Commas Commas Commas!

Front

What is the purpose of commas in a sentence?

Back

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

How do you correctly punctuate a list?

Back

Use commas to separate items in a list, placing a comma before the conjunction (e.g., '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 is usually set off by commas.

Front

How do you use commas with direct address?

Back

When directly addressing someone in a sentence, use commas to separate the name from the rest of the sentence (e.g., 'Let's eat, Grandma!').

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause (e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.').

Front

When should you not use a comma?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or to separate two items that are closely related.

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or' (e.g., 'I love apples, bananas, and cherries.').

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a coordinating conjunction?

Back

When using a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses, place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., 'I wanted to go, but I was too tired.').