comma before 'when [conjunction]: know a suitable time, when we

K

kritika

Senior Member
India - Hindi & English

Hey- Do we need commas in the sentence given below?-

Let me know a suitable time when we can hold a meeting next week to make sure we understand the subject well.

I think we should put a comma before (when)-

Let me know a suitable time, when we can hold a meeting next week to make sure we understand the subject well.

Is that correct?

Let me know if you find any other error in my writing.

Thanks in advance!
 
    • Hi Kritika,

    As I know, there is no need to put the comma. The first sentence is correct.

    Let me know a suitable time when we can hold a meeting next week to make sure we understand the subject well.

    Thank you...
     
    I wouldn't (though it's not wrong to). This is a choice between defining and non-defining relative clauses. Usually these are illustrated with the words 'who' and 'which', because it often makes a bigger difference with them:

    pensioners who get free public transport
    pensioners, who get free public transport,

    But you can also get this difference with other wh-words. In your example it's unclear whether the when-clause is defining or non-defining. We want to find a time when we can hold a meeting (defining), but we also want a suitable time, which might be enough on its own to define the time. So perhaps after suitable time, the when-clause is non-defining. In conclusion, it can be with or without comma. Personally I feel the when part is important to the definition, so I would make it continuous (no comma).
     
    I would consider it wrong to put a comma. I agree with entangledbank's explanation about commas and defining/non-defining relative clauses, but in this particular case I don't see how it could be non-defining.
    The test of defining or non-defining is to remove the relative clause. If the sentence still makes sense, and means the same, it's non-defining.

    Let me know a suitable time [...] to make sure we understand the subject well.
    Like this it doesn't make sense; a suitable time for what? So I think it must be defining and therefore no comma.
     
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