Commas

Front

What is the purpose of commas in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, 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') when it connects two independent clauses.

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 an appositive?

Back

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it, and it is set off by commas. Example: 'My brother, a skilled musician, plays guitar.'

Front

When should you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause to separate it from the main clause. Example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, and a comma is used before the conjunction. Example: 'I wanted to go, but it was raining.'

Front

How do you punctuate direct address with commas?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of the person being addressed from the rest of the sentence. Example: 'Can you help me, Sarah?'.

Front

What is a non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause adds extra information to a sentence but is not necessary for its meaning. It is set off by commas. Example: 'My sister, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Front

When should you not use a comma?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or a verb from its object. Example: 'The dog barked loudly.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. Example: 'I like apples, bananas, and cherries.'