In order to gain his point, he did not hesitate to use deception.
In ordinary circumstances I should have acted differently.
No point would be used in the above sentences, if the adverbial phrases occurred in their usual position.
He did not hesitate to use deception in order to gain his point.
Nor is any point used when, as often happens in such sentences, the verb precedes the subject.
Not very far from the foot of the mountain lies the village we hope to reach.
(3) An adjective phrase, that is a phrase used as an adjective, is usually placed immediately after the word which it qualifies; when it appears in any other place, a comma is often usefully placed before it.
A question was next put to the assembly, of supreme importance at such a moment.
The phrase "of supreme importance at such a moment" is to be taken along with "question"; the comma shows that it is not to be taken along with "assembly." There is here a further reason for the point, inasmuch as the phrase acquires from its position almost the importance of an independent statement. But, where the connexion between the adjective phrase and the substantive is very close, and where there is no risk of ambiguity, no point is to be used. "The morning was come of a mighty day"—such a sentence needs no point. Observe also that co-ordinate adjective phrases take a comma before them, wherever they are placed. (See next rule.)
XIV. Adjective clauses and contracted adjective clauses are marked off by commas, if they are used parenthetically or co-ordinately; no point is used if they are used restrictively.[1]