Commas and introductory elements | Punctuation | Grammar | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Comma usage is important when dealing with introductory elements like dependent clauses and sentence adverbs in sentences.

Transcript

• [Voiceover] Hello grammarians! Paige and I are here to teach you about introductory elements in sentences and how commas relate to them. Paige, how should we define what an introductory element is? - [Voiceover] So, it's pretty much something that happens at the beginning of a sentence. It can be a dependent clause or an adverb. But as we will se... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Introductory elements in sentences, like dependent clauses, should be separated by a comma.
• ☄️ When an independent clause comes before a dependent clause, no comma is needed.
• ❓ Two independent clauses can be connected with a comma and a conjunction.
• 😑 Sentence adverbs, like "initially" and "basically," modify the entire expression and should be separated by a comma.
• ❓ Comma usage for introductory elements is a matter of style and cultural context.
• ❓ The Federalist Papers and historical comma usage can provide insights into the evolution of comma usage.
• 💼 Semicolons can be used instead of commas in certain cases of connecting independent clauses.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is an introductory element in a sentence?

An introductory element is something that occurs at the beginning of a sentence, such as a dependent clause or an adverb. It is typically separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

Q: Why is a comma necessary when starting a sentence with a dependent clause?

A comma is needed to distinguish the dependent clause from the independent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand on its own and needs the comma to indicate its separation.

Q: Do we always need a comma before a dependent clause?

No, if the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, there is no need for a comma. For example, "Please take off your shoes when you come in."

Q: How should two independent clauses be connected in a sentence?

Two independent clauses can be connected with a comma and a conjunction, such as "and." For example, "I rode an elephant, and then I ate a mango."

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Introductory elements, such as dependent clauses, at the beginning of a sentence should be separated by a comma to differentiate them from the independent clause.

• When an independent clause comes before a dependent clause, no comma is needed.

• When uniting two independent clauses, a comma and a conjunction should be used.