DIFFERENT USES OF COMMAS
, parenthetical- A word or a phrase that is used
parenthetically (that is, one not necessary to the
grammatical completeness of the sentence) should be
set off by commas. If the parenthetical expression
occurs at the end of the sentence, only one comma is
used.
EXAMPLES:
There is, of course, no charge for our services.
Please let me know, Mr. Cruz, if we can help you.
I will print your picture on the card, Atty. Ortiz.
It is, however, very difficult to arrive at a solution.
, apposition- An expression in apposition (that is, a
word or a phrase or a clause that identifies or explains
other terms) should be set off by commas. When an
expression in apposition occurs at the end of a
sentence, only one comma is necessary.
EXAMPLES:
My employer, Ms. Villalobos, is on a business trip.
I will see him on Monday, September 14, at 9 o’clock.
Your concerns will be handled by Mr. Evangelio, our
credit manager.
, series- When the last member of a series of three or
more items is preceded by and or or, place a comma
before the conjunction as well as between the other
items.
EXAMPLES:
For his birthday, he received a shirt, a tie, a laptop, and
a cellphone.
Handling calls, receiving visitors, and processing
documents are some of his duties.
Our conference will be held on the 16th, 18th, and 19th of
the month.
A subordinate (or introductory) clause followed by a
main clause is separated the main clause by a comma.
A subordinate clause is often introduced by
subordinating conjunctions including if, as, when,
though, although, because and other.
, if clause- If the subordinate clause starts with if, the
comma which separates it from the main clause is called
, if.
EXAMPLES:
If you complete the work before 4 o’clock, you may
leave.
If I cannot come, I will call you.
If Jessica is ill, she should stay home.
, as clause- If the subordinate clause starts with as, the
comma which separates it from the main clause is called
, as.
EXAMPLES:
As you know, you have not yet paid your September
bill.
As I cannot attend the meeting, I will send my assistant.
As soon as we finish the report, we will send it to you.
, when clause- A clause is introduced by when and
followed by the main clause is separated from the main
clause by , when.
EXAMPLES:
When I was in Baguio, I attended three conferences.
When you do not pay your bills, you are endangering
your reputation.
, introductory- If the subordinate clause does not start
with as, if or when, we use, introductory to separate the
main clause from the subordinate clause, intro
EXAMPLES:
While I understand the statement, I do not agree with
it.
Although it was only 10 o’clock, he closed the office.
Before you sign the contract, discuss it with your
lawyer.
, conjunction- This is used to separate two independent
or main clauses joined by conjunctions and, but, or, for,
nor.
EXAMPLES:
There are 15 people in my unit, but only 11 of them are
here now.
I read the report this morning, and I think it is superb.
The company is facing financial crisis, for the employees
are engaged in unnecessary spending.
, and omitted- When two or more adjectives modify the
same noun, they are separated by commas.
EXAMPLES:
A stamped, addressed envelope is enclosed.
I visited a luxurious, beautiful hotel in Makati.
, geographical- This comma is used to separate the
name of the district from the city, city from the country,
town from province.
EXAMPLES:
I am leaving for Paris, France in a few days.
PUP has established a new campus in Calauan, Laguna.
aov/2021