Commas

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, and to clarify meaning.

Front

When should you use a comma in a list?

Back

Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. For example: 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, often requiring a comma before the conjunction.

Front

Correct the following sentence: 'I like to swim and bike and run.'

Back

I like to swim, bike, and run.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. For example: 'It was a long, tiring day.'

Front

When should you not use a comma before 'and'?

Back

Do not use a comma before 'and' when it connects two items in a simple list of two.

Front

Identify the error: 'The dog, barked loudly.'

Back

The comma is unnecessary; it should be 'The dog barked loudly.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or.' It is used for clarity.

Front

Correct the following sentence: 'My favorite fruits are apples oranges, and bananas.'

Back

My favorite fruits are apples, oranges, and bananas.

Front

What is a non-restrictive clause?

Back

A non-restrictive clause adds extra information to a sentence but is not essential to its meaning, and it should be set off by commas.