Commas with Direct Speech

Use a comma after the introductory clause.Example: She said, “I was in London last year.”If the direct speech is at the beginning of the sentence, put the comma before the final quotation mark. (Don’t use a full stop here.)Example: “I was in London last year,” she said.Don’t use a comma after direct speech if the direct speech ends with a question mark or exclamation mark.Example: “Were...

Commas with Introductory Clauses

Use a comma after introductory infintive clauses.Example: To improve her English, she practised on ego4u every day.Use a comma after introductory prepositional clauses.Example: Before he went to New York, he had spent a year in Australia.Use a comma after introductory participle clauses.Example: Having said this, he left the room.Note: In short introductory sentences, the comma is optional and...

Commas between Main Clauses

Use a comma between two main clauses which are separated by and or but.Example: We ran out of fuel, and the nearest petrol station was 5 miles away.Use a comma to separate parts of a sentences in a sequence.Example: She ran down the stairs, opened the door, saw her boyfriend(,) and gave him a kiss.Don’t use a comma if these parts of the sentence are separated by and or but.Example:...

Commas with Conditional Sentences

Use a comma if the if clause is at the beginning of the sentence.Example: If I go to London, I will visit the Tower.Don’t use a comma if the if clause is at the end of the sentence.Example: I will visit the Tower if I go to Lond...

Commas with Enumerations

Use a comma to separate items in an enumeration.Example: Old McDonald had a pig, a dog, a cow, a horse.The comma before “and” is optional. (Choose the option you like best and stick to it.)Example: Old McDonald had a pig, a dog, a cow and a horse. Old McDonald had a pig, a dog, a cow, and a horse.Don’t use a comma before “and” if two items are a unit (“Ham and eggs” as...

Commas with Adjectives

Use a comma if the adjectives are equally important and give similar kinds of information.Example: It was a cold, windy morning.Don’t use a comma if the adjectives are not equally important or give different kinds of information.Example: He was a clever young man.Note:To check if adjectives give similar kinds of information or not, put and between the adjectives. (It was a cold and windy...

Commas with Adverbs

Use a comma after certain adverbs: however, in fact, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, still, instead, too (meaning 'also').Example: Therefore, he didn't say a word.If these adverbs appear in the middle of a sentence, they are enclosed in commas.Example: The thief, however, was very clever.The comma is optional for the following adverbs: then, so, yet.Example: So,...