Comma Rules Phrases Clauses Conjunctions Grammar Notes 610

Comma Rules: Phrases, Clauses, & Conjunctions Grammar Notes

610. 3 Commas after Introductory Phrases & Clauses � Use � a comma after an introductory participial phrase. Ex. Determined to finish the sweater by Friday, my grandmother knit night and day. � Use a comma after a long introductory prepositional phrase or after two or more short ones. Ex. In the oddest places and a the strangest times, my grandmother can be found knitting madly away. � Note: You may omit the comma if the introductory phrase is short. � � Ex. Before breakfast my grandmother knits. � Use a comma after an introductory adverb (subordinate) clause. After the practice was over, Tina walked home. � Note: A comma is not used if an adverb clause follows the main clause and is needed to complete the meaning of the sentence. � � Ex. � Tina practiced hard because she feared losing. Note: However, a comma is (can be) used if the adverb clause following the main clause begins with although, even though, while, or another conjunction expressing a contrast.

614. 1 Commas to Set off Dates � Use commas to set off items in a date. � On September 30, 1997, my little sister entered our lives. � He began working out on December 1, 2005, but quit by May 1, 2006. � However, when only the month and year are given, no commas are needed. � He began working out in December 2005 but quit by May 2006. � When a full date appears in the middle of a sentence, commas are needed. � On June 7, 1924, my great-grandfather met his future wife.

Phrases & Clauses � Phrase: a group of related words that function as a single part of speech. � Ex. Finishing the race will require running up some steep slopes. � Finishing the race (this gerund phrase functions as a subject noun) � Will require (this phrase functions as a verb) � Running up some steep slopes (this gerund phrase acts as an object noun) � Clause: a group of related words that has both a subject and a predicate.

744. 1 Independent and Dependent Clauses � Independent Clauses: present a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. � Dependent Clauses: (also called subordinate clauses) do not present a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. � Ex. Sparrows make nests in cattle barns (independent clause) so that they can stay warm during the winter (dependent clause).

Conjunctions � Conjunctions: connect individual words or groups of words. � 734. 1 Coordinating Conjunctions: usually connect a word to a word, a phrase to a phrase, or a clause to a clause. The words, phrases, or clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction are equal in importance or are of the same type. � 734. 2 Correlative Conjunctions: conjunctions used in pairs. � 734. 3 Subordinating Conjunctions: connect two clauses that are not equally important, thereby showing the relationship between them. A subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause in order to complete the meaning of the dependent clause.

Kinds of Conjunctions Type Conjunctions Examples Coordinating and, but, or nor, for, yet, so Correlative either, or; neither, nor; not only, but also; both, and; whether, or Subordinating after, although, as if, as long as, as though, because, before, if, in order that, provided that, since, so that, though, till, unless, until, when, whereas, while