Commas Review

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

Commas are used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, separate items in a list, and clarify meaning.

Front

When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

Back

A comma should be used before a conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') when it connects two independent clauses.

Front

How do you use commas in dates?

Back

Commas are used to separate the day from the year in a date, e.g., 'August 28, 1963'.

Front

What is an example of using commas in a list?

Back

In a list, commas separate items: 'I bought apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.'

Front

When should you use commas with direct address?

Back

Use commas to separate the name of a person being addressed from the rest of the sentence, e.g., 'Let's eat, Grandma.'

Front

What is a non-restrictive clause?

Back

A non-restrictive clause adds extra information to a sentence and is set off by commas, e.g., 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence with an introductory phrase?

Back

Use a comma after an introductory phrase, e.g., 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of three or more items, used before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'I love reading, writing, and painting.'

Front

When should you not use a comma?

Back

Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb or a verb from its object.

Front

What is an example of a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, e.g., 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'