Definitions on english words please?

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Use comas to separate a conjugated sentence when each sentence can stand alone on its own. Example:
"I went to the store, and I bought some bread."
You would not use it in this example:
"I went to the store and bought some bread."
That's because "bought some bread" is a fragment when used as a sentence on its own.

There are many other examples when to use commas, such as when you have an appositive.
Example:
"George, our dog, is outside."
Here "our dog" is an appositive since it describes that George is a dog.

Commas should also be used when addressing someone.
Example:
"George, our dog is outside."
In this example, we are telling George that the dog is outside. Notice that the removal of one comma has completely changed the meaning of the sentence.

Commas should be used, but are not required, after prepositions.
Example:
"In the middle of the autumn, the trees have brilliant hues of colors."

A semicolon should be used in place of a conjugation such as "and," "but," and "or."
Example:
"I went to the store; I bought some bread."
Here the semicolon replaces "and."

Clauses are the basic building blocks of a sentence. They have a subject and predicate.
Example:
"The dog sitting there"
The dog is the subject and is said to be doing something (sitting) somewhere (there). It's a basic clause but is not a sentence.

Hope this helps....Show more

A semicolon like this ; I used somewhat in the place of a period example:

Today we are going home; tomorrow we will finish

A Colon such as this : is used when listing things example:

You will need the following for the test: Pencils, markers, paper, and a calculator.

The two clauses are the Independant clause and Dependant clause.

Because it is raining, the band will stay inside today.

The Dependant is what cannot stand alone as a sentence: Because it is raining.
The Independant could stand alone as a sentence: The band will stay inside today...Show more

Commas are used to either indicate a pause in a sentence, or to connect two clauses when the second one cannot be its own sentence.

A clause is a unit of a sentence. An independent clause can stand alone as its own sentence. A dependent clause needs to be connected to an independent clause or another dependent clause with a comma and/or a conjunction.

Semicolons connect to independent clauses.

EXAMPLES
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Independent clause: I love dogs.

Dependent clause: especially labradors

Comma usage: I love dogs, especially labradors.

Semicolon: I love dogs; my favorite breed is a labrador.

*-*-*-*-*-*

You would use a comma to connect "I love dogs" and "especially labradors" because "especially labradors" cannot be its own sentence.

You would use a semicolon to connect "I love dogs" and "my favorite breed is a labrador" because both clauses could exist as their own sentences....Show more