ACT Commas

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A punctuation mark used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

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

Front

What is the purpose of commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list to clarify the individual elements.

Front

What is a restrictive clause?

Back

A clause that is essential to the meaning of a sentence and is not set off by commas.

Front

What is a non-restrictive clause?

Back

A clause that adds extra information to a sentence but is not essential to its meaning and is set off by commas.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a non-restrictive clause?

Back

You place commas before and after the non-restrictive clause.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause.

Front

What is the effect of omitting commas in a sentence?

Back

Omitting commas can lead to confusion or misinterpretation of the sentence's meaning.