Commas basic uses

Commas have several basic uses in English punctuation:

v  Separating items in a list: Commas are used to separate items in a list of three or more items. For example: "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas."

v  Separating independent clauses in a compound sentence: When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," "or," "for," "nor," "so," or "yet"), a comma is used before the conjunction. For example: "She likes to read, and he prefers to watch movies."

v Setting off introductory elements: Commas are used to separate introductory phrases or clauses from the main clause of a sentence. For example: "After finishing his homework, Tom went outside to play."

v  Setting off nonessential elements: Commas are used to set off nonessential elements, such as nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which provide additional information but are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. For example: "The book, which was on the shelf, belonged to Sarah."

v Separating coordinate adjectives: Commas are used to separate adjectives that independently modify the same noun. For example: "She wore a beautiful, elegant dress."

v  Setting off direct address: Commas are used to set off the name or title of a person or thing being directly addressed in a sentence. For example: "John, could you pass the salt?"

v Separating elements in dates, addresses, and numbers: Commas are used to separate elements in dates, addresses, and large numbers. For example: "January 1, 2024," "New York, NY," "1,000."

Remember that while these are basic uses, comma usage can vary depending on the style guide being followed and the specific context of a sentence.