Introductory Elements

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, separate items in a list, or clarify meaning.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') 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

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction (like 'because', 'although').

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that starts with an introductory phrase?

Back

You should place a comma after the introductory phrase before the main clause.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for direct address in a sentence?

Back

When directly addressing someone, use a comma to separate the name from the rest of the sentence.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a series?

Back

Use commas to separate three or more items in a list, placing a comma before the conjunction in the last two items.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a non-essential clause?

Back

Non-essential clauses should be set off by commas, as they add extra information but are not crucial to the sentence's meaning.

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it', while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has'.

Front

What is a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.