Commas Clauses Independent clause can stand alone as

Commas!

Clauses • Independent clause – can stand alone as a sentence – Has subject and verb • Dependent clause – cannot stand alone as a sentence – Has subject and verb, but needs more info to make a complete sentence – AKA Subordinate Clause

Examples • Independent clause – Jesus wept. – He ate. Both sentence have a subject that completes an action

Examples • Dependent Clause – Because if I thought you would, I'd never leave. – which are the real ones after all. – for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. These all have conjunctions at the beginning. If you’re not sure, say the sentence out loud.

Compound Sentences • Use a comma to join two complete sentences AND use a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS): – For – And – Nor – But – Or – Yet – So

Compound Sent Ex: • Obama did not vote on 2007’s Border Fence and Customs Appropriation Bill, but he voted yes on a similar bill in 2006. • The phrase “lipstick on a pig” is commonly employed by politicians, so farmer Joel Swoope put lipstick on his pigs. • Swoop said that “pigs don’t really have lips, ” and most of the lipstick ended up on their noses.

Commas after intro words/word groups • introductory words/phrases “set the stage” for the main part of the sentence, or the independent clause • Words like: – However – Therefore – Still – Further – Meanwhile

Intro clauses • start with adverbs like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc. – Ex: Though most cats are smart, mine is not. – Ex: Because Bob got wet, he started shivering. – Ex: Before I agree to the work, I must be paid.

Commas after intro phrases • Phrases don’t have a subject and a verb separate from the subject/verb of the ind. Clause part of the sentence – Ex: To keep your mind sharp, you have to exercise it daily.