RULE 10.  When a simple member stands as the object of a preceding verb, and its verb may be changed into the infinitive mood, the comma is generally omitted; as, “I suppose he is at rest;” changed, “I suppose him to be at rest.”

But when the verb to be is followed by a verb in the infinitive mood, which, by transposition, may be made the nominative case to it, the verb to be is generally separated from the infinitive by a comma; as, “The most obvious remedy is, to withdraw from all associations with bad men;” “The first and most obvious remedy against the infection, is, to withdraw from all associations with bad men.”

Exercises.—­They believed he was dead.  He did not know that I was the man.  I knew she was still alive.  The greatest misery is to be condemned by our own hearts.  The greatest misery that we can endure is to be condemned by our own hearts.

NOTES.

1.  When a conjunction is separated by a phrase or member from the member to which it belongs, such intervening phrase appears to require a comma at each extremity; as, “They set out early, and, before the close of the day, arrived at the destined place.”  This rule, however, is not generally followed by our best writers; as, “If thou seek the Lord, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever;” “But if the parts connected are not short, a comma may be inserted.”

2.  Several verbs succeeding each other in the infinitive mood, and having a common dependance, may be divided by commas; as, “To relieve the indigent, to comfort the afflicted, to protect the innocent, to reward the deserving, are humane and noble employments.”

3.  A remarkable expression, or a short observation, somewhat in the form of a quotation, may be properly marked with a comma; as, “It hurts a man’s pride to say, I do not know;” “Plutarch calls lying, the vice of slaves.”

    4.  When words are placed in opposition to each other, or with some
    marked variety, they must be distinguished by a comma; as,

      “Tho’ deep, yet clear; tho’ gentle, yet not dull;
      Strong, without rage; without o’erflowing, full.”

    “Good men, in this frail, imperfect state, are often found, not only
    in union with, but in opposition to, the views and conduct of
    each other.”

    Sometimes when the word with which the last preposition agrees, is
    single, the comma may be omitted; as, “Many states were in alliance
    with, and under the protection of Rome.”