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 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

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction (like 'because', 'although', 'if').

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 non-essential clause?

Back

A non-essential clause adds extra information to a sentence but is not necessary for the sentence to make sense. It is set off by commas.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

Back

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

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a direct address?

Back

When directly addressing someone in a sentence, use commas to separate the name from the rest of the sentence, e.g., 'Let's eat, Grandma.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or'. It is used for clarity.

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.