Comma Placement and Clause Types

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What is a dependent clause?

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A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

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What is an independent clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

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When should you use a comma before a conjunction?

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

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What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

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A comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, or to set off clauses.

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What is a compound sentence?

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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

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What is a complex sentence?

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A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

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How do you punctuate a sentence with a dependent clause at the beginning?

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If a dependent clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, it should be followed by a comma.

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What is a coordinating conjunction?

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A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses that are similar or equal, such as 'for', 'and', 'nor', 'but', 'or', 'yet', 'so'.

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What is a subordinating conjunction?

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A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause, such as 'because', 'although', 'since', 'unless'.

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What is a run-on sentence?

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A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.