Tutor Ted Commas

Use a comma and a FANBOYS conjunction to

• link two dependent clauses

• link two independent clauses

Use a comma when a sentence starts with a dependent clause followed by

• another dependent clause

• an independent clause

• any type of clause

Can you begin a sentence with “Because”?

• always

• in some cases

• never

Use commas to separate

• the subject and the verb

• adjectives and nouns

• the items in a list

If you see multiple adjectives describing the same noun, use a comma whenever

• you could substitute the word "and" for the comma

• there are more than two adjectives in a row

• the adjectives have different suffixes

Use commas to bracket off or offset

• names and dates only

• indirect objects

• unnecessary information

If a phrase of unnecessary information shows up at the beginning or end of the sentence, set it off from the sentence with

• a semicolon

• two commas

• one comma

That experience convinced me of the value, of pre-screening all performers for my children’s birthday parties.

• NO CHANGE

• me, of the value

• me of the value

• me, of the value,

However, my son still remembers that strange, inexplicable, afternoon with Igor the Clown as being one of the most amusing of his life.

• NO CHANGE

• strange, inexplicable afternoon,

• strange, inexplicable afternoon

• strange inexplicable afternoon

Igor, who was an English major in college and originally started working as a clown as a way to support himself while he wrote his first novel.

• NO CHANGE

• college, originally starting

• college, originally started

• college and