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Answer : Commas after Introductions Exercise 2

Add introductory commas where they are needed in the following sentences. Can you identify whether the introductory element, if any, is a clause, phrase, or word? If it is a phrase, what kind of phrase is it? Correct answers are in bold.

__P_ 1. To give Jane a good look at the university, Mr. Benson drove up for the Day on Campus.

introductory infinitive phrase

_C_ 2. Since the dog had started to run, a way to catch him had to be found.

introductory clause

_P_ 3. Of course, the movie that I had rushed to see didn't start on time.

introductory prepositional phrase

_N_ 4. Her secondhand car was in excellent condition when she bought it.

no introductory element

_C_ 5. As I mentioned, the rules can be broken occasionally.

introductory clause

_P_ 6. Having decided to eat only natural foods, he had to give up all of his favorite junk food snacks.

introductory participial phrase

_P_ 7. To estimate the costs, he consulted a repairman by phone.

introductory infinitive phrase

_N_ 8. To succeed in politics is not necessarily desirable.

no introductory element (The infinitive phrase is the subject of the sentence.)

__P_ 9. Making up his mind quickly, Jared ordered lasagna while we were still reading the menu.

introductory participial phrase

_C_ 10. However he tried to use the bottle opener, it wouldn't work.

introductory clause (However is not a transitional word here but the first word of an introductory clause.)

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