Using Commas for Nonessential Information

The video tutorial explains the use of commas to set off non-essential information in sentences. It provides examples to illustrate how commas can be used to separate words or phrases that add extra information but do not change the basic meaning of the sentence. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of identifying essential and non-essential elements to use commas correctly.

What is the primary purpose of using commas to set off information in a sentence?

• To highlight the main subject

• To set off non-essential information

• To add more words to the sentence

• To separate essential information

In the sentence 'The average flight time from Amsterdam to Atlanta, however, is 8 and 1/2 hours,' what role does the word 'however' play?

• It is essential to the sentence

• It is the main subject of the sentence

• It is non-essential and set off by commas

• It changes the meaning of the sentence

Why are commas used around the name 'Steven' in the sentence 'My boyfriend, Steven, is picking me up in front of Aderhold after class'?

• Because Steven is essential information

• Because Steven changes the meaning of the sentence

• Because Steven is non-essential information

• Because Steven is the main subject

What happens to the meaning of the sentence if we remove 'Steven' from 'My boyfriend, Steven, is picking me up in front of Aderhold after class'?

• The sentence becomes unclear

• The meaning remains the same

• The sentence becomes incorrect

• The meaning changes completely

In the sentence 'My sister Christina and I went to Yger yesterday for lunch,' why is 'Christina' not set off by commas?

• Because Christina is non-essential information

• Because Christina is essential information

• Because Christina is the main subject

• Because Christina changes the meaning of the sentence

Why is it important to specify 'Christina' in the sentence 'My sister Christina and I went to Yger yesterday for lunch'?

• Because the speaker has multiple sisters

• Because Christina is the main subject

• Because Christina is non-essential information

• Because Christina changes the meaning of the sentence

What would be the implication if commas were used around 'Christina' in the sentence 'My sister Christina and I went to Yger yesterday for lunch'?

• It would change the meaning of the sentence

• It would highlight Christina as the main subject

• It would imply Christina is non-essential

• It would make the sentence incorrect

In the sentence 'The immigration officer checking my passport at the airport didn’t believe the picture was actually me,' why are there no commas around 'checking my passport at the airport'?

• Because it is non-essential information

• Because it is essential information

• Because it changes the meaning of the sentence

• Because it is the main subject

What would happen if commas were added around 'checking my passport at the airport' in the sentence 'The immigration officer checking my passport at the airport didn’t believe the picture was actually me'?

• The sentence would highlight the main subject

• The information would be considered non-essential

• The meaning would remain the same

• The sentence would become incorrect

Why is it important to specify 'checking my passport at the airport' in the sentence 'The immigration officer checking my passport at the airport didn’t believe the picture was actually me'?

• To clarify which immigration officer is being referred to

• To add more words to the sentence

• To highlight the main subject

• To change the meaning of the sentence