Commas After Introductory Phrases and Clauses
When there is a phrase or clause that introduces a sentence, it must be followed with a comma.
Study the following examples:
1.
If everyone shops on the Internet, what will happen to shopping malls?2. According to the experts, shopping malls may one day be as hard to find
as drive-in movie theaters.
3. After I studied for the test, I was sure that I would get a good grade.
4. If this ancient oak tree were cut down, it might affect more than 200 different species.
5. Even though I don’t feel well, I will go to school and take the test.
6. When I see the sky begin to darken, I grab my umbrella.
7. Although Susan takes very good care of her teeth, she still gets many cavities.
8. At the end of the day, he likes to read in his book.
9. When the United States became a nation, the United States wanted to make George Washington the king.
10. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Now you finish these sentences. Remember to put a comma after the introductory words.
1. If astronauts don’t exercise in space __________________________________________
2. If you are right-handed ____________________________________________________
3. According to a story I read in today’s paper ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. If a goldfish is left in the dark ________________________________________________
5. When I wake up in the morning ______________________________________________
6. When the plane crashed off the shore of Florida __________________________________
7. In the country of Canada ___________________________________________________
8. In ancient Egypt _________________________________________________________
9. After the storm destroyed the island __________________________________________
10. Even though the field was muddy ____________________________________________
© Ellen Gabor, 2003