COMMASCOMMAS

Using commas for adding information to Using commas for adding information to sentences (main and subordinate clauses).sentences (main and subordinate clauses).Plus a general punctuation revision exercise to Plus a general punctuation revision exercise to embed the use of commas with existing skills.embed the use of commas with existing skills.

Teacher informationTeacher information Students add commas to the sentences.Students add commas to the sentences.

Differentiation: Differentiation:

Low ability: tell students the rules (slides 3 & 4): put commas either side Low ability: tell students the rules (slides 3 & 4): put commas either side of added information (subordinate clause) and after it if it comes at the of added information (subordinate clause) and after it if it comes at the beginning of the sentence.beginning of the sentence.Then do the exercise (slides 5 & 6).Then do the exercise (slides 5 & 6).High ability: pupils do the exercise (slides 5 & 6) then mark it (answers High ability: pupils do the exercise (slides 5 & 6) then mark it (answers are on this Ppt). They then write their own rules for the use of the are on this Ppt). They then write their own rules for the use of the comma.comma.

Rules for using commasRules for using commas

Put commas Put commas either sideeither side of of added added information/subordinate clauseinformation/subordinate clause and and afterafter it if it comes at the it if it comes at the beginning beginning of the sentence.of the sentence.

E.g.E.g.The catThe cat,, purring loudlypurring loudly,, sat on the mat. sat on the mat.Purring loudlyPurring loudly,, the cat sat on the mat. the cat sat on the mat.

You might remember the use of You might remember the use of the the two commastwo commas if you think of it if you think of it like a mole pushing the main like a mole pushing the main clause apart. The mole’s paws are clause apart. The mole’s paws are the commas.the commas.

The cat, The cat, purring loudlypurring loudly, sat on the mat., sat on the mat.

Commas ExerciseCommas ExerciseWrite out the following sentences, putting in commas Write out the following sentences, putting in commas

wherever they are needed.wherever they are needed.A Lucky FindA Lucky Find1.1. Worried about his finances Mr Farmer was driving Worried about his finances Mr Farmer was driving

one morning.one morning.2.2. The Farmer noticing an unusual object stopped his The Farmer noticing an unusual object stopped his

van.van.3.3. He opened the door of his cab which needed He opened the door of his cab which needed

repairing and jumped down.repairing and jumped down.4.4. He picked up the object which seemed to be made of He picked up the object which seemed to be made of

metal and rubbed it on his sleeve.metal and rubbed it on his sleeve.5.5. Intending to examine it more closely later Mr Farmer Intending to examine it more closely later Mr Farmer

put the object in his pocket.put the object in his pocket.Continued/…Continued/…

66 That evening when tea was over he That evening when tea was over he went to his jacket pocket.went to his jacket pocket.

77 He took the object to his daughter He took the object to his daughter Charlotte who was reading.Charlotte who was reading.

88 Charlotte who had a vivid imagination Charlotte who had a vivid imagination said it might be a golden bracelet.said it might be a golden bracelet.

99 Mr Farmer who doubted that it was Mr Farmer who doubted that it was valuable said he would take it to the valuable said he would take it to the local museum.local museum.

1010 The curator who at first was skeptical The curator who at first was skeptical was astonished at what he saw.was astonished at what he saw.

AnswersAnswers1.1. Worried about his financesWorried about his finances, Mr Farmer was driving one morning., Mr Farmer was driving one morning.2.2. The farmer, The farmer, noticing an unusual objectnoticing an unusual object, stopped his van., stopped his van.3.3. He opened the door of his cab, He opened the door of his cab, which needed repairingwhich needed repairing, and , and

jumped down.jumped down.4.4. He picked up the object, He picked up the object, which seemed to be made of metalwhich seemed to be made of metal, and , and

rubbed it on his sleeve.rubbed it on his sleeve.5.5. Intending to examine it more closely laterIntending to examine it more closely later, Mr Farmer put the , Mr Farmer put the

object in his pocket.object in his pocket.6.6. That evening, That evening, when tea was overwhen tea was over, he went to his jacket pocket., he went to his jacket pocket.7.7. He took the object to his daughter, He took the object to his daughter, CharlotteCharlotte, who was reading., who was reading.8.8. Charlotte, Charlotte, who had a vivid imaginationwho had a vivid imagination, said it might be a golden , said it might be a golden

bracelet.bracelet.9.9. Mr Farmer, Mr Farmer, who doubted that it was valuablewho doubted that it was valuable, said he would take it , said he would take it

to the local museum.to the local museum.10.10.The curator, The curator, who at first was skepticalwho at first was skeptical, was astonished at what he , was astonished at what he

saw.saw.

Now write a rule or rules to help you to remember how Now write a rule or rules to help you to remember how to use commas for to use commas for added information/subordinate added information/subordinate clausesclauses..

Punctuation ExercisePunctuation ExerciseRewrite the following passage, punctuating it Rewrite the following passage, punctuating it properly.properly.

Dancing with DangerDancing with Dangervisitors from minden who are in town for the town-visitors from minden who are in town for the town-twinning celebrations saw a display of dancing twinning celebrations saw a display of dancing yesterday the display which was held on the yesterday the display which was held on the seafront began at 2:30 p m the first performers who seafront began at 2:30 p m the first performers who gave the program a lively start were a modern gave the program a lively start were a modern dance group the dancers who are all members of dance group the dancers who are all members of the shorewell youth center had been trained by mrs the shorewell youth center had been trained by mrs amy groveramy grover

Continued/…Continued/…

the second group which was making its first the second group which was making its first public performance was the shorewell irish public performance was the shorewell irish country dancing team they worked hard to country dancing team they worked hard to entertain the packed crowd their performance entertain the packed crowd their performance which lasted fifteen minutes was marred by an which lasted fifteen minutes was marred by an unfortunate accident to mr john cullum who fell unfortunate accident to mr john cullum who fell through the temporary platform mr buxton a through the temporary platform mr buxton a local hotelier twisted an anklelocal hotelier twisted an anklesiobhan o’connell’s irish dancers who are aged siobhan o’connell’s irish dancers who are aged from five to eight concluded the program they from five to eight concluded the program they encountered some difficulties that resulted encountered some difficulties that resulted from the damage to the platform but most of from the damage to the platform but most of the missing dancers were recovered later the missing dancers were recovered later

CORRECTLY PUNCTUATEDCORRECTLY PUNCTUATEDDancing with DangerDancing with DangerVisitors from Minden, who are in town for the Visitors from Minden, who are in town for the town-twinning celebrations, saw a display of town-twinning celebrations, saw a display of dancing yesterday. The display, which was dancing yesterday. The display, which was held on the seafront, began at 2:30 pm. The held on the seafront, began at 2:30 pm. The first performers, who gave the program a first performers, who gave the program a lively start, were a modern dance group. The lively start, were a modern dance group. The dancers, who are all members of the dancers, who are all members of the Shorewell Youth Center, had been trained by Shorewell Youth Center, had been trained by Mrs Amy Grover.Mrs Amy Grover.

Continued/…Continued/…

The second group, which was making its first public The second group, which was making its first public performance, was the Shorewell Irish Country performance, was the Shorewell Irish Country Dancing Team. They worked hard to entertain the Dancing Team. They worked hard to entertain the packed crowd. Their performance, which lasted packed crowd. Their performance, which lasted fifteen minutes, was marred by an unfortunate fifteen minutes, was marred by an unfortunate accident to Mr John Cullum who fell through the accident to Mr John Cullum who fell through the temporary platform. Mr Buxton, a local hotelier, temporary platform. Mr Buxton, a local hotelier, twisted an ankle.twisted an ankle.Siobhan O’Connell’s Irish dancers, who are aged Siobhan O’Connell’s Irish dancers, who are aged from five to eight, concluded the program. They from five to eight, concluded the program. They encountered some difficulties that resulted from the encountered some difficulties that resulted from the damage to the platform but most of the missing damage to the platform but most of the missing dancers were recovered later. dancers were recovered later.

55 possible marks.55 possible marks.