Clauses &

PUNCTUATION Commas
 RECOGNIZE
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
(IC)
Independent Clauses = independent sentences.
Subject + Verb + Object.
Subject + Verb + Object?
Subject + Verb + Object!
 Punctuation: period, question or exclamation marks
Subject + Verb + Object. S + V + O.
Subject + Verb + Object; S + V + O.
 Two Ind. Clauses always separated by periods or
semi-colons
 Two ICs never separated by commas unless
joined by conjunction
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Can stand alone: S + V + O.
I ate three helpings at dinner. I regretted it
later.

Or, S + V + O; S + V + O.
I ate three helpings at dinner; I regretted it later.
I ate three helpings at dinner; however, I
regretted it later.
(Adverbial conjunction + comma)
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE VS
INDEPEND. CLAUSE
Independent Clauses stand alone
▫ S + V + O – This morning, I ate the leftover
pizza.
▫ S + V – This morning I ate.
Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone.
▫ I ate five of the buffet offerings: crab,
mussels, noodles, and mixed vegetables.
The first clause can stand alone (independent).
The second can’t (dependent, subordinate)
COMMAS
CONNECT MAIN CLAUSES WHEN JOINED
PROPERLY

A) The game would start, but players

are missing.
 Ind. & subordinate clauses linked by a
coordinating conjunction
B) The game would start. Players are
missing.

Ind. Clause , [CC] Ind.

Clause]
B) Punctuation fine, but implications
unclear
 COMMAS SET OFF MODIFIERS

Set off introductory elements (modifiers) that

anticipate/characterise what is being described:
 Unfortunately, the only video gamer stopped
playing.
After long introductory modifiers:
 Near a small tree at the top of the mountain,
the park rangers found a shark tooth.
 Nervous but curious, the cat slowly entered
the unlit room.
COMMAS
SEPARATING ITEMS IN A LIST

Nouns or adjectives
 I like pickles, chocolate, and wine (but not together).
 My funny, agile, mischievous cat is a thief.
but DON’T separate CUMULATIVE adjectives
adjectives that increase or change the meaning
incrementally
Don’t Helen ordered a white, chocolate, layered cake.
Do Helen ordered a white chocolate layered cake
I like frothy rich lattes on weekends.
The frilly pink dress is not an option.
 OPTIONAL OXFORD
COMMA (IN A SERIES)
He is allergic to eggs, wheat, nuts, and shellfish (final comma is the
optional Oxford or serial comma)
Oxford comma can be omitted:
He is allergic to eggs, wheat, nuts and shellfish.
Note: omission can produce confusion: not all are
Oxford commas
A few years ago, the Canadian government was tackling withdrawal from
Afghanistan, their election campaign, the decriminalization of drugs, and
U. S. drug imports (clear)
A few years ago, the Canadian government was tackling withdrawal from
Afghanistan, the decriminalization of drugs and U. S. drug imports.
Reader might mistakenly read: A few years ago, the Canadian
government was considering international trade, [and] the
decriminalization [of both] street drugs and U. S. drug imports.
AVOIDING ERRORS

What is wrong with these sentences?

The whole Trudeau family was at the
2021 campaign rally, including the
toddlers Justin Trudeau and Sophie
Grégoire.
I stayed late Saturday night because
Lexy had such an eclectic group of
guests over for dinner: exotic dancers
Rob Ford and Drake.
 ABSOLUTE COMMA
DON’TS!!!!
Commas in wrong places create illogical
segments & pauses.

Never separate a subject from a verb with a comma

Incorrect:
 An eighteen-year-old in California, is now
considered an adult.
Correct:
An eighteen-year-old in California is now considered an
adult.
COMMAS SET OFF
“INTERRUPTERS”
Interrupters are asides that can be separated by
brackets, commas or dashes
 For people who love chocolate, as most do, Belgian
and Swiss are the best.
 For people who love chocolate – as most do – Belgian
and Swiss are the best.
 Citizen Kane, considered a ground-breaking film, is on
most critics’ top ten list of cinematic classics.
 Citizen Kane (considered a ground-breaking film) is on
most critics’ top ten list of cinematic classics.
Review: commas

• 1) Separate modifiers that introduce words and clauses

• Not surprisingly, people are avoiding being outside.
• 2) Bracket interrupters (parenthetical statements)
• With the recent temperature drop, not surprisingly, people
are staying indoors.
• 3) Commas and coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) – joining
independent clauses
• She draws portraits, and she paints landscapes.
• She draws and paints.
• She loves working in the studio but not every day.
• She loves working in the studio, yet she has rarely made time
for it lately.
 Commas +
Correlative
conjunctions
• either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also
• Use a comma when the coordinating conjunction is
joining 2 independent clauses
• 1. She not only plays well but also sings well. Correct
• 2. Not only does she play well but she also sings well.
Correct.
• 3. He was not only smart, but also charming.
Incorrect.
• 2 and 3: the conjunction is not linking two
independent clauses, so you should not include a
comma.
 ABSOLUTE DON’T # 2 :
COMMA SPLICES
Wrong!
Comma splice – comma separates 2 Ind. Clauses
She was running down Oxford for the bus, she was late for
class again.
Correct
She was running down Oxford for the bus because she was
late for class again.
She was late for class again, so she was running down Oxford
for the bus. Conjunction – joins clauses
She was running down Oxford for the bus: she was late for
class again. (colon if Ind. Clause restates or elaborates first
clause)
She was running down Oxford for the bus. She was late for
PERIODS AND SEMI-
COLONS
Periods and semi-colons : separate
independent clauses
Correct:
 I enjoy my philosophy class; however, I wish
it wasn’t a morning class.
 I enjoy my philosophy class. I wish,
however, that it wasn’t a morning class.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
SEPARATING + JOINING
Periods separate

▫ I don’t mind washing dishes. I hate drying them.

Semicolons suggest a connection (similarity/contrast)
▫ I don’t mind washing dishes; I hate drying them.
Comma + coordinating conjunction
▫ I don’t mind washing dishes, but I hate drying them.
Semicolons & adverbial conjunctions emphasize
similarity/contrast
▫ I don’t mind washing dishes; however, I hate drying
them.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: LINK IND. &
SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

FORANDNORBUTORYETSO
LINKING INDEPENDENT CLAUSES WITH
ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS, TRANSITIVE
ADVERBS: LINK AND MODIFY
NOT SURE ABOUT CONJUNCTIONS
AND CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
Q: But is it a conjunction (so commas
separate clauses) or a conjunctive adverb?
A: Can it move? Yes = conj. adv.
I enjoy winter sports, but facing below freezing
temperatures is daunting. (“but” link two clauses: can’t
move)
I enjoy winter sports; however, facing below freezing
temperatures is daunting.
E.g., “However” can move; “but” cannot
I enjoy winter sports; facing below freezing temperatures,
however, is daunting.
Wrong: I enjoy winter sports; facing below freezing
temperatures, but, is daunting.
 COMMA SPLICE: NOT
SURE?
Ask yourself:
1. Can both parts stand alone b/c independent?
2. Is the meaning clear?

Incorrect: I was late paying the bill, I have to pay

interest now. (C. S. = comma splice)
Correct:
I was late paying the bill. I have to pay
interest now.
I was late paying the bill, so I have to pay
interest now.
Semi-Colons & Complex Lists
• Use rarely (Resumé)
• Instead of commas:
• Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, with Kirk, Spock
and others; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and
Star Wars, with Han Solo and his wookie.
• The subordinate clauses have commas, so semicolons are
needed to separate items.
In my house there is a bedroom with a dresser, night table, and
bed; a kitchen with a microwave, oven, and fridge; a living
room with a couch, table, and a fireplace; and a sunroom with
a desk, books, and plants.
If the semi-colons were removed, the reader might first think the kitchen
was an item in the bedroom: In my house there is a bedroom with a
dresser, night table, and bed, kitchen …
Semi-Colons & Complex Lists
• Use rarely (Resumé)
• Complex lists are relatively rare
• Use to make Resumé more streamlined.
• Position: Salesperson and Supervisor,
Shoetopia, London, UK
• Responsibilities include: opening and
closing the store; preparing the deposit;
coordinating and training staff; scheduling
breaks and shifts; managing deliveries,
inventory and display.
Semicolon Abuses
• Never use a semicolon between
a subordinate & ind. Clause

• Incorrect:
- Unless Fido fights back; Fluffy will
take advantage of him.
- Whenever someone steals Fido’s
ball; Fido gets Fluffy to help exact
revenge.
Colon Use (:) appears

1. at the end of a
main clause and
introduces a
simple list.
2. at the end of a
main clause and
restates or
elaborates upon
the main clause.
3. introduces
extended
quotations.
 COLON
Colons follow Ind.
Clauses to intro lists.
E.g. Her friends
wondered why she
brought her full
wardrobe for a
weekend in the
country: yoga clothes,
sweats, jeans, cocktail
dresses, suits, heels,
flats, runners, and
boots, as well as
accessories.
 COLONS DO NOT
PRECEDE ALL LISTS
There must be an
independent clause
that precedes the list
Correct:
 We ate all the leftovers:
pizza, cake, pie, pasta,
fried chicken, and sushi.

Correct
 We ate all the leftover
pizza, cake, pie, pasta, …

Incorrect:
 We ate all the leftover:
pizza, cake, pie, pasta, …
Colons – “Main Clause : List”
• Introduces a list that
completes the main
(Independent) clause.
• On our farm we grow
three crops: carrots,
tomatoes, and peppers.
• wrong: On our farm, we
grow: carrots, tomatoes,
and peppers.
• the list is part of the main
clause
Colon Use (:) appears

At the end of a main clause and

restates or elaborates upon
the main clause. Both must
be independent.
I have very little time to read
the material: the final
exam is in two weeks.
A university degree is still
worth something: a
recent survey revealed
that graduates earn
roughly 60% more than
those with only a high
school diploma.
All my housemates play
winter sports: Alex plays
hockey, Jaime skis, Pat
curls, and J.J. figure
skates.
To clarify
• Grammatically
• Periods & semicolons separate independent clauses
• Colons can sometimes separate independent clauses
• So why was it marked as wrong?
• Semicolons should not be overused, and ideas must be
closely linked and/or contrast each other.
• Colons only separate independent clauses when the 2nd is
a clarification, restatement or elaboration.