Commas in phrases, clauses, and sentences

What is a clause?

• A group of words that contains a subject and a verb, which can be independent or dependent.

• A single word that expresses a complete thought.

• A type of punctuation used in sentences.

• A synonym for a sentence fragment.

What is the rule for using commas with dates?

• Use commas to separate the day from the year in a date. For example: July 4, 1776, is a significant date.

• Always place a comma before the month in a date.

• Never use commas in dates, regardless of the format.

• Use commas only in European date formats.

When do we use commas in a list?

• To separate items in a list, such as: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

• To indicate a pause in a sentence.

• To separate clauses in a compound sentence.

• To highlight important information.

What is an independent clause?

• A group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.

• A phrase that cannot stand alone and requires additional information.

• A type of sentence that contains multiple independent clauses.

• A sentence fragment that lacks a subject or verb.

What is a dependent clause?

• A group of words that can stand alone as a sentence.

• A group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

• A type of independent clause that expresses a complete thought.

• A clause that contains a subject but no verb.

How do you punctuate a sentence with an introductory phrase?

• Use a semicolon before the introductory phrase.

• Use a comma after an introductory phrase.

• Do not use any punctuation for the introductory phrase.

• Use a period after the introductory phrase.

What is a comma?

• A punctuation mark used to indicate a pause in a sentence or separate items in a list.

• A type of sentence structure used in complex sentences.

• A grammatical rule for verb conjugation.

• A symbol used to denote a question in writing.

What is the purpose of a comma in a compound sentence?

• A comma is used to separate items in a list.

• A comma is used before the conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

• A comma is used to indicate a pause in a sentence.

• A comma is used to separate adjectives that describe the same noun.

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. For example: Can you help me, Sarah?

• Use commas to separate adjectives that describe the same noun. For example: It was a long, tiring day.

• Use commas to separate items in a list. For example: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

• Use commas to set off introductory phrases. For example: After dinner, we went for a walk.

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

• When joining two nouns or connecting two verbs in a compound predicate.

• When separating items in a list.

• When starting a new sentence.

• When connecting two independent clauses.