* Separating items in a list:
* "Compré manzanas, peras, naranjas y plátanos." (I bought apples, pears, oranges, and bananas.)
* Separating clauses:
* "Fuimos al cine, pero la película no nos gustó." (We went to the cinema, but we didn't like the movie.)
* Setting off introductory phrases or clauses:
* "Por supuesto, me encantaría ir." (Of course, I'd love to go.)
* Separating dates:
* "Nací el 15 de mayo de 1990." (I was born on May 15, 1990.)
Key Differences:
* Use with "y" (and): Spanish generally avoids a comma before "y" when listing items, unless the items are long or complex.
* "Quiero comprar pan, leche y huevos." (I want to buy bread, milk, and eggs.)
* Use with "pero" (but): Spanish often uses a comma before "pero" when it connects two independent clauses, while English often does not.
* "Quiero ir al cine, pero estoy cansado." (I want to go to the cinema, but I'm tired.)
Overall, the use of commas in Spanish is very similar to English, with some subtle differences in specific situations.