Page 152 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

1. to separate more than two independent entries in a list. Commas are used
to separate connected words in a list, except for the last two words which
are normally connected by one of the coordinating conjunctions and or or.
For example,
• The Pandava brothers were Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.
(The items in the list are all nouns.)
• Arjuna was intelligent, handsome, strong, brave, talented and devoted.
(The items in the list are all adjectives.)

2. to join independent clauses (in particular, complete sentences) to form a single
sentence. This is a generalisation of point 1. The clauses often begin with a
conjunction such as and, but, or, while or yet. For example,
• The widow had very little to live on, but she would not beg.
• The spider quietly climbed the spout, but the sun disappeared, clouds formed,
the rain came down, and the spider got washed away.

3. to separate a non-defining relative clause. A non-defining relative clause has to be
separated from its antecedent by a comma. For example,
• My friend Raj, who is studying Physics, has written a new book.

• That lovely house, which is on top of the hill, is up for sale.
4. to separate the dependent clause from the main clause in a complex sentence
when it is written first. If the main clause is written first, then the comma is
not used. For example,

• When I went there, it was raining. (It was raining when I went there.)
• After it had rained for half an hour, the sun came out. (The sun came out after it
had rained for half an hour.)

5. to separate an introductory Yes or No and adverbs of comment. For example,
• Yes, he is a billionaire.

• No, he is not dishonest.
• Fortunately, he had the ticket in his pocket.
• Often, they would gather together in the evenings.

6. to separate the day of the month and the year when writing out dates.
For example, March 16, 2016.

7. to separate each pair of words connected by and. For example,
• The sun and the moon, the stars and the sky, the earth and the ocean, were all
made by God.

8. to separate direct speech from the reporting verb and its subject. For example,
• ‘Hurry up,’ he said to his servant, ‘do not waste time.’

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