Comma Practice for 8th Graders

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 because it has a subject and a verb.

Front

How do you use commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, placing a comma before the conjunction in a series (e.g., 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' (e.g., I like apples, oranges, and bananas).

Front

When should you place a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be placed after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause (e.g., After dinner, we went for a walk).

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, often requiring a comma before the conjunction.

Front

How do you punctuate dates correctly?

Back

When writing dates, place a comma after the day and before the year (e.g., February 22, 2017).

Front

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

Back

A common mistake is omitting the comma before the conjunction in a list, which can lead to confusion.

Front

When is it unnecessary to use a comma?

Back

It is unnecessary to use a comma when connecting two items in a simple series (e.g., I like apples and oranges).