Commas - Learning English
Commas: In general, use a comma wherever you want to insert a light, natural pause. There are also specific rules to guide you in placing commas.
1. Use a comma after an introductory clause.
- When Sally opened her eyes and looked around her she thought she was in a dream.
- Correction: When Sally opened her eyes and looked around her, shethought she was in a dream.
- Seeing Sally return to full composure Frank asked if he might have a sandwich.
- Correction: Seeing Sally return to full composure, Frank asked if he might have a sandwich.
2. Use commas to set off non-restrictive clauses or parenthetical expressions. (A non-restrictive clause is a clause that doesn't restrict the sentence's meaning -- it can be dropped without changing the meaning.)
- The sandwich which was pickle and peanut butter with ketchup mixed in looked repulsive to Frank and made him almost vomit.
- Correction: The sandwich, which was pickle and peanut butter with ketchup mixed in, looked repulsive to Frank and made him feel ill.
- Sally who grew up in a small farm town in Nebraska said that's how everyone eats his or her sandwich.
- Correction: Sally, who grew up in a small farm town in Nebraska, said that's how everyone eats his or her sandwich.
3. When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, so, nor, yet), put a comma before the coordinating conjunction. (Note: an independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a full sentence.)
- Frank said to nevermind about the sandwich because he wasn't hungry and he proceeded to lay down beside Sally.
- Correction: Frank said to nevermind about the sandwich because he wasn't hungry, and he proceeded to lay down beside Sally.
- Sally asked if Frank came to the beach often and he said today was in fact the first time he had ever visited the place.
- Correction: Sally asked if Frank came to the beach often, and he said today was in fact the first time he had ever visited the place.
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