COMMA2013

COMPOUND SENTENCERule: Use a comma

before the conjunction to separate 2 independent clauses (freshmen grammar!!) unless both clauses are very short.

Example: Comma: My sister

went to many colleges to try to decide, but she was concerned about finding the perfect one for her.

NO!: Herb gave up a successful future because he refused to study hard in high school.

DO WE KNOW OUR CONJUNCTIONS? F-For A-And N-Nor B-But O-Or Y-Yet S-So

“Conjunction-junction, what’s your function?”

PRACTICE We saw many awesome sights on our

vacation but we spent far too many hours riding in our car.

The weather was perfect each day we spent on vacation yet we failed to see all of the sights we planned.

Maddie was very excited about sightseeing but ended up disappointed in the overall experience.

ITEMS IN A SERIESRule: Use commas to

separate items in a series 1. List2. Separating adjectives

(of equal rank) before a noun or pronoun

Test rank: change order of adjectives to see if the sentence would still make sense

OR: Can you add “and” between adjectives?

Example:

- We packed a tent, a stove, several sleeping bags, and plenty of food.

- The swaying, majestic, graceful pines surrounded our campsite.

*cannot add “and” between any of those adjectives!!

Practice

Susie Bill Dave and I went to the ballpark and ate pretzels hotdogs peanuts and pop.

The twisting scenic path leads to a secluded park.

Alison had a headache sore throat and felt dizzy but her mom was not home to pick her up from school.

Direct Address

Rule: Commas set off words used in direct address.

Examples: I don’t know, Alice, where your homework is.

That’s a handsome outfit, John.

George, please hand me the remote.

PRACTICE Mrs. Harris can I please have some help

on my essay? Why of course Maggie I can help you

anytime! I am so excited for Christmas Mom!

LAST RULE (FOR TODAY): SEMICOLONS

Use a semicolon to join independent clauses that are not already joined by a conjunction.

*Note: A semicolon should not be used between 2 unrelated sentences.

Examples: We ate until we couldn’t eat another bit;

we were all famished from our hike in the woods.

My favorite dinner begins with a steaming bowl of pea soup; I wonder why Dad is not home.

CONT: Notes: Conjunctional adverb: Also, besides,

consequently, futhermore, however, instead, thus, therefore, indeed, nevertheless

You would need a semicolon to join independent clauses separated by these conjunctional adverbs

And these transitional adverbs: As a result, at this time, first, for example, for

instance, in fact, on the other hand, second, that is.

EX: Tim, who was taking cooking in school, decided to make dinner for his family; instead he soon discovered that is not easy to cook for 8 picky eaters!

Introductory Adverb Clause

Rule: Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause.Examples: When it rains, the river often floods.

After the meeting ended, they decided to eat rodents.While we played outside, our parents moved away.As if that wasn’t bad luck, I also ate a bug!

Common Adverbs: after wherever since until although because where in order that as before while

whenever as if if though as long as so that when unless as though

An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs answer certain questions about words they modify.(How, when, where, why, to what extent, or under what condition.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! When she went to Ireland she saw a

sheep herder dog being trained. She saw other great sights when she

went to Ireland as well. Unless I say otherwise we will meet in

the computer lab tomorrow!

Restatements/Appositives

Rule: Use a comma or commas to set off restatements (appositives) with their modifiers from the rest of the simple sentence. An appositive is a word – with or without modifiers – that follows a noun or pronoun and identifies it.Examples: An editorial by Dr. Gardner, Lincoln-Way North’s

principal, will appear in the Phoenix Flyer, the school newspaper.

The dog, white with brown spots and soulful eyes, bit the nose off of a small child.

Note: When an appositive is closely related to the word it modifies no comma is necessary. It is considered essential or part of the word. i.e. My cousin Jennifer is a tall redhead.

PRACTICEMrs. Harris my English teacher has a birthday coming up.

The only witness Ann Peters had discussed her potential criminal liability with the prosecutor.

A syndicated column by Bernard Silverman the notes author will appear in the Times-News a local paper.

Parenthetical Expression

Rule: Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions.Examples: On the contrary, fast food is the new comfort food.

Ms. Shorter, naturally, knows she is a great teacher.

Note: Your intention is, at times, what determines whether you use PE’s. If you want the reader to pause, to regard it as parenthetical, then punctuate it so.

i.e. (Both are correct.)This is, indeed, great news.This is indeed great news.

Sometimes the placement of the expression determines the punctuation. i.e. Indeed, this is great news.

PRACTICEMy father will I am sure let me have the car tonight.

Indeed this is a great piece of news.

I want coffee this morning not tea.

DatesRule: With calendar dates use commas to enclose every item after the firstExamples: This year Columbus Day is Celebrated on Monday, October 12, 2012.

Children are anxiously awaiting October 31, 2010, to go trick or treating.

Note: If only month and day is given or only one item of a date – no comma is necessary

I want to earn honor role status in 2011.

Introductory Prepositional Phrase

Rule: Use a comma after an introductory prepositional phrase of six words or more or a succession of introductory prepositional phrasesDef: a preposition is a ‘relationship word’ – it shows the way a noun or pronoun relates to another word in the sentence. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that includes a preposition and a noun or pronoun.Examples: In the trunk of his car, no spare tire was found.

Up at the top of the oak, the insane skunk tried to act like a squirrel.

Because of the torrential rain, the woodchucks changed their spring dance.Notes: If a prepositional phrase is found in

the middle of the sentence and interrupts the flow of the sentence, it is set off with two commas and becomes a parenthetical expression (PE).

When prepositional phrases are at the end of a sentence, no commas are used.

PRACTICE At the edge of the deep woods near

Lakeville in Cumberland County he built a small log cabin.

In the trunk of his car no spare tire was found.

Before we can start baking cookies we need to go to the store.