Commas Commas 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 'and' in a list?

Back

A comma should be used before 'and' in a list of three or more items (Oxford comma), e.g., apples, oranges, and bananas.

Front

What is an example of a correct use of commas in a compound sentence?

Back

I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.

Front

How do you use commas with introductory phrases?

Back

A comma is used after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause, e.g., After dinner, we went for a walk.

Front

What is a common mistake when using commas in a list?

Back

A common mistake is omitting commas between items, e.g., 'I bought apples oranges and bananas' should be 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas'.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with adjectives?

Back

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally describe a noun, e.g., It was a long, tiring day.

Front

When should you not use a comma before 'and'?

Back

Do not use a comma before 'and' when connecting two items, e.g., I like apples and oranges.

Front

What is an example of a sentence that incorrectly uses commas?

Back

Mr. Morgan, invented the first traffic signal with red, yellow and green lights.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with a direct address?

Back

Use commas to set off the name of the person being addressed, e.g., Can you help me, Sarah?

Front

What is the function of commas in dates?

Back

Commas are used to separate the day from the year in a date, e.g., July 4, 1776.