Question

when do you use a comma in a sentence?
a. to mark the end of a sentence
b. to show a pause in a sentence or separate items in a list
c. to indicate an abrupt break in thought or structure
d.to denote an omission

Answer 1

The correct answer is **b. to show a pause in a sentence or separate items in a list**.

Commas are used in several contexts, including:
- Separating items in a list (e.g., "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.")
- Indicating a pause in a sentence (e.g., "After dinner, we went for a walk.")
- Setting off introductory elements (e.g., "However, I still believe it is possible.")
- Separating clauses (e.g., "I would go, but I have a prior engagement.")

While options c and d describe some specific uses of punctuation (like dashes for abrupt breaks or ellipses for omissions), they do not accurately describe the primary function of commas.