Commas

Front

What is the purpose of commas 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 before a conjunction?

Back

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

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

Provide an example of a correct use of commas in a list.

Back

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'.

Front

Is this sentence correct? 'I like to swim, dance and to read.'

Back

No, it should be 'I like to swim, dance, and read.'

Front

How do you punctuate this sentence? 'My brother likes pizza he prefers it over pasta.'

Back

You should insert a comma before the conjunction: 'My brother likes pizza, and he prefers it over pasta.'

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in a list?

Back

A common mistake is omitting the comma before the 'and' in a list, known as the Oxford comma.

Front

When should commas be used with adjectives?

Back

Commas should be used to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence with correct comma usage after an introductory phrase.

Back

After dinner, we went for a walk.