Commas

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A comma is 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 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 the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. For example: 'I like apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

How do commas affect sentence clarity?

Back

Commas help clarify meaning by indicating pauses and separating ideas, which can prevent confusion.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence and often begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Front

When should you place a comma before a conjunction?

Back

Place a comma before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

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 is usually set off by commas.

Front

What is a restrictive clause?

Back

A restrictive clause provides essential information about a noun and is not set off by commas.

Front

How do you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause. For example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is the rule for using commas with direct address?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of a person being addressed from the rest of the sentence. For example: 'Can you help me, Sarah?'.