How To Use Commas - English Writing Lesson

Learn how to use commas correctly in this English lesson. Get feedback from a certified English teacher in an online less. Learn how: bit.ly/ooe-teachers.
You can see the full lesson (which includes the text and a quiz) here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/v...
Commas are difficult to use correctly in English - why is this? It's because commas do different jobs in the sentence. These different types of comma follow different rules. So, to use commas correctly in English, you need to understand the different types of comma and what they do.
Contents:
1. The Listing Comma 0:33
2. The Joining Comma 3:05
3. The Bracketing Comma 5:56
4. Common Mistakes 9:30
1. The listing comma
The listing comma is used to separate items on a list. For example:
- "We need two cucumbers, four tomatoes, some onions and a lettuce."
- "We spent our time relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea and drinking coffee in the seaside cafés."
You can see that we use a comma between every item on the list, except for the last two; there isn't a comma before 'and'. In American English, there could also be a comma before 'and'.
2. The joining comma
The joining comma is used to link two complete sentences, together with a linking word. For example:
- "We were tired, and we really didn't feel like going anywhere."
- "He seemed nice, but he just wasn't my type."
We often use the joining comma with linking words such as 'but', 'and', 'or', 'although' and others. You can't use a joining comma with all linking words. For example, 'however' cannot be used with a comma.
3. The bracketing comma
The bracketing comma is used to add extra information to a sentence. For example:
- "This book, first published in 1956, is still useful for students today."
- We add the extra phrase 'first published in 1956' between a pair of commas.
- "One of my colleagues, who used to be a semi-professional footballer, invited me to play in their 5-a-side team this weekend."
- We add the extra information 'who used to be a semi-professional footballer' in between a pair of commas.
You'll learn more about how to use these different types of comma in the video lesson. You can also learn about common mistakes which English learners make with commas, so that you can avoid them.
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A big thank you to the Alphabet translation team from Syria for the Arabic captions!

[@greenapplecz7195]

Five years of studying in twelve minutes. Thank you so much, now I get it

[@salahuddinayubi3914]

seriously! what a smart guy you must be.

[@StephenCurry-tr8zd]

5 YEARS Dam I agree he must be smart

[@Goldenwhitewings]

Studying what

[@jessielee6790]

1: Listing comma( separate items in a list including words, phrases and full sentences) to replace 'and' / 'or' 2: Joining comma( join two complete sentences with a linking word) 1⃣️linking words: but, or, although, also etc. 2⃣️We can't use a joining comma with some linking words( however, ) 3: Bracketing comma( add extra information to a sentence, more often used in appositives) ⚠️Using bracketing comma the sentence must be complete and make sense without that extra information. 🚫Don't put a comma between a subject and its verb 🚫Don't use a comma before that 🚫Don't use a comma to join two sentences if without linking words

[@kennethmuse8956]

Hi! I think we don't need to use comma before 'although' because it's a subordinating conjunction ,right? I'm not a professional one ; I just want to advise.

[@resulmammadli4022]

@@kennethmuse8956 yes i thing about we cannot use comma after although and because but only one exception if there are begining of the non essential sentence.

[@kennethmuse8956]

@@resulmammadli4022 absolutely, my friend.

[@milopup]

Is nobody talking about how calming his voice is?

[@mariamkinen8036]

That is one of the goals on these channels , meant for ppl in distress. Whatever their problems.

[@MrAllywood79]

Yes, and I also notice that he is also cute

[@snijder6255]

He's mine

[@couponsanddailybargains]

This is the best explanation using commas. Great information.

[@sudhirshrestha1465]

Yeah

[@Tahn_yt]

thank you so much for taking the time to make this video, it was really helpful and a joy to watch

[@ftblawareness]

This has really helped, I should've listened in school.

[@gemmascott5650]

So useful. So many of my students (at secondary level!) don't know how to use commas correctly. This was a nice clear way to explain the rules.

[@tolasilv]

Over one year now, this use of commas has been a guide. Thanks.

[@mariamkinen8036]

The shortening of a full sentence truly helped me a great deal. This is what I've been struggling with ‼️

[@mayamasand2906]

Logically and nicely explained...thanks so much.

[@amaya7836]

Thanks for uploading this video. Its was very informative.

[@gabrielzachariah5496]

Definitely learnt this is primary school but forgot somewhere down the line, thanks

[@dustinkolbitsch7161]

very good video, and it was helping a lot to fresh up my knowledge about use of commas in english!

[@amrhalabi2753]

Thanks I like your lessons and I like your way, go ahead

[@thespectrum1747]

First time I actually get it thank you so much!

[@CHANNYTUBE]

Very useful and clear thank you

[@ugdhermann]

Thanks for your explanation! That was very useful. I just wanted to add that in russian and ukrainian languages we always use comma before "that","which", "whom"etc., except the moments when "that" means "what" and it is perceived as a subject which make/made/has made something. That's,maybe,why we have such common problem

[@user-jl6ix1ds2i]

Thanks Oli for a very helpful lesson! These rules are difficult for me, because in Russian many of them are not like that. For example, in a sentence "The people we met on holiday were very nice." it is necessary to put 2 commas, thereby designating a defining phrase "we met on holiday" «Люди, которых мы встретили на отдыхе, были очень милы». In Russian, a comma is also needed before "that" ("который").

[@detphontumma2144]

Thank you very much for this.

[@stopthink7202]

Thanks for that. It helped me out a lot. I have a bad habit of using brackets far to often to put additional info into a sentence so I'm trying to sneak in more commas in their place 🙂

[@caro.nekora]

People are like: Who also didn’t pay attention in school? Meanwhile me: We never learned punctuation in English because we learned it as a foreign language and my teachers thought knowing the rules in German is enough.

[@ace_syo]

OMGGGG BEI UNS WAR DAS AUCH SO HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@elizabethgonzalez6853]

They did teach me but not much tho.

[@thevirtuallearningcenter2462]

Informative video, helped me to learn the topic

[@chichi4639]

Very explanatory. I love your lovely diction.

[@enylestari_soewito]

Thanks Oli, very clearly..

[@pristianafirdaus2116]

Very useful. Thank you so much. More lessons please..

[@KowshiKTikadarSuvSufiItsuvie]

such a/an? wonderful and useful lesson, thanks a lot.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

+KowshiK Tikadar Suv Sufi Thanks! (The correct answer is 'such a...')

[@renatajakielaszek]

Thank you

[@jashancheema9938]

Thank you very much

[@georgehohenbegergames82]

Such a good lesson

[@angel-lz6ub]

Thank You!!!!

[@svtuition]

simple. Thanks

[@shazshaz3142]

Such good explaination

[@abdulmirza7786]

Thank you very much.

[@tgchan]

Thank you~!

[@beenishsameer4947]

Helped me learn for my test

[@ferielbeyzekkoub6240]

Thank you 😊

[@tiaramdhayan5381]

Very informative.

[@stanislavdimitrov1643]

Hello, nice explanation. Obviously, it is quite complicated:)

[@dedam288]

i have a passage :'Looking at the specific second languages spoken, in 2000, 30% of the students were able to speak Spanish, 15% spoke French, and 10% spoke German. By 2010, the proportion of Spanish speakers had risen to 35%, there were 5% fewer French speakers, and the figure for German speakers remained at one in ten. Finally, we can see that the percentage of speakers of other second languages, apart from Spanish, French and German, rose from 15% to 20% over the period shown.' THis is difficult to get it , although i have already watched your lesson completely . I really apperciate if you explain to me

[@quangtoanta8577]

watting for the answer from administration

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi De Dam, what is your question about in particular? Do you have a specific phrase you don't understand, or questions on the use of a comma in a certain section?

[@lawrencelu7600]

It is very useful.

[@waltermwanza8805]

Thanks I enjoyed it

[@Yassamine200]

Thank you so much ❤

[@rangbrangipakistan5470]

Plz add other punctuations as well! I had watched so many video on youtube about punctuations, but this outstanding and easy to understand.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, Rang! We have more lessons on our website: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/colons-semicolons, www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/english-punctuation-guide.

[@AskFo2sh]

Can't thank you enough for this.

[@teddyperera8531]

Thank you.

[@zain8940]

MashAllah! Extremely considerable video.🌹🌼

[@mahamedwiilqaran2687]

Good good better you are very important english to my all of them to teachers

[@GHOSTGAMING13278]

Thanks, Sir I got full marks in my examination; You helped me a lot.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

That's great, Vandana! We're glad we could help!

[@hanooismail9064]

Thanks

[@ahmedbassam400]

Thanks lad! That was really helpful.

[@franciscabaezabaeza2103]

Hello teacher Oli. I ussually use commas when I want to separate concept when describing something and when. I finish the sentence with it and the last word. That. Thank you for explain a hug teacher Oli.

[@ayeshasami8163]

you help me a lot

[@ISAACICEMAN1]

Thanks mate sons in tears

[@nosycatUK]

Great channel

[@JwiseTheRealist]

good video .... I should listened to Mr Wills in my literature class

[@mariamkinen8036]

Thank you ...

[@anishflyingclubanishyadav8420]

Thanks sir 🙏 ☺

[@Daisy25118]

Thanks young Oli for waking me up from my prolonged ''Commas'' coma .😴 😁😁 It's amazing that you could make the boring rules more interesting. Now, I'm able to torture my OOE teachers with bombarded commas in the comment section. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@light2004]

Very helpful!🤗❤ My English exam is tomorrow and I made many comma mistakes in the last exam. I'm sure that it will be better tomorrow than last time. Thank you!

[@afaqmemmedeliyeva7010]

Thank u .It is so useful.We can not put comma after "that"?Do I comprehend correctly?

[@maxman6880]

thanks i really need it😁

[@Islam_makes_Peaceful_soul]

It is nice, knowledgeable and clear lecture, so I got across easily!! Thanks!! Could you add more vedios with different examples!!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you liked it, Salim! We will see about having similar lessons in the future!

[@siddybalde1520]

thanks💪

[@rudyalexandercordovacaball6970]

Great video men

[@panayottomov4791]

You're a good guy

[@slotmain2885]

A very good video I give it a👌👍

[@ahmadhosny7462]

ya he has a calming voice

[@guilhermeo.5387]

Very similar to portuguese grammar. The only things different from the video that I can remember right now is that in portuguese, you also have to use commas before a vocative and after dates and places that come in the beginning of the sentence.

[@merabmeshile6292]

Thankyou so much for letting me know the topic. You did incredible job.Sending u lots of love and prayers❤️❤️

[@9ine708]

Thank you very much. Much appreciated.

[@bugguyonline]

im using this to edit the grammar in fandom wikis, i hope it sticks with me since this is very interesting!

[@harshita5363]

^•^

[@dirlynorberg8255]

Great explanations, great lessons! I love your classes! Thank you so much Your English accent kills me in the best way, teaching me to try to speak as you do.

[@palsipos4854]

it is quite clear that this video is about the correct usage of commas, but even that can not explain why the sentence closing full stops are missing at the end of quite a few examples. :)

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

+Pál Sipos Haha! Good spot. Actually, when you have a bullet point, you don't have to use a full stop. However, I should be consistent with it. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@sakunthalaliyanage8436]

Oxford Online English Hi Could you please explain me what does this really mean? I do not understand! Thanks

[@mariamkinen8036]

It is a run-on. Now I got the point. You can reduce a part of a full sentence. I still need practice.

[@wojciechkrygier4818]

Great Youtoube channel!

[@NA-hs1xm]

Hey, please answer this one: in 11:16, can I use semicolons instead of full stop? since they are two independent clauses that related to the same subject? If not please clarify why not. Thank you.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi there, thanks for sharing your comment. Our certified English teachers can help you with online classes. You can book a trial lesson here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/book-first-class.

[@jashancheema9938]

Please make video on use of whether, either

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the suggestion, Jashan! Keep checking back for new videos!

[@SureshSingh-96]

thanks i like your lessons

[@Luckybawdy]

OMG THANKS

[@EAGLE-of6th]

thanks

[@mariamkinen8036]

When is it possible to use a comma before that if it is connected with a noun clause ahead of it? An antecedent . Adam explained that. Write to the top.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Maria. No, the only time you would put a comma before 'that' is in a sentence like this: 'Actually, that choice turned out to be great'. Otherwise, you don't want to put a comma before 'that'. Hope this helps you!

[@RA-zv7wd]

3:44 "Although" is a subordinator, and when it comes with a dependent clause after the independent clause comes first, you don't need to put a comma before it. Please correct me if i'm wrong.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

+Ako R Comma usage isn't very rule-bound, which is one of the difficulties. Can you give me some examples of sentences you aren't sure about?

[@jemnewman2467]

Cool 😎 video

[@light2004]

Addition: If you write a subordinate clause (Deutsch:"Nebensatz") and then a main clause (Hauptsatz), you need a comma. You don't need a comma if you write the main clause first. That's right, isn't it?

[@RandomGuy-hx6pj]

Yes, it's correct. (Und weil du es so gerne ins Deutsche übersetzt :D; Ja, es ist vollkommen korrekt.)

[@jamiestaceyxander]

Nice

[@manojrr87]

Quick question. You mentioned in British English we don't use a comma before an and. But, at 3:18 the sentence uses a comma before an and. I am confused

[@hidraining3595]

I remember watching this ages ago

[@goodboy2609]

HII OLI THANK U

[@karenpetersen5104]

Thanks for a great video. I'm curious, Oli, what is your dialect?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Karen, he has a British accent from the Oxford region.

[@LlewellynvonHellen]

It's odd how the Oxford comma is not used in the UK, _where Oxford is located_, but it is used in the US.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Maybe it's named after Oxford, Mississippi... :)

[@LlewellynvonHellen]

I don't know who named it and where, but the Victorian _Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)_ is thought to have "invented" it.

[@RsBerzerkaVG]

L00k a8 m3 ! I'm now learning engish :D

[@RandomGuy-hx6pj]

Hey. I have a question I'd like to ask you. But first of all, I want to thank you for the amazing lesson because it made me realize that I had been making some mistakes when using commas, which are extremely common on the internet. As for my question, I'd like to know whether there is a limit on how many dependent clauses you can link to an independent clause. For example; I don't want to go, so I'll stay home, but I might get bored, and I wanted to buy some candy anyway, but...

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching! We're glad you enjoyed the lesson. To answer your question, there's not necessarily a numerical limit on dependent clauses you can link. However, for the sake of clear communication, it's important not to confuse the listener or reader with an unnecessary amount of them. Hope this helps you!

[@RandomGuy-hx6pj]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 Thank you!

[@pleasereply2325]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 Sir, I have a question why there is no comma in between RNA and but. the sentence goes like this They are all unique in that their genome is RNA but they replicate through a DNA intermediate.

[@kennethmuse8956]

Sir, I have a confusing question. Last 2 years ago, Paul Skertich asked you why there is a comma between rain and outside in this sentence:"I saw her in the pouring down rain, outside standing underneath a store's awning". And, you answered ,"the second clause is dependent on the first". Why sir? I don't really understand. Could you kindly explain me that with more examples, sentences and details please? :) Thank you very much!!! I like your explanation so much ,and I have pressed 'Like' button and subscribed your KZbin channel.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

We're so glad you enjoy the lessons, Kenneth. To answer your question: 'outside standing underneath a store's awning,' is not a complete idea alone because it does not make sense. It cannot be a complete sentence, so it needs to be joined with the first independent clause 'I saw her in the pouring down rain.' We have a lesson to help you with this as well! You can watch it here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/sentence-structure. Hope this is useful for you!

[@kennethmuse8956]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thank you so much, sir. Now, I won't be confused using commas anymore :D ,and I've watched video which you sent me. That really help me out! Thank you again and again :)

[@user-dh6ic2ct1m]

i love u so much

[@raheemabderraheem8325]

Can we use a semicolon instead of full stop to join 2 related independent sentences (which aren't linked with linking words )

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

We have a lesson to help you, Adam! www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/colons-semicolons

[@adinar.thomas8702]

I DO SECOND ALL THE GOOD COMMENTS BELOW, RIGHT NOW I AM VERY BUSY WILL GET BACK TO SHARE ETC tHANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH VENEZUELA

[@ChaosCloud96]

So am I correct in saying that using a semicolon instead of a comma would replace the linking word? For example, 'I went to the shops, they were closed' is incorrect because there is no linking word. 'I went to the shops; they were closed' is correct?

[@rasul01]

You are indeed correct.

[@elvst3331]

hi, i have seen in books which have this and, used. Does the and, used the correct use of comma.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

I'm not sure I understand your question; could you give me an example?

[@user-ud6hk9vf3j]

+Oxford Online English I think they're asking if you can place the comma after the conjunction in a sentence.

[@anonymousnobody326]

I was taught in school to NEVER use a comma before a connective for any reason. I agree. It’s redundant. 🤔

[@elizabethgonzalez6853]

This video is very useful, but they forgot to mention independent clause and dependent clause.