What Are They?
A comma is a punctuation mark. They have many functions. They are used:
- To avoid confusion
- To separate items in a list
- To separate direct speech from a reporting clause
- Instead of brackets to show additional information
- To separate main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clauses.
To avoid confusion in writing.
- Let’s eat, Grandma
- Let’s eat Grandma
- The first sentence (A sweet family dinner)
- The second sentence (A horror show of a dinner with Grandma as the food)
- Let’s drive Jake (Incorrect. We are not driving Jake!)
- Let’s drive, Jake (Correct!)
To separate items in a list
- We have apples, oranges, apricots, avocadoes, watermelons, etc.
- I will study punctuation, preposition, conjunction and adjectives this week.
- Kirk bought us popcorn, ice cream, and donuts.
To separate direct speech from a reporting clause
- As Timothy was leaving, he yelled out, “I’ll be back!”
- “Paula, we can do the homework together,” said Amanda.
- “Come here,” said Jonathan Land, “and bring the lawn mower.”
To separate adjectives that qualify the same noun
- My favorite sports are football, basketball, baseball, racing, and horse riding.
- The lion has long, sharp claws.
- The puppy has such small, cute paws.
- Alex is a kind, wonderful person.
- Greta was young, beautiful, kind, and intelligent.
Instead of brackets to show additional information
- James, a hot-tempered person, is not the one we should be asking for help.
- Sushi, a type of food, is very popular around here.
To separate an independent and dependent clause, or to separate adverbial phrases from a main clause.
- Jake stopped arguing, as he realized that there was no point.
- Before she opened the door, Samantha could hear the excited voices of the children
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