Comma Placement and Clause Types

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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. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

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What is an independent clause?

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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.

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When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

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You should use a comma before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

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What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

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A comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, or to set off clauses.

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Identify the independent clause in the sentence: 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk.'

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The independent clause is 'we went for a walk.' It expresses a complete thought.

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Identify the dependent clause in the sentence: 'Because I was tired, I went to bed early.'

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The dependent clause is 'Because I was tired.' It does not express a complete thought.

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What is a compound sentence?

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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

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What is a complex sentence?

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A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

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Where should the comma go in the sentence: 'Before we eat we should wash our hands.'?

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The comma should go after 'eat': 'Before we eat, we should wash our hands.'

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What is the rule for using commas in a list?

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Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more. For example: 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'