Commas: Defining vs.

Spanish uses the word que for almost everything. It means "who," "which," or "that." We have two types of clauses here. The first is the "Defining" clause. We call this especificativa in Spanish. It identifies exactly which thing you mean. The second is the "Non-defining" clause. We call this explicativa. It just adds extra details. It is like a "by the way" comment. If you remove a defining clause, the sentence breaks. If you remove a non-defining clause, the sentence survives. It is like removing a car's engine versus its radio. You need the engine to drive. You only want the radio for fun. Commas are the brackets for that radio.

1. 1Pick the noun you want to describe.
2. 2Decide if the info is essential for identification.
3. 3If it is essential, do not use commas.
4. 4Write the noun, then que, then the description.
5. 5If the info is just extra, use commas.
6. 6Place one comma before que.
7. 7Place another comma after the whole description.
8. 8Ensure the sentence makes sense without the middle part.

Use defining clauses (no commas) when you need to be specific. Imagine you are at a party. You see many tall men. You say, El hombre que lleva gafas es mi tío. You are pointing out the specific man with glasses. Use non-defining clauses (with commas) for unique things. If you talk about your mother, use commas. You only have one mother! Mi madre, que es muy simpática, vive en Lima. The fact that she is nice is extra. We already know who your mother is. Use them in job interviews to sound professional. Use them when ordering food to specify your preferences. Quiero la pizza que no tiene cebolla. No commas there, because the "no onion" part is vital!

Do not use commas if the sentence becomes confusing. If I say, Los estudiantes que estudian aprueban, I mean only the studious ones pass. If I add commas, it sounds like all students pass. Los estudiantes, que estudian, aprueban. That is a very different (and optimistic) message! Never put a comma between a subject and its verb. This is a classic mistake for beginners. El perro, corre en el parque is wrong. Commas only belong around the "extra" description block. If the description is at the end, use one comma. He visto a Juan, que estaba muy cansado. You don't need a second comma if the sentence ends.

Many people forget the second comma in a pair. It is like wearing only one shoe. Mi hermano, que vive en Madrid es médico is incorrect. You need that closing comma after Madrid. Another mistake is using commas for essential info. If you say La chica, que tiene el pelo rojo, es mi hermana, it sounds weird. It implies there is only one girl in the world. Or maybe only one girl at the party. Use commas only for "bonus" information. Don't use them just because you need a breath. Grammar has rules, even if your lungs have others! Also, don't confuse que with qué. The relative pronoun never has an accent mark here.

In English, we often use "that" for defining clauses. We use "which" for non-defining clauses. Spanish is much simpler because we use que for both. This makes the comma even more important. Without the comma, we can't tell the difference. English speakers often forget the comma before que. In English, you might say "My car which is red is fast." In Spanish, you MUST have that comma if it's extra. Mi coche, que es rojo, es rápido. Another contrast is with the word quien. Quien is only for people. Que works for people, animals, and objects. When in doubt, stick with que and focus on those commas.