Punctuation, Commas in English
When do we use commas?
| Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. separate independent clauses The following conjunctions (so-called coordinating conjunctions) are used in such case: * and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet | The driver appealed against the parking ticket, but the judge did not grant it. |
| 2.1. after introductory sub clauses | If you visit Paris, you will see the Eiffel Tower. |
| 2.2. after introductory phrases | As a matter of fact, I do know how to swim. |
| 2.3. after introductory words | Meanwhile, I was sitting at home waiting. |
| 3.1. when sub clauses appear in the middle of the sentence. | John, who was waiting in the car, phoned Susan. |
| 3.2. when phrases appear in the middle of the sentence. | I, as a can be expected, will pay for the damage. |
| 3.3. when words appear in the middle of the sentence. | We have, unfortunately, decided to dismiss you. |
| 4. to set off three or more words, phrases or main clauses in a sentence. | He opened the door, walked in, sat down, and switched on the television. |
| 5. to set off two or more coordinate adjectives, that is, the meaning does not change when the order is altered. | We had to stay in a number of cheap,uncomfortable,dirty hostels. |
| 6. at the end of a sentence in order to indicate a pause. | He was just dangerous, not evil. |
| 7. to set off a nonrestrictive (also non-defining) relative clause. ** | Donald Trump, who was a failed casino owner, became US president in 2017. |
| 8. when someone is addressed directly. | Petra, can you help me with this please? |
| 9. when a direct quotation is included. | Descartes said,“I think, therefore I am.” |
| 10. to show an appositive. *** | Barack Obama, former US president, is still very popular in Europe. |
| 11. in dates. | Yes, July 20, 1969, was the date of the first moon landing. |
| 12. separate identical words. | By the time I thought of it, it was too late |
| 13. in front of tag questions. | You are German, aren’t you? |
| 14. after digits indicating thousands. | 100,000 |
| 9,999,999 | |
| 15.1. after a salutation in letters. | Dear Susan, |
| 15.2. after a farewell in letters. | Yours faithfully, |
- * Note that ‘but’ and ‘and’ do not take a comma when both are relatively short.
- ** restrictive relative clause= they tell us which person or thing, or which kind of person or thing, is meant;
non-restrictive relative clause = they tell us more about a person or thing that is already identified. - *** When an appositive is only one word, no comma is needed.