Which sentence uses a subordinate clause at the beginning with a comma after it?

Which sentence uses a subordinate clause at the beginning with a comma after it?

• A. Because he was late, he missed the bus.
• B. He was late because, he missed the bus.
• C. Because, he was late, he missed the bus.
• D. He missed the bus because he was late.

Answer: (A)

An introductory dependent (subordinate) clause is followed by a comma before the main clause. Here, the beginning phrase “Because he was late” is a dependent clause that cannot stand alone, so it needs a comma after it when the sentence resumes with the main idea “he missed the bus.” This structure shows the cause first, then the result, and the comma signals the pause between the introductory clause and the main clause. The sentence starting with “Because he was late” correctly places the comma after the introductory clause. The other options either insert a comma in the wrong place or move the dependent clause to the end, which doesn’t meet the requirement of a subordinate clause at the beginning with a comma after it.

An introductory dependent (subordinate) clause is followed by a comma before the main clause. Here, the beginning phrase “Because he was late” is a dependent clause that cannot stand alone, so it needs a comma after it when the sentence resumes with the main idea “he missed the bus.” This structure shows the cause first, then the result, and the comma signals the pause between the introductory clause and the main clause.

The sentence starting with “Because he was late” correctly places the comma after the introductory clause. The other options either insert a comma in the wrong place or move the dependent clause to the end, which doesn’t meet the requirement of a subordinate clause at the beginning with a comma after it.