Commas, Commas, Commas

Front

What is the purpose of a comma 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

What is an example of a comma used in a list?

Back

I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with an introductory phrase?

Back

You should place a comma after the introductory phrase. Example: 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is the rule for punctuating dates?

Back

When writing dates, place a comma after the year if it is followed by additional information. Example: 'July 4, 1776, is a significant date.'

Front

How should you punctuate an address in a sentence?

Back

Use commas to separate the street address from the city and the state. Example: 'I live at 123 Main St., Springfield, IL.'

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 should be set off by commas. Example: 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Front

What is the difference between essential and non-essential clauses?

Back

Essential clauses are necessary for the meaning of the sentence and do not require commas. Non-essential clauses provide additional information and are set off by commas.

Front

What is an example of a comma used to separate adjectives?

Back

She is a smart, talented, and hardworking student.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with direct address?

Back

When directly addressing someone in a sentence, use a comma to separate their name from the rest of the sentence. Example: 'Can you help me, Sarah?'