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When you write, a correct use of commas is important. Learn the 8 rules below. Pay specific attention to rule 2. One way to remember the conjunctions in rule 2 is by the acronym FANBOYS (first letters of the 7 conjunctions). On the bottom of the page you find on-line exercises.
1. Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more
Example: I need to buy eggs, milk, lettuce, and bread.
Note: The last comma before ", and" is optional
2. Use commas to separate completed thoughts (huvudsatser) when they are joined by the conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)
Example: I want to buy the new jacket, but it is too expensive.
Note: Avoid starting sentences with these words.
3. Use a comma to separate an incomplete thought (bisats) from a complete thought (huvudsats)
Example: When I get older, I will be able to drive.
4. Use comma or commas to separate phrases from the rest of the sentence that is not essential to the sentence's meaning. These phrases usually provide extra information about the subject.
Example: My brother, a 26 year old male, is watching TV.
5. Use a comma to separate a quotation from the rest of the sentence.
Example: "We need to buy more sugar," she said, "before it runs out!"
6. Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence.
Examples: Hi, how are you?
However, you may not enter the room right now.
7. Use a comma to separate the name of a city from a country or a state.
Example: We are moving to Marseille, France.
8. Use a comma to separate the day of the week, the day of the month, and the year.
Example: Today is Thursday, March 19, 2016.
Note: In British English you would typically write: Today is Thursday 19th March, 2016.
Exercise 9 (Not for the faint-hearted. Click on the different parts of the sentence.)
Correct answers
You find the rules above together with exercises in the document below. If you do these exercises, write your answers in a separate document. You find the correct answers to the right.
On this WikiHow page you find the rules explained in a similar way. Scroll down to Part 3 of the rules. On the same page you find other punctuation rules as well.
Click this link you find more rules on how to separate clauses with commas, specifically when you use the coordinating conjunctions for/and/nor/but/or/yet/so (FANBOYS). This page is a bit more advanced, specifically the explanations regarding when you should not use comma before coordinating conjunctions.
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