Commas Commas Commas!

Front

What is the purpose of commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, indicate pauses, and clarify meaning in sentences.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

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

Front

How do you correctly punctuate a list?

Back

In a list, use commas to separate items, and place a comma before the conjunction in the last two items (Oxford comma is optional).

Front

Is this sentence correct? 'I like apples oranges and bananas.'

Back

No, it should be 'I like apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence, containing a subject and a verb.

Front

When is it unnecessary to use a comma?

Back

No comma is needed when connecting two items with 'and' or 'or' if they are not independent clauses.

Front

What is the rule for commas in direct address?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of the person being addressed from the rest of the sentence.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a transitional phrase?

Back

Use a comma after a transitional phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'My brother who is a doctor lives here.'?

Back

It should be 'My brother, who is a doctor, lives here.' to clarify that the clause is non-restrictive.

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.