Commas in phrases, clauses, and sentences

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 do we use commas in a list?

Back

We use commas to separate items in a list. For example: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

Front

What is a clause?

Back

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can be independent (can stand alone) or dependent (cannot stand alone).

Front

What is a phrase?

Back

A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject-verb pair and does not express a complete thought.

Front

When should you use a comma before 'and'?

Back

Use a comma before 'and' when joining two independent clauses. For example: I wanted to go to the park, and my friend wanted to go to the beach.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with an introductory phrase?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase. For example: After dinner, we went for a walk.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun. For example: It was a long, tiring day.

Front

When do you not use a comma before 'and'?

Back

Do not use a comma before 'and' when joining two nouns or when 'and' connects two verbs in a compound predicate.