Second session - lesson 35
Comma usage/dependent adverb clauses
A dependent adverb clause tells your reader when, where, why, or under what conditions.
It’s not a complete sentence, and it depends on the rest of the sentence to convey its
meaning.
when I finish this report /because I cannot do this alone /if you finish before me
If the dependent adverb clause comes at the first of the sentence, it must be followed by a
comma.
When I finish this report, we can go to lunch.
Because I cannot do this alone, I’ve hired two temporary employees.
If you finish before me, you can go home early.
If the dependent adverb clause comes at the end of the sentence, however, it should not be
preceded by a comma.
We can go to lunch when I finish this report.
I’ve hired two temporary employees because I cannot do this alone.
You can go home early if you finish before me.
Comma usage/geographical locations
Use commas to separate geographical locations if they contain two or more elements.
I drove through Eureka Springs, Arkansas on my way to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta,
Canada.
If the final geographical element does not come at the end of the sentence, you must also
follow it with a comma.
I drove through Eureka Springs, Arkansas on my way to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta,
Canada, when I went to the music festival last week.
Pour over vs. pore over
Pour over means to put liquid over or on top of something.
I poured the maple syrup over the pancakes.
Pore over means to examine closely.
I pored over the reports, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.