CommasCommas How to use them

Commas A comma is a punctuation mark It tells us to take a brief pause when we are reading. It is the most common punctuation mark, but has to be used carefully.

Commas Commas can change the meaning of a sentence! Mom, Rafa and I want to go to the movies. Mom, Rafa, and I want to go to the movies.

See the difference? The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver, paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths. The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths. The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver, paper hats, clocks and tablecloths.

Use commas to separate items in a series. –We will need hammers, nails, and a saw. –January, February, and March are summer months in the Southern Hemisphere. –Sam frightened the cat, teased the dog, and annoyed the neighbours.

Note… When all items in the series are joined by and or or, then you do not need a comma to separate them. Take water and food and matches with you. Arlette will take art and dance and karate classes next year.

Use commas to separate two or more adjectives Mr Cherry was a warm, kind, and hospitable man. My beagle is a fat, adorable puppy. 7A is filled with hard-working, organized, and intelligent students.

Use commas to join compound sentences Use a comma before and, but, nor, or, so, or yet to join two complete sentences. Tamisha offered me a ticket. I accepted. Tamisha offered me a ticket, and I accepted.

Your turn! Holt Handbook Practice pp. 295 # 1-10

Combine to make one sentence. They had been working very hard. They didn’t seem tired. I like apples that are red. I don’t like them with the skin on. My brother does not like broccoli. I don’t like them either.

Use commas for non- essential phrases Commas are used to separate any extra information that is added. The words inside the commas could be left out without changing the general meaning of the sentence. Jamaica, a popular island for tourists, is in the Caribbean Sea.

Adding information Paul Mann, our star player, broke his leg in the match on Saturday. Paul Mann broke his leg in the match on Saturday. The man, who was wearing a blue hat, slid silently into the room. The man slid silently into the room.

Your turn! Holt Handbook P. 298 #1, 3, 4 P. 302 # 3, 4, 5, 10

Use commas when directly addressing a person Ben, please answer the doorbell! Mom needs you, Francine. Would you show me, sir, where the grocery store is?

Be careful! Do you need commas in these sentences? Ben is answering the doorbell. Mom needs Francine. Dad may I please go to Harry’s house? Can you lend me a pencil Ms. Christina?

Parenthetical Expressions A parenthetical expression is a side remark that shows a relationship between ideas: By the way For example However In fact In my opinion Nevertheless Of course On the contrary On the other hand To tell the truth

Parenthetical Expressions I like baseball. Carl, on the other hand, prefers soccer to baseball. To tell the truth, Juan is one of my best friend. I went to the gym. However, I did not have time to go to the store. As a matter of fact, I have 10 copies of the book.

Which is the parenthetical expression? Of course it is true. That is of course a 1970 Corvette. I suppose we ought to go home now. He’ll want a ride I suppose.

Your turn! Holt Handbook p. 303 #1-10 p. 304 #1-10

Other Uses After the salutation of a personal letter. –Dear Mom, When writing a date. –February 14 th, 1990 To separate items in addresses. –980 West Street, Houston, Texas Inside speech marks. –“We are leaving tomorrow,” said Fred.

Practice, the plumber,, Jennifer,, the typist,, my hairdresser,, our teacher, is good at looking after children. blow dries my hair every week. has a son called Sam. fixed a leak in our pipes last week. works in a large office. Miss Jones Peter Mrs White Our nanny Mr Smith

Practice When he reached the car park, Although he was very tired, Despite queuing for hours, We did our homework, I waited for my brother,

Summary - Commas Show a brief pause within a sentence Separate items in a list Separate additional information Break up longer sentences into smaller parts Break up numbers into thousands Inside speech marks.