Lesson: Commas in Nonessential Phrases & Causes

What is a comma generally used for in a sentence?

• To join two sentences together

• To separate words or groups of words

• To end a sentence

• To start a sentence

What is a phrase?

• A group of related words that contains a verb and its subject

• A group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and does not contain both a verb and its subject

• A single word that describes a noun

• A dependent clause that cannot stand by itself

According to Rule 1, when should commas be used?

• To join two sentences together

• To set off an expression that interrupts a sentence

• To end a sentence

• To start a sentence

What is the main idea of the sentence "The University of Wyoming, founded in March 1886, opened in 1887" without the nonessential phrase?

• The University of Wyoming opened in 1887.

• The University of Wyoming was founded in March 1886.

• The University of Wyoming is a great school.

• The University of Wyoming has many students.

What should you not use commas to set off?

• Nonessential phrases

• Nonessential clauses

• Essential (or restrictive) phrases or clauses

• Introductory phrases

What happens to the sentence "All farmers growing the new hybrid hay should have a good harvest" if the essential phrase is removed?

• The sentence becomes "All farmers should have a good harvest."

• The sentence becomes "All farmers growing the new hybrid hay."

• The sentence becomes "All farmers should have a bad harvest."

• The sentence becomes "All farmers growing the new hybrid hay should."

What happens to the sentence "The map that we were using did not show your street" if the essential clause is removed?

• The sentence becomes "The map did not show your street."

• The sentence becomes "The map that we were using."

• The sentence becomes "The map did not show."

• The sentence becomes "The map that we were using did not show."

Which type of information requires commas according to the Commas Chart?

• Nonessential Information

• Essential Information

• Restrictive Information

• Important Information

Which type of information does not change the meaning of the sentence when omitted?

• Nonessential Information

• Essential Information

• Restrictive Information

• Important Information

Which type of information does not require commas?

• Essential Information

• Nonessential Information

• Junk Information

• Unimportant Information