Commas after an opener
You learn to put a comma after an opener at the start of a sentence.
How to do the test
- Read the start of the sentence.
- Find the opener: a group of words that tells you when, where or how.
- Put a comma where the opener ends and the main clause begins.
Put the comma in the right place. Later that day we went swimming.
- Later that day is the opener: it tells you when, where or how.
- A comma separates the opener from the main clause.
- The comma goes after day.
More examples
Put the comma in the right place. Before breakfast Dad walked the dog.
- Before breakfast is the opener: it tells you when, where or how.
- A comma separates the opener from the main clause.
- The comma goes after breakfast.
Put the comma in the right place. As quick as a flash the thief ran away.
- As quick as a flash is the opener: it tells you when, where or how.
- A comma separates the opener from the main clause.
- The comma goes after flash.