Comment clauses make comment about another clause. They’re parenthetical disjuncts, which means they’re adverb clauses included parenthetically (or loosely connected) in a sentence, occurring at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. This post contains two exercises, with answers, on comment clause.
Learn more: Refer to the post on comment clause to understand what’s covered in these exercises.
Exercise 1
Combine the two sentences, converting one of them into a comment clause. Your position (beginning, middle, or end) of the clause may differ from the one in the answer. Here is a sample question answered for you:
Q: They won the game by just one point. You believe it or not.
A: They won the game, believe it or not, by just one point.
1. The restaurant serves the best sushi in town. My friends keep telling me that.
2. We might need to revise the plan to address some of the feedback we received. I think that.
3. The client will approve the proposal since they have shown interest in the project. I assume that.
4. The outcome was not what we hoped for but we learned a lot from the experience. I admit that.
5. The results were favorable after weeks of uncertainty. I’m relieved to say that.
1. The restaurant, my friends keep telling me, serves the best sushi in town.
2. We might need to revise the plan, I think, to address some of the feedback we received.
3. The client will approve the proposal, I assume, since they have shown interest in the project.
4. The outcome was not what we hoped for, I admit, but we learned a lot from the experience.
5. The results were favorable, I’m relieved to say, after weeks of uncertainty.
Exercise 2
Identify comment clauses in the following sentences. Not all sentences will contain one. Also, in this exercise, clause includes non-finite clause as well, implying infinitive phrase and -ing phrase too can be comment clause. Here is a sample question answered for you:
Q: The explanation was, to put it bluntly, a disappointment to many stakeholders.
A: Comment clause: to put it bluntly
1. Her performance was outstanding, as the judges noted, and she received top marks for her efforts.
2. As the train approached the station, the platform filled with waiting passengers.
3. As the project progresses, we will need to adjust our strategies accordingly.
4. The report will be submitted by the end of the week to meet the deadline, as we agreed.
5. To clarify, the outcome was exactly what we had hoped for.
6. To raise funds for the charity, they organized the event.
7. I fear, the project might face delays, given the current challenges.
8. The test results were announced – she had passed with flying colors.
9. Putting it bluntly, the project is way over budget.
10. Technically speaking, the software update fixed the bug.
1. Comment clause: as the judges noted
2. As the train approached the station is not a comment clause. It’s not even parenthetical, implying you’ll lose meaning if you take it out from the sentence.
3. As the project progresses is not a comment clause.
4. Comment clause: as we agreed
5. Comment clause: To clarify
6. To raise funds for the charity is not a comment clause. It indicates purpose and is integral to the sentence unlike the infinitive phrase in the previous sentence, which merely makes comment.
7. Comment clause: I fear
8. No comment clause. The two are independent clauses, with none making a comment on the other.
9. Comment clause: Putting it bluntly
10. Comment clause: Technically speaking
