Commas, commas and more commas

Front

What is the primary 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 non-essential information, and to 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', 'nor', 'for', 'so', 'yet') 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

Provide an example of a sentence that correctly uses a comma to separate items in a list.

Back

I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.

Front

What is a non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause is a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the main meaning of the sentence.

Front

How do you punctuate a direct quote that is part of a sentence?

Back

You should place a comma before the quote and enclose the quote in quotation marks, e.g., She said, "Hello."

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be used after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause of the sentence.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun, e.g., It was a long, exhausting day.

Front

How do you use commas in dates and addresses?

Back

In dates, use a comma after the day and after the year if the date is in the middle of a sentence. In addresses, use a comma to separate the city from the state.

Front

What is the difference between essential and non-essential information in a sentence?

Back

Essential information is necessary for the meaning of the sentence and should not be set off by commas, while non-essential information can be removed without altering the sentence's meaning.