1. before commas...
an independent clause
is the main part of your
sentence. it includes a
complete subject and a
complete verb.
The telephone rang.
(subject) (verb)

2. before commas...
a dependent clause is
called a subordinate
clause. it contains a
subject and verb, but
cannot stand alone as a
sentence because it
contains a
subordinating
conjunction

3. before commas...
a subordinating
conjunction can answer
one of these questions:
how, why, when, under
what circumstances?
Because it was loud,
I jumped when the
telephone rang.

4. commas
use a comma to
separate independent
clauses joined by the
coordinating
conjunctions and, but,
for, nor, or, neither, yet
You understand the use
of commas, and your
instructor is overjoyed.

5. commas
use a comma to set off
an introductory
dependent clause
If you had not gone,
the plan would have
been successful.

6. commas
use commas to separate
words, phrases, or
clauses in a series
She looked behind the
door, under the table,
and beneath the chair.

7. commas
use commas to
separate non-
restrictive clauses and
phrases from the
remainder of the
sentence
The Queen Mary,
which is a large
boat, was built in
Scotland.

8. commas
use commas to separate
parenthetical words,
phrases, or clauses
You are, however,
correct in your
statement.

9. commas
use commas between
coordinating adjectives
She was pretty, nice,
and funny.

10. commas
use commas to
separate dates, places,
initials, or titles/names
John left on July 6,
1998, to go to
Chicago.
Rosa Gonzales, MD,
was the principle
witness for the defense.

11. commas
use commas to separate
a short quotation
Jillian asked, “Are you
ready?”