Commas Commas Commas!

How do you use commas with adjectives?

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

• Use commas to separate adjectives from verbs in a sentence.

• Use commas to separate adjectives that describe different nouns.

• Use commas only before the last adjective in a series.

How do you use commas in direct address?

• Use commas to separate the name of a person being addressed from the rest of the sentence, e.g., 'Can you help me, Sarah?'

• Use commas to separate adjectives in a list, e.g., 'It was a long, tiring day.'

• Use commas to separate independent clauses without a conjunction, e.g., 'I went to the store, I bought milk.'

• Use commas to set off introductory phrases, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

How do you use commas with quotes?

• Use a comma to separate a quote from the rest of the sentence, e.g., He said, 'I will be there soon.'

• Always place the comma after the closing quote.

• Never use a comma when quoting someone.

• Use a comma before the opening quote.

When should you use a comma before 'and'?

• When it connects two independent clauses or when listing three or more items.

• Only when it connects two adjectives.

• Only in formal writing.

• When it connects two verbs.

How do you use commas in dates?

• Commas are used to separate the month from the day in a date, e.g., 'On October 17 1994 we went to the park.'

• Commas are used to separate the day from the year in a date, e.g., 'On October 17, 1994, we went to the park.'

• Commas are used to separate the year from the month in a date, e.g., 'On 1994 October 17, we went to the park.'

• Commas are used to separate the day from the month in a date, e.g., 'On 17 October, 1994, we went to the park.'

What is the Oxford comma?

• The comma used after 'and' in a sentence.

• The final comma in a list of items, placed before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'I like apples, bananas, and cherries.'

• A comma used to separate two independent clauses.

• A comma that is used only in British English.

When should you use a comma with conjunctions?

• Use a comma before conjunctions when they connect two independent clauses.

• Use a comma after conjunctions to separate them from the following clause.

• Use a comma before conjunctions only in questions.

• Use a comma with conjunctions only in formal writing.

What is the rule for using commas in a list?

• In a list of two items, use a comma before 'and'.

• In a list of three or more items, use commas to separate each item, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

• Commas should only be used in lists of five or more items.

• Use commas only when the items are adjectives.

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

• To separate it from the main clause, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

• To indicate a pause in the sentence, e.g., 'We went for a walk after dinner.'

• To separate items in a list, e.g., 'We bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

• To introduce a quote, e.g., 'He said, 'Hello!''

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

• An example is: 'I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs for breakfast.'

• An example is: 'I need to buy milk bread and eggs for breakfast.'

• An example is: 'I need to buy, milk, bread and eggs for breakfast.'

• An example is: 'I need to buy milk, bread and, eggs for breakfast.'