coma

KOH-mah

nounfA1

comma?punctuation mark

📝 In Action

Necesitas poner una coma entre el sujeto y el verbo en esa frase.

You need to put a comma between the subject and the verb in that sentence.

Para hacer una lista, usamos comas para separar los elementos.

To make a list, we use commas to separate the items.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

coma vocativa – vocative comma (used to set off a name)
punto y coma – semicolon

💡 Grammar Points

Listing Rule

Just like in English, use 'coma' to separate three or more items in a list: 'Compré manzanas, peras y uvas.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using a Comma Before 'y' (The Oxford Comma)

Mistake: "Compré pan, leche, y huevos."

Correction: Compré pan, leche y huevos. (In standard Spanish, the comma is usually omitted before the final 'y'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Pause for Breath

When reading Spanish aloud, the comma indicates a brief pause, helping you naturally structure your sentences.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: coma

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses the feminine noun 'la coma' correctly?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

comer(to eat) - verb

comida(food, meal) - noun

comilón(big eater) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell the difference between the two noun meanings of 'coma'?

The easiest way is by the article (the little word before it): 'La coma' is the punctuation mark (feminine), and 'El coma' is the medical state (masculine). Context will always make it clear.

Why does the verb 'comer' use 'coma' in the subjunctive?

In Spanish, the present subjunctive forms of '-er' and '-ir' verbs often borrow the characteristic vowel of the '-ar' verbs, which is 'a'. This vowel swap helps signal that the verb is in the special subjunctive mood.