Commas 2 Separating Adjectives And Compound Sentences Separating Adjectives And Compound Sentences

Rule #2 -- Use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. Example: Jack Russell terriers are small, energetic dogs. These intelligent, loyal, playful pets always enjoy a challenge. Practice: Did you hear about Macomber's short happy life? The hot crackling smoky fire roared through the beautiful, old forests of Yosemite. Hint: If you can put and between the adjectives and it makes sense, you can use a comma. Example: Jack Russell terriers are small and energetic dogs. These intelligent and loyal and playful pets always enjoy a challenge. Example: Jack Russell terriers are small, energetic dogs. These intelligent, loyal, playful pets always enjoy a challenge. Practice: Did you hear about Macomber's short happy life? The hot crackling smoky fire roared through the beautiful, old forests of Yosemite. Hint: If you can put and between the adjectives and it makes sense, you can use a comma. Example: Jack Russell terriers are small and energetic dogs. These intelligent and loyal and playful pets always enjoy a challenge.

Rule #2 -- Use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. When the final adjective in a series is thought of as part of the noun, do not use a comma before that adjective. Example: A skillful, enthusiastic dog trainer can teach a Jack Russell terrier to perform many exciting tricks. No comma is used between enthusiastic and dog because the words dog and trainer make up a compound noun. A comma should never be used between an adjective and the noun immediately following it. Incorrect: The cute, clever, terrier who starred in TV's Wishbone was really named Soccer. Correct: The cute, clever terrier who starred in TV's Wishbone was really named Soccer. When the final adjective in a series is thought of as part of the noun, do not use a comma before that adjective. Example: A skillful, enthusiastic dog trainer can teach a Jack Russell terrier to perform many exciting tricks. No comma is used between enthusiastic and dog because the words dog and trainer make up a compound noun. A comma should never be used between an adjective and the noun immediately following it. Incorrect: The cute, clever, terrier who starred in TV's Wishbone was really named Soccer. Correct: The cute, clever terrier who starred in TV's Wishbone was really named Soccer.

Practice Where is a comma needed? a. A squat dark wood-burning stove stood in one corner. b. This book describes the harsh isolated lives of pioneer women in Kansas. c. They made a clubhouse in the empty unused storage shed. d. What a lovely haunting melody that song has! e. Katie Couric's upbeat intelligent approach to interviewing makes her an effective television anchor. Independent Practice -- Exercise 3, page , 5-10 Rewrite each sentence, inserting commas where needed. Practice Where is a comma needed? a. A squat dark wood-burning stove stood in one corner. b. This book describes the harsh isolated lives of pioneer women in Kansas. c. They made a clubhouse in the empty unused storage shed. d. What a lovely haunting melody that song has! e. Katie Couric's upbeat intelligent approach to interviewing makes her an effective television anchor. Independent Practice -- Exercise 3, page , 5-10 Rewrite each sentence, inserting commas where needed.

5. The delicate colorful wings of the hummingbird vibrate as many as two hundred times each second. 6. The hot unrelenting wind blew across the desert. 7. The movie is about a bright active girl who is badly injured while riding a horse. 8. Jade Snow Wong's strong focused determination led to her success as an author. 9. What is the quickest easiest most scenic way to get to Juneau? 10. Lupe like to read true stories about daring adventurous mountain climbers. 5. The delicate colorful wings of the hummingbird vibrate as many as two hundred times each second. 6. The hot unrelenting wind blew across the desert. 7. The movie is about a bright active girl who is badly injured while riding a horse. 8. Jade Snow Wong's strong focused determination led to her success as an author. 9. What is the quickest easiest most scenic way to get to Juneau? 10. Lupe like to read true stories about daring adventurous mountain climbers.

Rule #3 -- Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet) when it joins independent clauses in a compound sentence. Examples: I enjoyed The King and I, but Oklahoma! is still my favorite musical. Oscar Hammerstein wrote the words, and Richard Rodgers wrote the music. The musical comedy began as an American musical form, yet its popularity has spread throughout the world. When the independent clauses are very short, the comma before and, but, or or is sometimes omitted. Examples: I am tired but I can't sleep. The cat can stay inside or it can go outside. Examples: I enjoyed The King and I, but Oklahoma! is still my favorite musical. Oscar Hammerstein wrote the words, and Richard Rodgers wrote the music. The musical comedy began as an American musical form, yet its popularity has spread throughout the world. When the independent clauses are very short, the comma before and, but, or or is sometimes omitted. Examples: I am tired but I can't sleep. The cat can stay inside or it can go outside.

A comma is almost always used before nor, for, so, or yet when it joins independent clauses. Examples: We will not give up, nor will we fail. Everyone seemed excited, for it was time to begin. No one else was there, so we left. The water was cold, yet it looked inviting. Practice -- Add commas to the following sentences. Some sentences may be correct as written. a. Have you read this article or do you want me to tell you about it? b. Human beings must study to become architects yet some animals build amazing structures by instinct. c. The male gardener bower bird builds a complex structure and carefully decorates it to attract a mate. A comma is almost always used before nor, for, so, or yet when it joins independent clauses. Examples: We will not give up, nor will we fail. Everyone seemed excited, for it was time to begin. No one else was there, so we left. The water was cold, yet it looked inviting. Practice -- Add commas to the following sentences. Some sentences may be correct as written. a. Have you read this article or do you want me to tell you about it? b. Human beings must study to become architects yet some animals build amazing structures by instinct. c. The male gardener bower bird builds a complex structure and carefully decorates it to attract a mate.

d. This bird constructs a dome-shaped garden in a small tree and underneath the tree he lays a carpet of moss covered with brilliant tropical flowers. e. Then he gathers twigs and arranges them in a three- foot-wide circle around the display. Independent Practice Exercise 4, page 364, Follow book instructions. d. This bird constructs a dome-shaped garden in a small tree and underneath the tree he lays a carpet of moss covered with brilliant tropical flowers. e. Then he gathers twigs and arranges them in a three- foot-wide circle around the display. Independent Practice Exercise 4, page 364, Follow book instructions.

Independent Practice 5. Tailor ants might be called the ant world's high-rise workers for they gather leaves and sew them around tree twigs to make nests like the one shown on the left. 6. These nests are built in tropical trees and the nests may be one hundred feet or more above the ground. 7. Adult tailor ants don't secrete the silk used to weave the leaves together but they squeeze it from their larvae. 8. The female European water spider builds a water-proof nest under water and she stocks the nest with air bubbles. 9. This air supply is very important for it allows the spider to hunt underwater. 10. The water spider lays her eggs in the waterproof nest and they hatch there. 5. Tailor ants might be called the ant world's high-rise workers for they gather leaves and sew them around tree twigs to make nests like the one shown on the left. 6. These nests are built in tropical trees and the nests may be one hundred feet or more above the ground. 7. Adult tailor ants don't secrete the silk used to weave the leaves together but they squeeze it from their larvae. 8. The female European water spider builds a water-proof nest under water and she stocks the nest with air bubbles. 9. This air supply is very important for it allows the spider to hunt underwater. 10. The water spider lays her eggs in the waterproof nest and they hatch there.