Comma before “and”: when and how to use correctly?

The comma before the "e" is used in the following cases:

1. When the subject of the sentence is different from that said above

In this case, we use the comma to connect two coordinated sentences with different subjects.

Example:

Rosana didn't like the sun, and her sister didn't like the rain.

Here, we have two clauses that are connected by the “and”:

1st prayer: Rosana liked the sun
Subject: Rosana

2nd prayer: her sister liked the rain
Subject: your sister

Observation: otherwise, we shouldn't use the comma, that is, when we have the same subject in both clauses: Rosana liked the sun and rain (here we only have one action subject: Rosana)

2. When the "e" indicates opposition and contrast

When the “and” is used in the sense of opposition, expressed by an adversative conjunction (but, however, however, however, etc.), we use the comma.

Example:

Flávia was very tired, and continued working.

Note that in the sentence above, the "and" has an adversative sense, that is, it can be replaced by one of these conjunctions, without losing the meaning of the sentence:

Flavia was very tired, but she kept working.

3. When the “and” is repeated at the beginning of each prayer

In this case, the “e” is repeated as a stylistic device, called a polysyndeton.

Example:

That afternoon, Mariana sang, and she danced, and he used to smile.

Observation: in the case of enumeration of elements in the clause, we do not use the comma before the "and", for example:

Mariana did many things: she sang, danced and he used to smile.

4. When we have information interspersed in the sentence

Here, we use the comma after the “and” when it is preceded by an interleaving.

Example:

The eleven o'clock train", by Adoniran Barbosa, and “As rosas não fala”, by Cartola, represent two great Brazilian sambas.

Know more about:

  • Comma Uses
  • comma before but
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