ale always does.
Level 1 - keďWhen: Keď
Clauses with keď are separated by a comma, whether they come first or second.
Level 2 - abySo That: Aby
Another dependent clause word that needs a comma.
Level 3 - buď ... aleboEither ... or
A repeated pair takes a comma before the second word: buď dnes, alebo zajtra.
Level 3
Practice Commas Before Conjunctions in Bubblegum
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