When is it appropriate

What is the appropriate comma use in each situation? Is there, in fact, a distinct rule that applies to this situation? Or does it depend entirely on mood, which can change from one moment to the next? Let's find out, with examples from Discworld There is a distinct difference between the times when you should use "that" and the times when you should use "which".

To quote Fowler in Modern English Usage Which is wonderfully informative and not confusing in the slightest Luckily, we can boil it down to something much, much simpler with the help of a couple of examples. Let's take a sentence at random. The cabbages that grew freely on the plains of Sto Lat had become a staple diet for the Watch. Now watch it change ever so slightly: Cabbages, which grew freely on the plains of Sto Lat, had become a staple diet for the Watch.

There are slight differences between these two sentences. In the first, the fact that the cabbages come from Sto Lat seems to be vital; in the second, it's merely an interesting detail coming along for the ride. When we have a detail that is vital to the sentence, indeed without which the sentence may make no sense, then we use "that". On the other hand, when we have an interesting detail that enhances a sentence but is not strictly necessary , we use "which". Children develop at their own paces.

What might be completely appropriate for one child might not be for another child. Our country and world have become much smaller with the coming of social media and digital communication, yet the environments we live in still vary widely.

Allowing them too much freedom too soon leaves them unprepared for potential challenges. Breaking activities down by skill is a helpful strategy that can bridge the gap between too little and too much freedom. For example, before you allow a child to climb trees, spend time climbing playground structures.

Then, when your child is ready to explore a tree, show her how to choose trees with low-lying branches and how to identify limbs and branches that will support your child.

Anticipating the challenges your child might experience and the necessary skills ahead of time will help them develop those skills for later use.

As you practice challenging activities together, slowly give more freedom in incremental steps. In general, by high school, children should be able to do their own shopping and get from place to place safely.

Reaching this point happens gradually. As a child reaches late elementary age, we might give them a few dollars and allow them to find something in the store. We might ask a middle-schooler to go into a store independently to buy a few items. As parents, the best strategy is to find a balance between overprotectiveness and nonchalance.

That middle ground allows children to try new things, make mistakes, and solve problems within a safe structure. Written by: Bright Horizons Education Team. Get our weekly newsletter for all things early child development—from the benefits of pretend play to at-home STEM activities, and teaching kindness—along with encouragement for every stage of your parenting journey. The word would indicates that the sentence is in the conditional mood.

But if you change if I was to if I were , the sentence becomes subjunctive:. In this case, the conditional action buying a car depends on a wishful situation being richer. The fact that the second clause is unlikely or hypothetical makes the sentence both subjunctive and conditional.

Here are some more sentences that become both conditional and subjunctive with if I were. You can also learn how to use use to vs used to correctly in a sentence. All rights reserved. If I were vs If I was. If I Was vs.

If I Were Many people use if I was and if I were interchangeably to describe a hypothetical situation. When to Use If I Was You can use if I was in past-tense, first-person sentences that describe something the speaker was or has done. For example: I apologize if I was rude. The teacher will increase my grade if I was correct on the first question. Some if I were examples include: I bet Henrietta would go out with me if I were taller.

I would focus on foreign policy if I were the president. Indicative: A straightforward statement. I am going to the dance. Imperative: A command. Go to the dance.