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 rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally describe a noun. For example: 'It was a long, tiring journey.'

Front

How do you use commas in compound sentences?

Back

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when connecting two independent clauses. For example: 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'

Front

What is a restrictive clause?

Back

A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of a sentence and should not be set off by commas. For example: 'The dog that barked all night kept me awake.'

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 should be set off by commas. For example: 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

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 purpose of a comma in direct address?

Back

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

Front

How do you use commas with dates?

Back

Use commas to separate the day from the year in a full date. For example: 'On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed.'

Front

What is the rule for using commas with geographical names?

Back

Use commas to separate the city from the state or country. For example: 'I live in Seattle, Washington.'