Punctuation

Front

What is a possessive apostrophe and how is it used?

Back

A possessive apostrophe is used to indicate ownership. It is placed before the 's' for singular nouns (e.g., the dog's leash) and after the 's' for plural nouns that already end in 's' (e.g., the dogs' park).

Front

How do you determine if commas are used correctly in a sentence?

Back

To determine if commas are used correctly, check if they separate items in a list, set off introductory elements, or separate independent clauses. If they disrupt the flow or create confusion, they may be used incorrectly.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

Back

In a list, commas are used to separate three or more items. The last item may be preceded by 'and' or 'or' (e.g., I bought apples, oranges, and bananas).

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or).

Front

When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a coordinating conjunction when it connects two independent clauses (e.g., I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain).

Front

What is the purpose of using commas after introductory phrases?

Back

Commas are used after introductory phrases to separate them from the main clause, helping to clarify the sentence structure (e.g., After dinner, we went for a walk).

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership (e.g., The dog wagged its tail), while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has' (e.g., It's raining outside).

Front

What is the Oxford comma and when is it used?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of three or more items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. It is used to avoid ambiguity (e.g., I love my parents, Lady Gaga, and Humpty Dumpty).

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a direct address?

Back

When addressing someone directly in a sentence, use commas to set off the name or title (e.g., Can you help me, John?).