CommasCommas

What will I get out of this?What will I get out of this?You will...You will...

use commas to link use commas to link main clauses with main clauses with conjunctionsconjunctions

use commas to link use commas to link introductory elementsintroductory elements

use commas to link use commas to link nonrestrictive nonrestrictive elements elements

use commas to link use commas to link absolute phrasesabsolute phrases

use commas to prevent use commas to prevent misreadingsmisreadings

Wait a minute. What does all that mean? Wait a minute. What does all that mean?

. . Well, first we have Well, first we have to agree on some to agree on some basic vocabulary. basic vocabulary.

Write these terms down on some Write these terms down on some scratch paper. You may need scratch paper. You may need

them to understand new them to understand new concepts.concepts.

Main Clause--a phrase that can stand alone Main Clause--a phrase that can stand alone as a sentence.as a sentence.

Subordinate Clause--a phrase just like a Subordinate Clause--a phrase just like a main clause,main clause, except except it starts with a it starts with a subordinating word. (Like “except”).subordinating word. (Like “except”).

Conjunction--conjunctions link words, Conjunction--conjunctions link words, phrases, and clauses. Example--ANDphrases, and clauses. Example--AND

Using commas to link main Using commas to link main clauses with conjunctions...clauses with conjunctions...

It is not as complicated as it sounds.It is not as complicated as it sounds. That really only means that we use commas That really only means that we use commas

when joining two main clauses that are just when joining two main clauses that are just as important as each other.as important as each other.

ExamplesExamples

You might not like these exercises, but they are a You might not like these exercises, but they are a useful learning tool.useful learning tool.

The company had bad customer relations, so it The company had bad customer relations, so it went under.went under.

Inverness Caley won the League Championship Inverness Caley won the League Championship last year, but Ayr United are out of this world.last year, but Ayr United are out of this world.

My car died on the motorway, and I was late to My car died on the motorway, and I was late to work.work.

Write down three sentences that have two Write down three sentences that have two main clauses separated by a comma and a main clauses separated by a comma and a conjunction.conjunction.

HINT!! They will probably look like the HINT!! They will probably look like the sentences on the previous screen.sentences on the previous screen.

You can see the previous screen again by You can see the previous screen again by typing “P.”typing “P.”

Now it is your turn.Now it is your turn.

Using Commas to link Using Commas to link introductory elements...introductory elements...

It is not as difficult as it sounds.It is not as difficult as it sounds. It simply means that we use a comma to It simply means that we use a comma to

separate the introduction of an idea from the separate the introduction of an idea from the idea itself.idea itself.

ExamplesExamples

Unfortunately, my cat was behind the car Unfortunately, my cat was behind the car when I backed out of the driveway.when I backed out of the driveway.

By the time I graduate, I will know where I By the time I graduate, I will know where I want to go to college.want to go to college.

After the movie was over, we went out for After the movie was over, we went out for pizza.pizza.

Exhausted, we ran the last three miles of the Exhausted, we ran the last three miles of the race.race.

Now it’s your turn... Copy down Now it’s your turn... Copy down these sentences, and insert these sentences, and insert

commas when needed.commas when needed. Fortunately the rumour was not true.Fortunately the rumour was not true. Wounded the soldier stopped fighting.Wounded the soldier stopped fighting. Without thinking Margie bit Oscar.Without thinking Margie bit Oscar. From Selena to Nicole Brown Simpson From Selena to Nicole Brown Simpson

many women have been victims of many women have been victims of violence.violence.

Picket signs in hand the demonstrators Picket signs in hand the demonstrators marched around the courthouse.marched around the courthouse.

Using commas to link Using commas to link nonrestrictive elements...nonrestrictive elements...

Is really easy.Is really easy. First, what is a restrictive element?First, what is a restrictive element? A restrictive element limits, or restricts the meaning A restrictive element limits, or restricts the meaning

of the word or words it applies to.of the word or words it applies to. Now that we know that, what is a nonrestricive Now that we know that, what is a nonrestricive

element? element? Well, it is the opposite of a restrictive element.Well, it is the opposite of a restrictive element. A nonrestrictive element gives information about the A nonrestrictive element gives information about the

word or words it modifies, but does not limit them.word or words it modifies, but does not limit them.

More explanation...More explanation... Only nonrestrictive elements need the commas.Only nonrestrictive elements need the commas. Example of Restrictive... (no comma needed) Example of Restrictive... (no comma needed)

My brother Lee graduated second in his class. My brother Lee graduated second in his class. (works if you have just one brother)(works if you have just one brother)

Example of Nonrestrictive... (needs the comma) Example of Nonrestrictive... (needs the comma) My cousin, Courtney, just got married. (only My cousin, Courtney, just got married. (only works if you have more than one cousin)works if you have more than one cousin)

Now it’s time for practice!! Choose the Now it’s time for practice!! Choose the nonrestrictive sentences, write them nonrestrictive sentences, write them

down, and add commas where needed.down, and add commas where needed. My best friend John has the flu. (I have only one best My best friend John has the flu. (I have only one best

friend)friend) My mum’s friend Mrs. Edwards is taking us to the My mum’s friend Mrs. Edwards is taking us to the

zoo. (Mum has more than one friend)zoo. (Mum has more than one friend) The Mace store is down the street from my house. The Mace store is down the street from my house.

(There is also a Spar)(There is also a Spar) The Spar store is down the street from my house. The Spar store is down the street from my house.

(There is only one store)(There is only one store)

Using commas to link absolute Using commas to link absolute phrases...phrases...

Can be useful.Can be useful. What is an absolute phrase?What is an absolute phrase? An absolute phrase modifies a whole main clause An absolute phrase modifies a whole main clause

rather than any word or word group in the clause.rather than any word or word group in the clause. It is not connected to the rest of the sentence by a It is not connected to the rest of the sentence by a

conjunction, a preposition, or a relative pronoun.conjunction, a preposition, or a relative pronoun. Absolute phrases usually consist of at least a Absolute phrases usually consist of at least a

participle and its subject(a noun or pronoun).participle and its subject(a noun or pronoun).

Prepositions, Relative Prepositions, Relative Pronouns, and ParticiplesPronouns, and Participles

A quick review:A quick review: Prepositions are words that represent where a boy can be Prepositions are words that represent where a boy can be

on his bike. on his bike.

– ...on his bike...on his bike

– ...below his bike...below his bike

– ...beside his bike...beside his bike Relative Pronouns refer back to another pronoun used Relative Pronouns refer back to another pronoun used

earlier in a sentence.earlier in a sentence.

– Examples are: who, whoever, whom, whomever, Examples are: who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, which, what, that...whose, which, what, that...

Prepositions, Relative Prepositions, Relative Pronouns, and ParticiplesPronouns, and Participles

All verbs have two participle forms, a present and a All verbs have two participle forms, a present and a past.past.

The Present Participle consists of the dictionary form The Present Participle consists of the dictionary form of the verb plus the ending---ing. ex. beginning, of the verb plus the ending---ing. ex. beginning, ending.ending.

The Past Participle of most verbs consists of the The Past Participle of most verbs consists of the dictionary form plus ---ed or d. ex. believed, dictionary form plus ---ed or d. ex. believed, completed.completed.

Some common verbs have an irregular past participle: Some common verbs have an irregular past participle: begun and swam.begun and swam.

Where were we before the Where were we before the short review?short review?

Oh yes, Absolute Phrases...Oh yes, Absolute Phrases...

An absolute phrase modifies a whole main An absolute phrase modifies a whole main clause rather than any word or word group in clause rather than any word or word group in the clause.the clause.– Examples of absolute phrases that modify the Examples of absolute phrases that modify the

whole main clause...whole main clause...» Their homework done, the children may watch Their homework done, the children may watch

whatever they want on TV.whatever they want on TV.

» The children fed, Amy put them all to bed.The children fed, Amy put them all to bed.

» The electricity out, we could not finish our homework.The electricity out, we could not finish our homework.

Absolute Phrases, Part IIAbsolute Phrases, Part II

They are not connected to the rest of the They are not connected to the rest of the sentence by a conjunction, a preposition, or sentence by a conjunction, a preposition, or a relative pronoun.a relative pronoun.– Example: Tired to the bone, we reached the Example: Tired to the bone, we reached the

campsite after midnight.campsite after midnight.– Note that there was no conjunction in that Note that there was no conjunction in that

sentence.sentence.

Absolute Phrases, Part IIIAbsolute Phrases, Part III

Absolute phrases usually consist of at least Absolute phrases usually consist of at least a participle and its subject(a noun or a participle and its subject(a noun or pronoun).pronoun).– Example: Above the water, the fish seemed to Example: Above the water, the fish seemed to

fly into the net.fly into the net.– Note that the absolute phrase, “Above the Note that the absolute phrase, “Above the

water,” consists of a preposition (above) and its water,” consists of a preposition (above) and its subject (the water).subject (the water).

Take a stab at it yourself...Take a stab at it yourself... Read the following sentences. On your paper, Read the following sentences. On your paper,

write only the sentence that contains an absolute write only the sentence that contains an absolute phrase.phrase.– Filled with water, her boots pulled her to the bottom of Filled with water, her boots pulled her to the bottom of

the lake.the lake.

– Wearing her father’s jacket, Liza ran around in the Wearing her father’s jacket, Liza ran around in the snow.snow.

– His clothes, the fabric tattered and the seams ripped His clothes, the fabric tattered and the seams ripped open, looked like Salvation Army rejects.open, looked like Salvation Army rejects.

Using Commas to prevent Using Commas to prevent misreadings....misreadings....

Is very important to everyone.Is very important to everyone. You could sound pretty silly if you misread You could sound pretty silly if you misread

a headline:a headline:– ““Building Burns, Leaves Twenty Homeless”Building Burns, Leaves Twenty Homeless”

asas– ““Building Burns Leaves, Twenty Homeless”Building Burns Leaves, Twenty Homeless”

Practice Preventing Practice Preventing Misunderstanding...Misunderstanding...

You supply the commas where needed.You supply the commas where needed.– Though happy people still have moments of self-Though happy people still have moments of self-

doubt.doubt.– In research subjects have reported themselves to In research subjects have reported themselves to

be generally happy people.be generally happy people.– Yet those who have described sufferings as well Yet those who have described sufferings as well

as joys.as joys.– Of fifty eight subjects reported bouts of serious Of fifty eight subjects reported bouts of serious

depression.depression.

You have just learned what millions of You have just learned what millions of school students will never know, how to use school students will never know, how to use the Comma!the Comma!

Please collect all of your written answers Please collect all of your written answers and turn them in to your teacher. and turn them in to your teacher.

Thank you for your participation.Thank you for your participation.

Congratulations!Congratulations!