Use of Comma in Formal English

Learning Objectives

·  1.1 The Reason for Learning The Use of Comma

·  1.2 Independent Clauses

·  1.3 Oxford Comma and Lists

·  1.4 Introductory Clauses

·  1.5 Connectives

·  1.6 Example Clauses

·  1.7 When Not To Use

·  1.8 Multiple Adjectives For The Same Noun

·  1.9 Contrasted Ending

1.1 The Reason For Learning The Use of Comma

I, as an instructor, understand that many students have a repetitive question: sir why are you teaching this use when no other teacher says its important? To answer your question, here are a few things you must bear in mind:

• Your Directed Writing Section of paper one has a significant part of your marks dedicated to grammar and use of language.
• Similar situation applies to Creative Writing
• In you Second Component, the Summary Passage or Reading For Ideas, you can score well if you know how to differentiate content points from examples and extra information.

These are just a few benefits. To make things evident on how use of comma in the wrong manner can cost you your grade, check this example:

• Ali my brother, is an honest person.
  • Here, my brother is an expression like OH MY FRIEND!
• Ali, my brother, is an honest person.
  • Here, the changed use of the comma means that Ali is, in fact, my brother.

Thus, we need to know the common mistakes in the use of a comma before proceeding further to writing our papers.

1.2 Independent Clauses

The biggest blunder that students commit when using commas is to forget their use when connecting two independent clauses that are joined with conjunctions.

• The seven conjunctions BEFORE which you must use the comma: and, for, nor, yet, but, or, so.
  • For example
  • I want to attend Ali’s party, but I have to work on Sunday.
  • Here, there are two independent clauses
    • I want to attend Ali’s party.
    • I have to work on Sunday.
  • So, when they join using a conjunction, we use comma before the conjunction.
• The case of “and” is tricky
  • Remember, if “and” is being used at the end of a list of products, there will be no comma before it until there is an Oxford comma situation (explained below)
  • If “and” is being used to connect two independent clauses, THERE MUST BE a comma before it.
    • For example.
    • Ali met Aslam, and they both went on a walk.
      • Here, there are two independent clauses
      • Ali met Aslam
      • They both went on a walk.
      • In simple terms, independent clauses can easily be separated into two sentences by removing the conjunction.
    • Thus, in this example, we will use a comma before the and.

1.3 Oxford Comma and Lists

• What is Oxford Comma?
  • In a list of three or more items, you place this comma before the conjunction that is placed before the final item.
  • For example
    • I like Pizzas, burgers, and milk.
    • Here, the comma I placed before the and (Conjunction) before the last item (milk) is the oxford comma.
    • Remember, the conjunction can be “or” as well in the place of and.
  • Why is it necessary?
    • In some lists, there can be confusion if it is not used.
    • For Example
      • I love sports, Michael Jackson and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
      • Here, because I missed the oxford comma, the sentence’s meaning has changed.
      • It currently means that I like two sports whose names are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Jackson.
    • Instead, if I used oxford comma in the same example
      • I love sports, Michael Jackson, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
        • Now the meanings becomes that there are three DIFFERENT and DISTINCT things I love.
          • First is sports
          • Second is Michael Jackson
          • Third is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
        • The sentence is more meaningful now.
      • In simple lists
        • If you have lists that have the same types of items listed, you can avoid using the oxford comma.
        • For example, the first example I gave
          • I love Pizzas, Burgers and Milk
          • All three items are food items
          • Thus, its fine if I do not use Oxford comma here.

1.4 Introductory Clauses

There are three types of things that can come before your main clause in a complete sentence.

• REMEMBER, this rule will apply only if the introduction comes at the start of the sentence, instead of coming at the end of the sentence as a reasoning.
• First type: Introductory clauses
  • These are the clauses that introduce what is being told in the sentence.
    • They may set the background situation for the main idea to be conveyed.
      • For example
        • While I was finishing my homework, my friend kept calling me on my phone.
        • Here, the main thing that is happening is that my friend kept calling me on my phone.
        • However, the background situation is that I was doing my homework at this time,
        • Thus, a comma will come after the introductory clause.
        • REMEMBER, an introductory clause is IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED by the main SUBJECT of the sentence.
          • Here, the main subject (the one who does the action) is my friend, so I follow the main clause immediately with “my friend”
        • Remember, if such background information is provided at the end of the main clause, it will NOT USE A COMMA.
          • For example
            • My friend kept calling me on my phone while I was finishing my homework.
            • No comma in this case.
          • These may be used to to tell the reason for some action.
            • Again, such reason may come before the main clause. Otherwise, no comma is used.
            • For example
              • Because you are fat, you may face health problems.
              • Main clause: you may face health problems.
              • Supporting Clause: Because you are fat.
            • They may also be used to tell a condition
              • When it is summer time, fish enjoy living in the rivers.
              • Main clause: fish enjoy living in the rivers.
              • Supporting clause: When it is summer time.
              • If the same example had the supporting clause at the end, there would have been no comma.
                • Thus
                  • Fish enjoy living in the rivers when it is summer time.
                • You can also use if statements in this category
                  • If Ali married Alisha, he would have been happier.
                  • Same reverse rule applies here as well.
                • There may be a single word used.
                  • These are usually connectives.
                  • REMEMBER, whenever a sentence starts with connective like these, there is always a comma after the connective
                    • However
                    • Furthermore
                    • Moreover
                    • Similarly
                    • Likewise
                    • Additionally
                    • Also
                    • On the other hand
                    • Instead
                  • However, it is not necessary that they must be connectives only. They MAY be adverbs as well.
                    • For example
                      • Immediately, Ali took action.
                      • Haphazardly, Aslam called the police.
                    • Here, these adverbs are actually working as connectives. They carry on the mood and tone of the previous sentence.

1.5 Connectives

• When you are using a SET of connectives.
  • Do not use a comma in general usage.
  • Use only when you need to emphasize an idea.
• The sets include the following (DO NOT MIX THEM)
  • not only … but also
    • For example
      • Not only was he a good player but also a good person.
    • Common mistake
      • Most students use “not only” and “but” and they forget to put the “also”
      • The also is important
    • However
      • It is not necessary that the but also occurs side by side.
      • Instead, it can be far apart as well
      • Not only was he a good player but he was also a good person
        • See here
        • Using also is must, but location can change.
      • Although … yet
        • The one with the most mistakes
        • For example
          • Although he was tired, yet he decided to attend Ali’s party.
        • MOST PEOPLE
          • Forget to use “yet” when they use although
          • Major blunder.
        • Also in this case
          • Using a comma is better.
        • Neither … nor
          • REMEMBER its NOT not or
          • They are used in sense of NOT having something
          • For example
            • Neither Ali nor Aslam came to the party
            • If you wrote
              • Neither Ali nor Aslam did not come to the party
              • It will mean that both Ali and Aslam came to the party.
            • Either … Or
              • For example
                • Either you or Ali bring the ball today for cricket game
              • It means one of the two things that are given
            • There are multiple others as well.
              • We will read more when going over connectives

1.6 Example Clause

• Remember, this technique I am about to tell you is crucial for Paper 2 Passage 1 (the passage about content points and summary writing)
• Anything that is between two commas or hyphens is usually AN EXAMPLE OR EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
• For example
  • Ali, the brother of Aslam, is sick.
  • Here, “the brother of Aslam” is basically an explanation of who Ali is
  • In Content Points of Summary writing, leave out such information as we are NOT required to copy explanations.
• Another example with hyphens is as follows
  • Ali – Aslam’s brother – is sick
  • Same thing, its explanatory.

1.7 When Not To Use

• Do not use it out of now where, it can change the meaning
  • For example
    • He killed his son and uncle John saw him
    • AND
    • He killed his son and uncle, John saw him.
  • Both sentences have different meanings.
  • So make sure you insert commas only where they are required.

1.8 Multiple Adjectives for the Same Noun and Multiple Adverbs for the Same Verb

• Multiple adjectives for the same noun
  • For example
  • Ali is a genius, handsome, loving and caring boy.
  • Do not forget these commas before the last one, where and is used.
• Multiple adverbs for the same verb
  • Ali swiftly, energetically and passionately ran in the race.

1.9 Required Usage

• Some usage features REQUIRE a comma to be used.
  • For example
    • You must use a comma before which when it comes in a sentence
    • For example
      • Ali went to the hotel, which is located in Amsterdam
    • DO NOT USE IT WHERE SUCH USAGE IS PROHIBITED
      • For example
        • You should not use a comma before THAT
        • Ali went to the hotel that is located in Amsterdam

1.10 Contrasted Ending

• This is a useful technique for narrative writing
• You use a comma before a ending to change the whole idea of the sentence and its perspective
• For example
  • He bled and wept while everyone watched in harmony, and deception
  • Here, the “and deception” part CHANGES the perspective
    • That not only the people were calm with her death
    • But more importantly, there was also an element of deception (dhoka) involved.
  • Another example is used as follows (question tags)
    • He did the work, didn’t he?
    • Is such cases, the same verb is used in the positive and negative.
      • The first usage is always different from the second.
      • It creates an impact in writing
        • Confirming about something while already having a hint of what is the case
      • For example
        • Ali didn’t bring my lunch, did he?
          • It is also used in a sarcastic way of writing.
        • OR
        • Ali did bring my lunch, didn’t he?
          • Here the different is, the person believes that ALI brought his lunch.
          • In the example I gave before this one
            • The person believed Ali DID NOT bring his lunch.

Lesson Tags

Use of Comma| Grammar | Detailed Notes For Preparation & Revision | O Level English 1123

Free Education

Check out more free material at our Free Education Section

Free Education Link: https://educateachange.com/free-education

Ask Your Question Link: https://educateachange.com/forums/forum/free-education-forum/

Our Affordable Paid Courses

Courses Page: https://educateachange.com/courses

Shop Section: https://educateachange.com/shop

Discount Packages: https://educateachange.com/discount-packages

Paid Courses For O Level/ IGCSE Pakistan Studies

Course Link: O Level English Language 1123 Crash Course

Course Link: O Level English Language 1123 Full Scale Course

Contact Information

Whats App: +92 336 311 1855

Email: free@educateachange.com

Social Media For Hunain Zia

YouTube: AYLOTI

Facebook: Official Facebook Page

Instagram: Official Instagram Page

LinkedIn: Official LinkedIn Profile

TikTok: Official TikTok Profile

Twitter: Official Twitter Profile

SnapChat: Offical SnapChat Account

Free Education Groups

Facebook General Free Education Group: Real Free Education

Facebook CAIE Free Education Group: AYLOTI Education

Fair Usage Policy

NOTE: To ensure fair use and legal use of this material, please note the following: plagiarism, copying, saving, distribution, re-distribution, cross-posting and using this content on ANY other platform or website is prohibit