Commas in Compound & Complex Sentences

Match the following

• Dependent clause

• makes sense on its own

• Compound sentence

• 2 independents

• Independent clause

• a mix of a dependent and independent

• Complex sentence

• does not make sense on its own

Match the following for a complex sentence

• no comma needed

• dependent clause comes last

• this sentence needs a comma

• dependent clause comes first

• this sentence gets no comma

• Whenever I can I go to the beach.

• yes, a comma is needed

• I go to the beach whenever I can.

In a compound sentence, the comma comes ______________ the conjunction.

• after

• before

• there is no comma

What sentence structure is created when you join two independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction?

• complex sentence
• compound sentence
• simple sentence

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Jim is very bold and smart but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 
• Jim is very bold and smart, but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 
• Jim, is very bold, and smart but he doesn't always say nice things to people. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Since I was absent on Tuesday, I have a lot of make-up work to do. 
• Since, I was absent, on Tuesday I have a lot of make-up work to do. 

• Since I was absent on Tuesday I have a lot of make-up work to do. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Our apartment walls are very thin so we can hear our neighbors talking. 

• Our, apartment walls, are very thin so we can hear our neighbors talking. 
• Our apartment walls are very thin, so we can hear our neighbors talking. 

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• As I rode my bike down the street I saw my friend riding her scooter. 

• As I rode, my bike down the street I saw, my friend riding her scooter. 

• As I rode my bike down the street, I saw my friend riding her scooter. 

Harold is an excellent singer and he can dance all of the latest dance moves.

• put a comma before "and"

• No comma needed

Nobody knows Harold can dance because he refuses to dance in public.

• comma before "because"

• No comma needed