The Grammar Guide Comma Do you need a comma after an adverbial infinitive phrase?

Do you need a comma after an adverbial infinitive phrase?

Do you need a comma after an adverbial infinitive phrase?

Infinitive phrases begin with an infinitive (to + the simple form of the verb), e.g. to be better, to win at tennis, to save money.

Infinitive phrases can function in a sentence as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. From a comma perspective you only need to worry about ones that function as adverbs. These are often found at the start of a sentence, but are not the subject.

Example: To be the best, you must practice.
Example: To read more, please subscribe to our newsletter.

When an adverbial infinitive phrase introduces a main clause then you should always follow it by a comma:

Correct: To be the best, you must practice.
Incorrect: To be the best you must practice.

But be careful that the phrase is not acting as a noun. Never put a comma after and adverbial phrase when "is" or "was" directly follows:

Correct: To be the best is his goal.
Incorrect: To be the best, is his goal.

When an adverbial infinitive phrase is found in the middle of a sentence you should surround it with commas. In this case, it is acting as an interrupter:

Correct: The suit, to be fair, suited him.
Incorrect: The suit to be fair suited him.
Incorrect: The suit, to be fair suited him.
Incorrect: The suit to be fair, suited him.

When an adverbial infinitive phrase finishes a main clause then you shouldn't use a comma before it:

Correct: The suit suited him to be fair.
Incorrect: The suit suited him, to be fair.

Common Questions about Comma

Should an introductory phrase be followed by a comma?

When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

How do I add commas to a number for clarity?

What is a comma splice and how do you fix it?

Do I need a comma after a subordinate clause?

Do I need a comma after a participle phrase?

How should I use commas with "not only... but also"?

Should I use a comma before a subordinate conjunction?

Do you need a comma in a compound predicate?

When is a comma unnecessary?

Why should you put a comma after prepositional phrases?

Do I need a comma when I omit a word for stylistic reasons?

Should I use a comma at the end of a quotation, before the closing quotation mark?

Should I use a comma before an opening quotation mark?

Should I use a comma before "which"?

Should I use a comma before and after an appositive?

Should I use a comma before "not"?

Do I need to use a comma with list items?

How do I use commas with parenthetical elements?

Should I use a comma between a city and a country/a city and a state?

Should I use a comma before and after vocative?

Do you need a comma to separate the day from the month, and the date from the year?

Do you need a comma before or after "too"?

When should I use a comma to separate numbers?

Should I use a comma before or after “please” in a sentence?

Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "and"?

Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "then"?

Should I use a comma after an introductory adverb like "apparently"?

Should I use a comma after a time phrase such as "in the meantime"?

How should I use a comma with a subordinate clause?

Should you use a comma before "whereas" and "although"?

Should you use a comma before "while"?

Should you have a comma before "because"?

Should I use a comma before "for"?

Should I use a comma before "since"?

Should I use a comma between two adjectives?

Should I use a comma with a participle or gerund phrase?

When should a comma be used in a sentence?

Should I use comma before "which", "where", and "who"?

Writing Resources

© 2024 - Orpheus Technology, prowritingaid.com