The comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence.
Uses of the comma
Before and after words used in apposition to a nounWinston Churchill, the statesman, was also an eminent writer.
Janaki, my sister, is an eminent cardiologist.
To separate two or more nouns, adjectives, or adverbs that come togetherEngland, Russia and France formed an alliance.
To separate a participial phraseFeeling tired, I went to bed.
Being fat, she couldn’t run fast.
To mark off a noun
James, can we bank on him?
Mary, have your meals.
John, come here.
After an introductory phrase or clauseTo be honest, I have little interest in politics.
For God’s sake, leave me alone.
In the name of justice, be fair to that poor man.
To indicate the omission of a verb in cases where repetition should be avoidedMy brother bought a watch and my sister, a camera. (= My brother bought a watch and my sister bought a camera.)
Before and after words or phrases let into the body of a sentenceShe had, surprisingly, paid for everything.
The boy had, in spite of all the hardships he faced, managed to succeed.
To separate a subordinate clause from the main clauseAfter he had finished his job, he went out.
When I opened the door, the cat jumped in.
Before and after words used in apposition to a nounWinston Churchill, the statesman, was also an eminent writer.
Janaki, my sister, is an eminent cardiologist.
To separate two or more nouns, adjectives, or adverbs that come togetherEngland, Russia and France formed an alliance.
To separate a participial phraseFeeling tired, I went to bed.
Being fat, she couldn’t run fast.
To mark off a nounJames, can we bank on him?
Mary, have your meals.
John, come here.
After an introductory phrase or clauseTo be honest, I have little interest in politics.
For God’s sake, leave me alone.
In the name of justice, be fair to that poor man.
To indicate the omission of a verb in cases where repetition should be avoidedMy brother bought a watch and my sister, a camera. (= My brother bought a watch and my sister bought a camera.)
Before and after words or phrases let into the body of a sentenceShe had, surprisingly, paid for everything.
The boy had, in spite of all the hardships he faced, managed to succeed.
To separate a subordinate clause from the main clause
After he had finished his job, he went out.
When I opened the door, the cat jumped in.
The comma can be omitted when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.
Uses of comma in a simple sentence
The comma is the shortest pause between words.
The comma has the following uses in a simple sentence.
To mark off nouns, pronouns or phrases in apposition
James, my neighbor, is a doctor.
Wordsworth, the famous English poet, was a lover of nature.
To mark off each one of a series of words belonging to the same part of speech
He spoke easily, clearly and eloquently.
The children laughed, danced, jumped and cried for joy.
A comma is generally not placed before a word preceded by and.
The farmer owned sheep, cattle and poultry.
To mark off a nominative of address
Doctor, the patient is ill.
Gentleman, I bring good news.
After a nominative absolute
God willing, we shall meet again.
To mark off a direct quotation from the rest of the sentence
‘I am not tired,’ said James, ‘but I am very hungry.’
To separate each pair of words connected by ‘and’
Young and old, high and low, rich and poor, all praised the little boy’s clever tricks.
Before and after words, phrases and clauses let into the body of a sentence.
His conduct, to say the least, was disgusting.
He did not, however, agree.
The following words and expressions are also separated from the rest of the sentence by means of a comma: at least, indeed, well, all the same, however, of course, on the whole, in short, in particular etc.
