Commas!

Front

What is the purpose of using commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, to set off introductory elements, and to clarify meaning.

Front

When should a comma be used 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 contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma is placed after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause.

Front

Where should a comma be placed in a sentence with a direct address?

Back

A comma should be placed before or after the name of the person being addressed.

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, and a comma is typically placed before the conjunction in a series (Oxford comma).

Front

How do you use commas with adjectives?

Back

When two or more adjectives equally modify a noun, they should be separated by commas.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with non-essential clauses?

Back

Non-essential clauses (or phrases) that add extra information to a sentence should be set off by commas.

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.