How Do I Punctuate Clauses??

Punctuate Dependent and Independent Clauses




When you write a sentence for a paper, letter, or even an email, you will want to pay close attention to your punctuation.  

Punctuation can drastically change the meaning of a sentence—beyond simply being punctuated incorrectly.  See the info-image below.

Figure 1 WarFrame Image available through 

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There are really 8 essential comma rules that you will want to memorize to avoid confusion and cannibalism (wink-wink) in your writing.  See a writing handbook or simply conduct a search online for comma rules to begin lessons on correct comma usage.  While this page won't go over the 8 basics, it will go over a commonly-confused issue for students.

One common mistake students make, when writing sentences and trying to punctuate them properly, is failing to understand the construction of basic sentences.  Basic sentence structure consists of a subject and a predicate.  However, within a basic sentence (independent clause—meaning it is independent and, therefore, can stand all by itself), there may be many attributes added to create depth, detail, meaning, and clarity.

If you can learn the differences between what constitutes an independent clause versus a dependent clause, you will be able to end one commonly confused error in Standard English writing: how to punctuate sentence with a dependent and independent clause.

Learn about dependent and independent clauses by watching this video:

If the video will not play from here, use the link below:

https://youtu.be/sAo6LbCUAQo

Sample Sentence

They are not taking their team photograph until Friday at 7:30.

To determine if there should be a comma after the word photograph, we first have to assess the content layout for the sentence.

They are not taking their team photograph until Friday at 7:30.

                    Independent clause                 dependent clause

A comma would give the implication that the words after the comma are 'not essential' or are 'additional information,’ but, in fact, the words "until Friday" are absolutely essential to the meaning of the sentence.

There's a big difference between these two sentences:

They are not taking their team photograph.   
They are not taking their team photograph until Friday.

"Until Friday,” “until she arrived,” “until the sun rises…" all indicate dependent clauses.  The word "until" is the subordinating conjunction (meaning a lesser connector). Even though it is important information when considering the meaning of the sentence, it isn't necessary for the sentence to stand alone.

For example: "They are not taking their team photograph." is an independent clause (meaning a complete sentence), it stands on its own. "Until Friday" is not a complete sentence, and therefore, it cannot stand on its own. 

Therefore, you would NOT place a comma after photograph as it is written above.

Dependent clauses located in the second half of a sentence—after the initial complete thought (independent clause)—connect to the independent clause without a comma.

"Until Friday" is dependent on the first half of the sentence. However, it should not need a comma in this instance, because it is in the latter half of the sentence.

Dependent clauses located in the first half of a sentence—before the initial complete thought (independent clause)—connect to the independent clause with a comma.

If you move a dependent clause to the beginning of the sentence, it will need a comma. "Until Friday at 7:30, they will not be taking their team photograph." That sentence sounds horrible, though, even though it is technically correct.

Review the sentences below with the dependent and independent clauses in them.  Try to determine—based on the explanation and video above—whether a comma needs to be placed in any of the versions below.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1. Until the sun rises in the West and sets in the East I will love you. 
2. I will love you until the sun rises in the West and sets in the East.   
3. Until she arrived no one wanted to dance.    
4. No one wanted to dance until she arrived.

Scroll below to see the answers.

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BELOW!!!!!!!

ANSWERS:

1. Until the sun rises in the West and sets in the East, I will love you.
2. I will love you until the sun rises in the West and sets in the East.
3. Until she arrived, no one wanted to dance.
4. No one wanted to dance until she arrived.