Are the following two sentences correct? Does the comma need to be there?
Walking down the stairs, she sighed.
When he told her she had missed a form, she sighed.
2 Answers
In this case, you use a comma to prevent the sentence from being misread. The sentence reads easier with the comma there than without it, so I believe you're two sentences are correct.
However, there is an easier way to write them that would increase their clarity. Instead of putting a phrase before the subject and the verb, put the subject and verb first, followed by the phrase. It's just easier to read.
She sighed as she walked down the stairs.
She sighed when he told her she had missed a form.
You obviously do not have to write this way; it is just easier to read in my opinion.
answered Feb 10, 2016 at 18:02
Thomas Reinstate Monica MyronThomas Reinstate Monica Myron
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However, "My oh my," she sighed, walking down the stairs. And "My oh my," she sighed as she walked down the stairs.– Stu WCommented Feb 10, 2016 at 22:47
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1Yes, there are clearly several ways to write the sentence. I was just suggesting putting the subject and verb first as you did, rather than last. Commented Feb 10, 2016 at 23:54
Yes, use a comma after an introductory phrase.
Walking down the stairs, she sighed.
But
Walking down the stairs was her main form of exercise.
The second example is trickier, because the introductory phrase is more complex.
When he told her she had missed a form, she sighed.
But the main part of the sentence is still "she sighed"—the introduction just tells us how it happened.