Abstract
A comma is an important marker in distinguishing whether a participle or an adjective phrase is a so-called participial construction or not. However, a certain participle or adjective phrase cannot be called a participial construction simply because these phrases are followed by commas. This paper analyzes participle and adjective phrases that are likely to be confused with participial constructions because of the commas, though this may be self-evident to some people. The modern tendency is to use fewer commas (Copperud 1980: 78), and when they are used, they are used with certain objectives in mind.
