A. We use a comma to set off adverbial clauses.
| 1. Of course I’d like to help, but things are not so simple.
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B. When a direct quotation is punctuated with a question mark, no comma is used.
| 2. ‘Can I ring you back in a minute?’ ‘Yes, of course.’
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C. We use a comma to separate independent clauses.
| 3. Things like glass, paper, and plastic can be all recycled.
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D. We use a comma to set off phrases that express contrast.
| 4. I’d like a cheeseburger, please.
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E. We use a comma to set off words such as yes, no, well when one of these words is at the beginning of a sentence.
| 5. ‘Did you enjoy the trip?’ asked Jack, helping her out of the bout.
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F. We use a comma to separate items in a list.
| 6. I discussed it with my brother, who is a lawyer.
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G. We use a comma to set off “please” at the end of the request.
| 7. The dresses were lovely, and the colours were so pretty.
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H. We use a comma to separate tag questions.
| 8. We need to rethink the way we consume energy. Take, for instance, our approach to transport.
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I. We use a comma to set off an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence.
| 9. When we worked in the same office, we would often have coffee together.
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J. We use a comma to set off introductory adverbial elements.
| 10. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked.
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K. We use a comma to set off non-restrictive appositives.
| 11. You stayed the night at Carolyn’s, didn’t you?
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L. We use a comma to set off verbal phrases.
| 12. Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians.
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M. We use a comma to indicate the omission of a word.
| 13. Happily, his injuries were not serious.
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N. We use a comma to set off interrupters.
| 14. Ooh, that’s nice.
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O. We use a comma to set off interjections.
| 15. In 1963 we moved to Boston, where my grandparents lived.
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P. We use a comma to set off a subordinate clause.
| 16. Lonely, she was strolling along the riverbank.
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Q. We use a comma to set off titles and degrees.
| 17. It’s an old city with about 200,000 residents.
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R. We use a comma to set off introductory modifiers.
| 18. My sister is Jacqueline Hope, PhD.
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S. We use a comma to group the digits in thousands in figures of four digits or more.
| 19. Claire was young, lovely, but shy.
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T. We use a comma to separate adjectives in predicative position.
| 20. Buy some tasty cheap biscuits.
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U. We do not use commas between adjectives which give different kinds of information.
| 21. Peter, where are you going?
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V. We use a comma to set off words in direct address.
| 22. Sincerely yours,
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W. We use a comma to set off the salutation in correspondence and the complimentary close of a letter.
| 23. To Sam, Jane was very dear.
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X. We use a comma to separate adjacent words or two identical words to avoid ambiguity.
| 24. I decided to spend my holidays in Germany and my sister, on the west coast of Africa.
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