Commas

Series Use commas to separate items in a series Words Phrases Clauses You can use commas to separate words, phrases, or clauses in a series. Phrases We went over the river, though the woods, and around the bend to get to grandma’s house. Clauses I can’t wait until my neighbor moves, I go deaf, or his dog loses the ability to bark!

Series Rules: If each item is joined by and, or, or nor, do not use commas to separate them. I tried yoga and ice dancing and rhythmic gymnastics on Monday. Commas go within a series, not before or after them. On Tuesday, I discovered that I wasn’t flexible, patient, or graceful. Use a comma to separate adjectives describing the same noun. Monday was a very challenging, depressing day! VERY short independent clauses can be separated with a comma. On Tuesday I reflected on my decision and came up with the following motto: I tried, I failed, I cried.

Independent Clauses Use a comma and a conjunction to join independent clauses (This will give you a compound sentence!) Mrs. Krabill never gives her classes homework, but Mrs. Swope gives homework regularly. Having no homework is clearly cooler than having homework, so Mrs. Krabill is clearly cooler than Mrs. Swope. Do not confuse these with simple sentences that have compound subjects or predicates! Mrs. Krabill started out giving homework but decided later that homework was lame.

Practice Makes Perfect Page 702, ex 3 Page 703-704, ex 4

Non-Essentials Use commas to set off non-essential clauses and phrases Non-essential = doesn’t change the meaning Mrs. Krabill, who was feeling excited and full of life, decided to compete in a triathlon. The triathlon, the most difficult of all competitions, is considered a right of passage by most hard-core athletes. Unfortunately, Mrs. Krabill forgot she was a terrible biker and nearly died during the biking leg, the second portion, of the race. If a clause or phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence, it does NOT get bracketed by commas. The triathlete who is fastest will win first prize.

Practice Makes Perfect Page 706, Ex 5

Introductory Elements Occur at the beginning of a sentence. Set off a mild exclamation Well, I certainly wouldn’t have guessed Mrs. Compo was taking clogging classes! Participle or participial phrase Shocked, the students all realized it was true! Long or multiple prepositional phrases On the way home along the side of the road, we saw Mrs. Compo practicing and teaching several of her students the steps. Adverb clause When she saw us watching her, Mrs. Compo started towards us to encourage us to try clogging as well.

Practice Makes Perfect Page 709, ex 6 Let’s review what we know: page 710, Review B

Interrupters Appositives and appositive phrases, words or phrases that rename the noun preceding it, are bracketed by commas. Emily, my conservative sister, surprised us all when she got a tattoo! Is that book, How to Remember Names Better, Mrs. Compo’s? A direct address is bracketed by commas. Well, Mrs. Swope, I would have gotten my homework done, but Mrs. Krabill needed me to teach her how to bike. Mary, please stop making excuses; everyone knows Mrs. Krabill can’t bike.

More Interrupters Parenthetical expressions are bracketed by commas (side remarks—look like transitions). I hope the rain holds off for the game. (notice no comma!) The rain should hold off for the game, I hope! Incidentally, it did not, and the fans and players got soaked. It started hailing, moreover, and I have bruises from the golf-ball sized ice pellets. Examples pg 713 After all At any rate By the way Consequently For example However In general Meanwhile Incidentally Naturally Of course On the contrary In fact Nevertheless therefore

Practice Makes Perfect! Page 712, Exercise 7 - odds only

Conventional Usage Dates and addresses Letter salutations and closings Mrs. Krabill moved from her old house at 70234 Canterbury Dr., Richmond, MI 48062, five years ago. Mrs. Krabill got married on June 20, 2009. On 20 June 2009, Mrs. Krabill got married. Did Mrs. Krabill get married in June 2009? Letter salutations and closings Dear Dad, I cannot wait for Thanksgiving dinner. Sincerely, Erin Titles following a name P. Sherman, Jr., was born yesterday. My brother-in-law, Chris Howell, M.D., tells the most entertaining jokes! Do not use unnecessary commas!

Practice Makes Perfect Page 716, Exercise 8 – odds only Page 717-718, Review D – all of them Write out the sentences