(a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran.

Question

Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following sentences:

(a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran.

(b) He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’* messenger overtook him.

(c) When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgement for several days.

Answer 1

(i) When the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, a comma is used to separate it from the main clause.

(ii) No comma is used when the main clause comes before the subordinate clause.