IN THIS LESSON

English Language Essentials

Two easy ways to use commas in sentences:

  • Separate items in a list. For example: My favourite things are food, sleep and more food. 

    • Notice there is no comma before ‘and’. This is called the Oxford Comma and is only used in British English if it is needed to make your sentence clearer.  

  • Add extra information. For example: The salad, where health was supposed to start, was just sadness in a bowl. 

Notice the commas are around the middle part of the sentence, which could be removed and still make sense (i.e., The salad was just sadness in a bowl).

Further Details

A slightly more complex way to use commas is in complex sentences, which usually show cause and effect. We must use a comma in these sentences when we start the sentence with a subordinate clause. 

  • Starting sentences with subordinate clauses. For example: As I was tired, I decided to have a nap. 

    • Notice that ‘As I was tired’ is not a complete sentence; it depends on ‘I decided to have a nap’. Therefore, it is called the subordinate clause, and must be followed by a comma if it starts the sentence. ‘I decided to have a nap’ is the main clause because it could stand on its own as a complete sentence. 

We do not need the commas if we start with the main clause. For example: I decided to have a nap as I was tired.

English Language Activity

Add commas in the correct places in these sentences:

  1. My dream holiday involves sand swimming and sunshine.

  2. Commas which are a type of punctuation help making writing clearer.

  3. As I was very hungry I ordered more food than I could eat.

  4. Even though I went to bed early I was still tired.

Bonus Activity

Make your own sentences using the format above. If you are working with someone else, leave out the commas and swap work (so your partner can add the commas).


Knowledge Check/Review

  1. When do we use commas? (Give at least two scenarios).

  2. When don’t we use commas? (Give at least two scenarios).