Commas have many uses in English. This lesson shows you how to use them correctly in your writing. You can find the tests at the bottom of the page.
Let’s start with some uses of commas.
Dates
Commas are used to separate the parts of the date. They are used between two numbers, or between two words.
- December 12, 2006
- Monday, July 4th
Lists
Commas separate items in a list.
- I need bread, milk, eggs, and cheese.
- I met Tom, Mary, and Janet.
Conjunctions
Commas go before a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
- Jason spent fifteen minutes doing his homework, but it felt like an hour.
- I hadn’t gone to class for most of the year, so I failed my exam.
Adjectives
Commas separate two adjectives before a noun.
- I bought a new, red car.
- The big, black dog is barking.
Interruptions or Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Commas are used to separate a non-defining relative clause from the rest of the sentence. This is used to add extra information, or make interruptions.
- The man, who had never been to Paris, was very excited.
After Introductory Words or Phrases
Use a comma after an introduction to a sentence including times and transitional words.
- On Monday, the family travelled to Florida.
- While watching television, the children ate dinner and fought over their dessert.
- However, her bank account did not match her records.
Separate Place Names
Commas are used to separate two place names, most commonly cities and countries.
- Tokyo, Japan
- Mexico City, Mexico
Comma Tests
Comma Test
