Spring_________, the trees begin to turn green.
a. has come
b. having come
c. comes
d. will come
And can you explain in detail why we have to use it?
.
NOT A TEACHER
(1) I understand how difficult this is for learners such as you and I.
(2) In English, a little thing such as a comma makes a BIG difference.
(3) As the teacher has explained to us, the following sentences drive teachers crazy:
Spring has come, the trees begin to turn green.
Spring comes, the trees ....
Spring will come, the trees ....
As the teacher explained, you could "fix" these sentences by adding a semicolon:
Spring has come; the trees begin to turn green.
OR you could just make two sentences:
Spring has come.
The trees begin to turn green.
(a) Please remember this: You cann
not (usually) connect two or more sentences with
a comma. A comma is considered too
weak.
(4) Spring having come, the trees begin to turn green.
(a) This time, the comma is correct.
(b) Why?
(c) Because "Spring having come" is NOT a sentence. It is an elegant way that
people sometimes write (NOT speak). It is a short way to say "Because spring has
come, the trees begin to turn green."
(i) I know that it is very difficult to understand. Books call it a
nominative absolute.
For example, in conversation we would say:
Because the teacher was absent, we students went home.
In beautiful writing, people might write:
The teacher being absent, we students went home.
