L6.2a Trashketball

1. Is the underlined part of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? My cousin Allison just graduated from high school.

1. Restrictive – Without the name Allison, we don’t know which cousin. My cousin Allison just graduated from high school.

2. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? Ralph who had brought his metal detector spent the day searching for coins on the beach.

2. Parentheses – The underlined phrase contains less important information Ralph (who had brought his metal detector) spent the day searching for coins on the beach.

3. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? She snuck quietly into the house heart pounding, knees shaking and came face to face with her father.

3. Dashes – The writer wants to draw attention to her feelings to show how afraid she is. She snuck quietly into the house -- heart pounding, knees shaking -- and came face to face with her father.

4. Is the underlined portion of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? Francesca’s husband Nathan accompanied her to the poetry reading.

4. Nonrestrictive – Nathan renames Francesca’s husband. His name is not necessary. Francesca’s husband, Nathan, accompanied her to the poetry reading.

5. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Elias Moxley a famous trial lawyer will represent Ms.Tishman.

5. Elias Moxley, a famous trial lawyer, will represent Ms.Tishman. Appositive rule – a famous trial lawyer renames or explains who Elias Moxley is.

6. Place commas in the sentence as needed: The English professor adjusted her glasses shuffled her notes and began her lecture.

6. The English professor adjusted her glasses, shuffled her notes, and began her lecture. Items in a series rule The English professor did a series of three actions.

7. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Because she did not consult her calendar Merrill missed her date.

7. Because she did not consult her calendar, Merrill missed her date. Introductory elements rule

8. Is the underlined portion of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? William Carlos Williams the poet was also a farmer.

8. Nonrestrictive – The poet renames William Carlos Williams. The phrase is not necessary. William Carlos Williams, the poet, was also a farmer.

9. Place commas in the sentence as needed: When Harriet finished the book she gave it to Harry.

9. When Harriet finished the book, she gave it to Harry. Introductory elements rule

10. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? The survey clearly indicates a preference among our employees for flexible holiday options. See appendix for survey data.

10. Parentheses – The note to look in the appendix is less important information. The survey clearly indicates a preference among our employees for flexible holiday options. (See appendix for survey data.)

11. Place commas in the sentence as needed: The gentle kind giant helped Jack climb back down the vine.

11. The gentle, kind giant helped Jack climb back down the vine. Coordinate adjectives rule The gentle and kind giant helped Jack…. The kind, gentle giant helped Jack……

12. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Harold fed the cats and walked the dog.

12. No commas needed: Harold fed the cats and walked the dog. There are not enough items listed to be considered a series. This is not a compound sentence because “walked the dog” cannot stand alone.

13. Free Shot!

14. Place commas in the sentence as needed: The next concert will take place Tuesday March

14. The next concert will take place Tuesday, March 23, Conventional situations rule Comma between day of the week and month Comma between date and year

15. Is the underlined portion of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? The man who delivers the mail is always very friendly.

15. Restrictive – Without the phrase who delivers the mail, we don’t know which man. The man who delivers the mail is always very friendly.

16. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Moving from Brooklyn New York to Charlottesville Virginia has been difficult.

16. Moving from Brooklyn, New York to Charlottesville, Virginia has been difficult. Conventional situations rule Always put a comma between a city and a state

17. Place commas in the sentence as needed: The poor child did not know how to walk or talk.

17. No commas needed: The poor child did not know how to walk or talk. This is not a compound sentence, nor does the sentence have enough actions listed to be a series.

18. Place commas in the sentence as needed: She is a woman of great courage and the town will honor her today.

18. She is a woman of great courage, and the town will honor her today. Compound sentence rule

19. Place commas in the sentence as needed: The test as a matter of fact was very easy.

19. The test, as a matter of fact, was very easy. Interrupter rule

20. Place commas in the sentence as needed: My grandmother’s address is Sunnybrook Nursing Home 43 Greystone Road Blacksburg VA

20. My grandmother’s address is Sunnybrook Nursing Home, 43 Greystone Road, Blacksburg, VA Conventional situations rule Think about separating the lines of the address on the envelope Always put a comma between cities and states.

21. Is the underlined portion of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? A child who screams for attention is best ignored.

21. Restrictive – Without the phrase who screams for attention, we don’t know which child should be ignored. A child who screams for attention is best ignored.

22. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? He was going to make a confession or was he? when the case was dropped.

22. Dashes – The writer wants to draw attention to the question “or was he?” He was going to make a confession -- or was he? -- when the case was dropped.

23. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Jimmy shouted “See you at the game!”

23. Jimmy shouted, “See you at the game!” Dialogue rule

24. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Bees for example have four wings.

24. Bees, for example, have four wings. Interrupter rule

25. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Excuse me Mrs. Henson do I have lunch detention?

25. Excuse me, Mrs. Henson, do I have lunch detention? Interrupter rule

26. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Henderson Smith the mail carrier for our block always arrives on time.

26. Henderson Smith, the mail carrier for our block, always arrives on time. Appositive rule Since we already know the man’s name, knowing that he is the mail carrier for our block is extra information.

27. Place commas in the sentence as needed: We enjoyed the clean crisp smell of the mountain air.

27. We enjoyed the clean, crisp smell of the mountain air. Coordinate adjectives rule We enjoyed the clean and crisp smell…. We enjoyed the crisp, clean smell…

28. Place commas in the sentence as needed: I am copying this recipe for I want to make this dish someday.

28. I am copying this recipe, for I want to make this dish someday. Compound sentence rule

29. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? You are the friend the only friend who offered to help me.

29. Dashes – The writer/speaker wants to emphasize that the reader/listener is the only one who helped. You are the friend --the only friend -who offered to help me.

30. Place commas in the sentence as needed: “What are some of the things” Mrs. Baskin inquired “that make school so much fun?”

30. “What are some of the things,” Mrs. Baskin inquired, “that make school so much fun?” Dialogue rule

31. Place commas in the sentence as needed: After many days at the mine the workers were tired and angry.

31. After many days at the mine, the workers were tired and angry. Introductory elements rule

32. Place commas in the sentence as needed: Marianne’s light blue dress fluttered in the breeze.

32. No commas needed: Marianne’s light blue dress fluttered in the breeze. Light and blue are not coordinate adjectives! Marianne’s blue, light dress does not work!

33. Is the underlined portion of the sentence restrictive or nonrestrictive? Mary’s mother who is active in the community is a member of the school board.

33. Nonrestrictive – Knowing that Mary’s mother is active in the community is just extra information. Mary’s mother, who is active in the community, is a member of the school board.

34. Should the underlined portion of the sentence have parentheses or dashes around it? Two thirds of the class most are on the honor roll studied for more than sixty minutes.

34. Parentheses – Knowing that most of the class is on the honor roll is less important information Two thirds of the class (most are on the honor roll) studied for more than sixty minutes.

35. Place commas in the sentence as needed: I’ll have pickles ketchup mustard and onions on this hot dog.

35. I’ll have pickles, ketchup, mustard, and onions on this hot dog. Items in a series rule