Students always ask when do they need a comma before the word because. Here is an example of their confusion:
What did you like about camp?I liked swimming and hiking because they were fun.Do they need a comma before because they were fun? The short answer is no.
It’s unusual to put a comma before because. You only do it when you need the comma to prevent confusion because your sentence could have two meanings. For example:
He didn’t run because he was afraid.
Without a comma, you don’t know whether the writer means that the reason the man didn’t run was that he was afraid or whether the writer means there was some different reason the man ran.
If you put a comma before because (He didn’t run, because he was afraid), it’s clear that the part after the comma is extra information: the reason the man didn’t run—because he was afraid.
If you leave out the comma, you should probably add clarifying information to the end of the sentence. For example, you could write:
He didn’t run because he was afraid; he ran because the fire made his hiding place too hot.
Mentor Sentence:1. She didn’t want to cook, because it was her birthday.2. He didn't eat the ice cream, because it had melted.3. They liked chocolate because they both had sweet tooths. What do you notice about when to and when not to use a comma? Write a rule to explain what you noticed. Often a sentence that needs a comma before because will start with a negative statement.
Students always ask when do they need a comma before the word because. Here is an example of their confusion:
What did you like about camp?I liked swimming and hiking because they were fun.Do they need a comma before because they were fun?
The short answer is no.
It’s unusual to put a comma before because. You only do it when you need the comma to prevent confusion because your sentence could have two meanings. For example:
He didn’t run because he was afraid.
Without a comma, you don’t know whether the writer means that the reason the man didn’t run was that he was afraid or whether the writer means there was some different reason the man ran.
If you put a comma before because (He didn’t run, because he was afraid), it’s clear that the part after the comma is extra information: the reason the man didn’t run—because he was afraid.
If you leave out the comma, you should probably add clarifying information to the end of the sentence. For example, you could write:
He didn’t run because he was afraid; he ran because the fire made his hiding place too hot.
Mentor Sentence:1. She didn’t want to cook, because it was her birthday.2. He didn't eat the ice cream, because it had melted.3. They liked chocolate because they both had sweet tooths.
What do you notice about when to and when not to use a comma? Write a rule to explain what you noticed.
Often a sentence that needs a comma before because will start with a negative statement.