Practice with Commas Rules of Comma Usage 1-3

Rule 1: In a Compound Sentence Use a comma before a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so: fanboys) Always check to make sure that you have written two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction before you insert a comma.

#1

Examples of Rule #1 Two complete sentences- We picked the movie. The boys bought the tickets. Two complete sentences combined into ONE: We picked the movie, and the boys bought the tickets.

Practice 1- Look on your notes: The drummers beat out the rhythms and the band marched proudly along the parade route. 1. The drummers beat out the rhythms, and the band marched proudly along the parade route. The photograph clearly showed your feet but somehow your head was cut off. 2. The photograph clearly showed your feet, but somehow your head was cut off.

“On Your Own 1”: On your notes Neither did we visit the aquarium nor did we watch the show at the planetarium. We have come a long way in caring for our planet yet we have much more to learn. Did Rita make this cabinet herself or did her teacher help her? The train we were on had started to move and we couldn’t find Sofia anywhere.

Answers 1 Neither did we visit the aquarium, nor did we watch the show at the planetarium. We have come a long way in caring for our planet, yet we have much more to learn. Did Rita make this cabinet herself, or did her teacher help her? The train we were on had started to move, and we couldn’t find Sofia anywhere.

Rule #2: Separate Items in a Series Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. The number of commas is one fewer than the number of items in the series. Example: I gathered the socks, shirts, and pants for the wash.

AKA The OXFORD Comma

When NOT to use commas for rule #2… Commas are NOT needed when all the items in a series have already been separated by conjunctions. Example: I cut and chopped and diced onions until I cried.

2 #2: On your notes 1. I carefully watered the philodendrons the ivy and the African violets. 1. I carefully watered the philodendrons, the ivy, and the African violets. 2. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats listened with awe and absorbed the speaker’s powerful words. 2. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats, listened with awe, and absorbed the speaker’s powerful words.

“On Your Own 2”: On your notes The politician answered with great patience diplomacy and knowledge. I looked under the bed in the closet and through my desk to find my homework. Ackerman wants us to understand our planet’s size beauty and fragility. Soup and salad can make a light tasty nutritious meal.

Answers 2 The politician answered with great patience, diplomacy, and knowledge. I looked under the bed, in the closet, and through my desk to find my homework. Ackerman wants us to understand our planet’s size, beauty, and fragility. Soup and salad can make a light, tasty, nutritious meal.

Rule 3: Separate Adjectives of Equal Rank Use commas to divide adjectives of equal rank. To determine whether the adjectives are of equal rank you can ask two questions.

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Question 1 Example: Means the same as: Can you put an and between the adjectives and still have the sentence retain its exact meaning? Example: His smart and athletic friend is coming to the party. Means the same as: His smart, athletic friend is coming to the party.

Question 2: Both sound grammatically correct. Can you switch the adjectives and still have a sentences that sounds grammatically correct? Both sound grammatically correct. His smart, athletic friend is coming to the party. His athletic, smart friend is coming to the party.

When to NOT use a comma in Rule 2: If adjectives must remain in a specific sequence, do not use a comma to separate them. Correct: I watched several plump puppies eat puppy chow. Not correct: I watched plump several puppies eat puppy chow.

#3 1. Father placed several steaming heaping colorful dishes on the table and called us to dinner. 1. Father placed several steaming, heaping, colorful dishes on the table and called us to dinner. 2. Do you like kimchi, a spicy tasty relish that accompanies many Korean meals. 2. Do you like kimchi, a spicy, tasty relish that accompanies many Korean meals.

On Your Own 3 Insert commas where needed or write correct if no comma needed. Many delicious jams and jellies Ripe juicy oranges Dark angry clouds Several sharp pencils Bright red dress Hot greasy french fries Disorganized crowded cabinet

Answers 3 correct Ripe, juicy oranges Dark, angry clouds Hot, greasy french fries Disorganized, crowded cabinet

Practice with Mark hit the ball over the fence and into the parking lot. The kids walked through the dark scary haunted house. We will sing dance and act in the school play. The students enjoy books only if they are short and if they are action packed. She practices her routine daily but she still makes mistakes.

Practice answers correct The kids walked through the dark, scary, haunted house. We will sing, dance, and act in the school play. She practices her routine daily, but she still makes mistakes.

Homework Finish comma exercises and fragment practice handed out in class. Due 1/28