Please help me with this grammar: Where is a comma needed, if any, in this sentence: "When I was eight, I broke my ankle, and I had to have surgery"?

Question

No commas needed

Just first comma needed

Just second comma needed

Both commas needed

Select age and gender to cast your vote:

GirlGuy

Answer 1

Anonymous

No commas needed.
To me I think it could be worded differently.
"I had to have surgery for a broken ankle when I was eight years old".

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Opinion Owner

1 y
Or if you want a comma this sounds better to me.
"At the age of eight years old, I had to have surgery for a broken ankle."

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Answer 2

Opinion Owner

Or if you want a comma this sounds better to me.
"At the age of eight years old, I had to have surgery for a broken ankle."

Answer 3

YaBoiJacob

Xper 4

shoot, I didn't read it all, b

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Answer 4

Sia_nee | 62 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Explorer

You only need the first comma.

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MikeJordantv

1 y
Thanks, But I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

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Answer 5

MikeJordantv

Thanks, But I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

Answer 6

Josh4206

Xper 6

On after eigjt

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Answer 7

Avicenna | 1.4K opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Master

Only after “eight”

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MikeJordantv

1 y
Thanks, But I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

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Avicenna

1 y
"When I was eight" is not an independent clause

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Avicenna

1 y
You also don't put a comma unless there are at least three things listed

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Answer 8

MikeJordantv

Thanks, But I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

Answer 9

Avicenna

"When I was eight" is not an independent clause

Answer 10

Avicenna

You also don't put a comma unless there are at least three things listed

Answer 11

TadCurious | 177 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.

Master

No commas!

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1 Person

MikeJordantv

1 y
Why none?

Also, I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

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TadCurious

1 y
You're correct about the general rule. But as is the case so often with English grammar and punctuation there is an exception to the rule. The exception is when the two independent clauses are short and closely connected. Stylistically the exception to the rule is a good thing because it keeps the sentence from being choppy.

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Answer 12

MikeJordantv

Why none?

Also, I thought if "and" is separating 2 independent clauses then you put a comma before "and". Why is that not the case here?

Answer 13

TadCurious

You're correct about the general rule. But as is the case so often with English grammar and punctuation there is an exception to the rule. The exception is when the two independent clauses are short and closely connected. Stylistically the exception to the rule is a good thing because it keeps the sentence from being choppy.

Please help me with this grammar: Where is a comma needed, if any, in this sentence: "When I was eight, I broke my ankle, and I had to have surgery"?

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