Final answer:
The comma in the sentence should be placed after the word 'improved.' Proper comma placement is important for clarity and to correctly convey the relationship between clauses in a sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The comma belongs after the word 'improved' in the sentence: "Her grades improved, after she learned to use commas correctly." The correct placement of a comma in this sentence makes clear the cause and effect relationship between the student's improved understanding of commas and her improved grades.
Secondly, the phrase 'after she learned to use commas correctly' acts as an adverbial clause providing additional information to the main clause, and it is standard to separate these with a comma when the adverbial clause follows the main clause.
Here are the corrected sentences with appropriate comma usage based on the review questions provided:
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- I finally found my keys, and I got to work just in time.
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- Mrs. Contreras threw out her old coffee table and cleaned the carpet.
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- Taking the elevator to the roof, we hoped we could see the skyline and the bay.
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- Though Susan wasn't feeling well, she went to the store anyway and bought ice cream, pizza, and candy.
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- I let my neighbor borrow my phone because she said hers was tapped by the police.
When considering the use of commas for introductory elements, dependent clauses, and series, these examples reflect the correct application of those rules. The incorrect placement of commas can lead to ambiguity or confusion. Reviewing these rules and examples can help students improve their writing and avoid common comma errors.