Commas Review

Front

What is the primary purpose of using 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

How do you use commas in a list of three or more items?

Back

Commas are used to separate each item in a list, with an optional comma before the conjunction (e.g., 'apples, oranges, and bananas').

Front

What is the rule for using commas with coordinating conjunctions?

Back

When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), a comma should be placed before the conjunction.

Front

When should you use a comma after an introductory phrase?

Back

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

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate dates in a sentence?

Back

When writing dates, a comma should be placed after the day and after the year if the date is part of a larger sentence (e.g., 'On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther gave his famous speech.').

Front

How do you use commas with direct address?

Back

When directly addressing someone in a sentence, a comma should be placed before or after the person's name (e.g., 'Look at this picture, Kate.').

Front

What is the Oxford comma, and when is it used?

Back

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

Front

How do commas function in compound sentences?

Back

In compound sentences, commas are used before coordinating conjunctions to separate independent clauses.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with non-essential clauses?

Back

Non-essential clauses, which provide additional information but are not crucial to the meaning of the sentence, should be set off with commas.

Front

When should you not use a comma in a sentence?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or to separate two verbs in a compound predicate.