Commas and Clauses

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

A comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, or to clarify meaning.

Front

When should a comma be used before a conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a conjunction (such as 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

Front

How do you punctuate a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is punctuated with a comma before the conjunction that connects the independent clauses.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, and a comma is typically placed before the conjunction in the last item (Oxford comma).

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be used after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

Front

How do you identify a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

Front

What is the effect of misplacing commas in a sentence?

Back

Misplacing commas can change the meaning of a sentence or make it difficult to understand.