Commas

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, and 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 is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Front

How do you use commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, for example: 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is a non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause provides additional information but can be removed without changing the main meaning of the sentence.

Front

How do you punctuate a non-essential clause?

Back

Non-essential clauses are set off by commas. For example: 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

A comma is used after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause. For example: '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 a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, often requiring a comma before the conjunction.