English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
When you include a quoted statement inside a sentence, you put quotation marks around the quoted words. Be sure to place a comma before the quotation marks. Here are some examples of what I mean:My teacher always says, “Once begun… Read more389. Use a Comma Before Beginning a Quote
When you are addressing a person by name, you need to put a comma after their name.Look at this example:John, I need your help. You are speaking to John, so you must put a comma after his name before saying… Read more388. Use a Comma to Set off a Person’s Name
When we write a note or a letter or an email, we often begin by using a greeting such as Dear.We might say Dear Mom, or Dear John, before writing the main part of the message. We always put a… Read more383. Using the Comma in a Greeting
Today America celebrates Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in the city of Boston – and America’s freedom from rule by Great Britain was declared. Notice how the date is written. First we write… Read more381. Comma in a Date
A subordinate clause is a group of words that shows action but cannot stand alone. When you begin a sentence with a subordinating conjunction, you are beginning your sentence with a subordinate clause. Here are five common subordinating conjunctions: after,… Read more399. Use a Comma After a Subordinate Clause
An appositive phrase is a group of words that gives more information about a noun. The appositive comes right after the noun that it is describing. Look at this example:Bob, my next door neighbor, loaned me his mower. The phrase… Read more394. Using the Comma with an Appositive Phrase
An interjection is an abrupt word that interrupts a thought. An interjection is usually found at the very beginning of a sentence. Here are some examples of sentences with interjections:Wow, that’s a lot of dirt on your driveway!Oops, I didn’t… Read more391. Using a Comma with an Interjection
Section A: Place a comma correctly into each sentence below. 1. We took a trip to Sedona Arizona.2. We also stopped in Amarillo, Texas to see the Cadillac Ranch. 3. While we were driving, Jon told us “This is the… Read more390. More Practice with Commas
Whenever you write a city’s name and then a state’s name, you need a comma between them.I was born in Chicago, Illinois.We visited Dallas, Texas.The Grand Ole Opry is in Nashville, Tennessee. When a city’s name and a state’s name… Read more386. Use a Comma Between City and State
Section A: Insert one comma into each sentence below.1. The lottery is giving away $1,000000.2. Tomorrow will be July 92022.3. I started my letter by writing Dear Mom I miss you. 4. I ended the letter by signing Love Susie.5…. Read more385. Practice with Commas