comma or not before 'where' [conjunction]: in the U.S., where you...,

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8769

Senior Member
Japanese and Japan
I’m trying to put a sentence in Japanese into English. I understand whether you put the comma or not depends on the writer, but which is correct by the book, #1 (without the comma) or #2 (with the comma) below?
1. In many states in the U.S. where you can’t live without a car you can get a driver’s license at sixteen.
2. In many states in the U.S., where you can’t live without a car, you can get a driver’s license at sixteen.

I’m at a loss. Could you help me out?
 
Last edited:
    • 8769 said:
    I’m trying to put a sentence in Japanese into English. I understand whether you put the comma or not depends on the writer, but which is correct by the book, #1 (without the comma) or #2 (with the comma) below?
    1. In many states in the U.S. where you can’t live without a car you can get a driver’s license at sixteen.
    2. In many states in the U.S., where you can’t live without a car, you can get a drivef’s license at sixteen.

    I’m at a loss. Could you help me out?
    Click to expand...
    Your sentences have quite different meanings.

    (1) talks about many of the set of states in the US where you can't live without a car. The relative clause "where you can't live without a car" helps to define which states you are talking about.

    (2) talks about many states in the US, and incidentally says that in the US you can't live without a car. The relative clause "where you can't live without a car" tells us more about the US, as a whole.

    Your choice of comma or not determines the meaning of the sentence.
     
    8769 said:
    I’m trying to put a sentence in Japanese into English. I understand whether you put the comma or not depends on the writer, but which is correct by the book, #1 (without the comma) or #2 (with the comma) below?
    1. In many states in the U.S. where you can’t live without a car you can get a driver’s license at sixteen.
    2. In many states in the U.S., where you can’t live without a car, you can get a drivef’s license at sixteen.

    I’m at a loss. Could you help me out?
    Click to expand...
    1: You can't live without a car in many states of the US. In a few others, you can.
    2:You can't live without a car in any of the US.
     
    Thank you for your explanations, panjandrum and Agró. They really help.
     
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