When a subordinating conjunction comes before the independent clause, what punctuation is used?

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

Answer: (B)

When a subordinating conjunction begins the sentence, you place a comma after the introductory dependent clause. That introductory part can’t stand alone, so the comma clearly separates it from the main clause that follows, making the sentence easier to read. For example: Although it rained, we kept playing. Here the comma after “rained” signals the transition from the setup to the main idea. If the main clause comes first, you usually don’t put a comma before the subordinate clause: We kept playing although it rained. A semicolon isn’t appropriate here because it links two independent clauses, not an introductory dependent clause. A dash might be used for emphasis in informal style, but the standard rule is a comma.