If a dependent clause comes after the independent clause, do you need a comma?

If a dependent clause comes after the independent clause, do you need a comma?

• A. A comma is required
• B. A dash is required
• C. No comma is required
• D. A semicolon is required

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how commas mark introductory elements versus the flow of a sentence. When a dependent clause comes before the main clause, you usually set it off with a comma. But when the independent clause comes first and the dependent clause follows, a pause isn’t needed, so no comma is used. For example, I went to bed after the game ended. The main action happens first, and the timing clause comes afterward without a comma. If the time clause came first, you’d write After the game ended, I went to bed, with the comma after the introductory dependent clause. Dashes or semicolons aren’t required for this particular relationship; they aren’t the standard choice here.

The main idea here is how commas mark introductory elements versus the flow of a sentence. When a dependent clause comes before the main clause, you usually set it off with a comma. But when the independent clause comes first and the dependent clause follows, a pause isn’t needed, so no comma is used.

For example, I went to bed after the game ended. The main action happens first, and the timing clause comes afterward without a comma. If the time clause came first, you’d write After the game ended, I went to bed, with the comma after the introductory dependent clause.

Dashes or semicolons aren’t required for this particular relationship; they aren’t the standard choice here.