Commas, Commas, Commas

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A comma is a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or to separate items in a list.

Front

When should you use a comma before 'and'?

Back

A comma should be used before 'and' when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it has a subject and a verb.

Front

How do you use commas in a list?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, for example: 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction, often with a comma before the conjunction.

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

A comma should be used after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause, for example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in direct address?

Back

A comma is used in direct address to separate the name of the person being spoken to from the rest of the sentence, for example: 'Can you help me, Sarah?'.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a dependent clause?

Back

If a dependent clause comes before an independent clause, use a comma to separate them, for example: 'Although it was raining, we went outside.'

Front

What is a non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause provides additional information but can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. It is 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.