Conquering Commas

When To Use Commas In grade 4, we will only look at 4 ways to use commas When directly addressing someone. When listing nouns and adjectives. Before a FANBOY After an introductory word.

1. Use A Comma When Directly Addressing Someone. Addressing someone means that you are talking directly TO the person. Let’s eat, grandma! Let’s eat grandma! We are talking directly to grandma, so we use a comma before her name. If we don’t put a comma, then we are not talking TO them, but rather we are talking ABOUT them. This means that we must eat her.

What’s the difference in the meaning of each sentence What’s the difference in the meaning of each sentence? Sally, wont’ you go to bed? Sally won’t go to bed? In the first sentence, we are talking directly TO Sally, so we must use a comma after her name. In the second sentence, we are talking ABOUT Sally, so we don’t use a comma. Get it? Good!

Fix the following sentences by adding commas if they need. Let’s go to the park Dave! Dave go to the park! Let’s go eat dad. Get over here sparky! Mr. Melhem is my teacher. I go to Glengarry Elementary School Dad loves to eat pizza. Jared I know you like to eat pizza. Jared loves to eat pizza mom. When will you get back home sweety? Ninja got 3 Victory Royales last night! We can do this team! Let’s go to the park, Dave! Dave, go to the park! Let’s go eat, dad. Get over here, sparky! Mr. Melhem is my teacher. I go to Glengarry Elementary School Dad loves to eat pizza. Jared, I know you like to eat pizza. Jared loves to eat pizza, mom. When will you get back home, sweety? Ninja got 3 Victory Royales last night! We can do this, team!

2. Use Commas When Listing Nouns or Adjectives Nouns are persons, places, and things. Hah, did you notice the commas? Adjectives are descriptive words. When you list nouns or adjectives, remember to include a comma before the ‘and’ statement at the end of your list. Which one of the following is correct? I bought potato chips, macaroni, tomato sauce, and popcorn for the big party. I bought potato chips, macaroni, tomato sauce and popcorn for the big party.

Listing Adjectives Adjectives are words that describe something. Sometimes we list adjectives. Example Skull Trooper is a tall, dark, and handsome man. Skull Trooper is a tall dark and handsome man.

3. Use a comma before a FANBOY Use commas when a FANBOY joins two different sentences to combine them into one sentence. Sam went to work. He had things to do F: for A: and N: nor B: but O: or Y: yet Sam went to work, for he had things to do. Sam went to work, and he had things to do. Sam did not go to work, nor did he have anything to do. Sam went to work, but he had things to do. Did Sam go to work, or did he have things to do? Sam went to work, yet he had things to do?

Combine the following 2 sentences using the FANBOY comma rules I like cats. They make me happy. F: for A: and N: nor B: but O: or Y: yet I like cats, for they make me happy. I like cats, and they make me happy. I don’t like cats, nor do they make me happy. I like cats, but they make me itchy. Either I like cats, or I like dogs. I like cats, yet they make me itchy.

Don’t Use a Comma if you don’t have a complete sentence on each side of a FANBOY Don’t use a comma in: I like cats and dogs Because we only have a complete sentence on the left of the word ‘and’. ‘I like cats’ is a complete sentence, but ‘dogs’ is not a complete sentence. Therefore, we leave out the comma. Don’t use a comma in: I’d like cookies or cream. ‘I’d like cookies’ is a complete sentence, but the word ‘cream’ is not.

Add commas where appropriate I’d like cookies or ice-cream please. I’d like cookies or I’d like ice-cream. I love this song but the other song is better. Dave I know him for he is my father. I know Dave for he is my father. Fortnite is cool and awesome. Fortnite is cool and it is also awesome. This place is hot and damp. This place is hot and it is also damp. , , , , , , ,

Use a Comma After Introductory Words Introductory words help introduce a sentence. Introductory words are found at the start of a sentence. They help make your sentences flow better.

Memorize these introductory words. Regularly Used Introductory Words afterward, later, first, finally, generally, still, yet, next, furthermore, basically, yes, no, well, actually, eventually, now Memorize these introductory words. Thus, Therefore, Moreover, Furthermore, However, Meanwhile, Introductory words that create excitement Suddenly, Without notice, In a blink of an eye, Without warning,

In each box, write correct if the sentence is written correctly, and write incorrect if the sentence is written incorrectly.

Create as many sentences as possible using the introductory words.

You Crushed Commas!