1. DIRECT ADDRESS
Direct addresses – when you use the directly name of the person to whom you’re talking Jim, did you see that movie? Mr. H, I think I like your tie. Yes, Jack, I will marry you. I think, Mr. H, that I like your tie. Please be quiet, jerk. I think I like your tie, Mr. H.

2. INTRO WORDS, PHRASES, CLAUSES
INTRO WORDS that don’t fit with the rest of the sentence; some of these include adverbial conjunctions, mild interjections, and sequence words.
Oh no, I forgot to wear underwear! Coincidentally, I did yesterday as well.
First, take a left at the Wawa; however, be careful because there are two Wawa stores nearby.
Yes, I would love to go on a date to McDonald’s with you.

3. INTRO WORDS, PHRASES, CLAUSES
INTRO PHRASES that are longer, technically breaking sentence structure.
A moldy jar of mayo sat in the back of the refrigerator.
In the back of the refrigerator, a moldy jar of mayo sat.
INTRO DC’s to separate them from the IC as you break sentence structure
Your teeth may rot if you eat a lot of candy and never floss or brush your teeth.
If you eat a lot of candy and never floss or brush your teeth, your teeth may rot.

4. Essential Phrases and Clauses
An essential clause or phrase is used to modify a noun.
It also adds information that is critical to the meaning of the sentence.
It does not break or interrupt the sentence because it’s part of the main IC.
Essential clauses are not set off by commas.
Key Concepts: This slide leads off a section about essential and non-essential phrases and clauses. Essential phrases and clauses—elements that add critical information to the meaning of a sentence—do not have commas placed around them. For the slide example: Without the essential phrase, this sentence does not make complete sense : The people are loud! While the sentence is grammatically correct, we don’t know about the people being discussed.

5. Nonessential Phrases & Clauses
A nonessential phrase or clause adds “extra” information to a sentence.
This information can be eliminated from the sentence without jeopardizing the meaning of the sentence.
Because it’s extra, it often breaks or interrupts the sentence structure of the main IC.
Always place commas around nonessential phrases and clauses.
Key Concepts: This slide illustrates the difference between essential and nonessential elements. While commas should not be placed around essential phrases and clauses, they should be placed around nonessential phrases and clauses.

6. ESSENTIAL VS. NONESSENTIAL
S essential phrase V The people who work in my office are loud. S non-essential V My brother who lives across town plans to throw a party.

7. A couple more notes
***These are often referred to as non-essential because they do not hold the meaning that the sentence is trying to convey and may not quite fit with the rest of the sentence and/or break sentence structure INTRO PHRASES/CLAUSES Soothed by the music, she fell asleep. (participial phrase) Packing hurriedly, Tommy forgot his toothbrush (participial phrase) INTERRUPTING PHRASES/CLAUSES Lamont, the kid who drives the pink car, walked to school. (appositive) Five times five, I believe, is twenty-five. (parenthetical/interjectory) Sam thought, though he was nervous, they’d win. (dependent clause) Andrea, leaping high in the air, caught the softball (participial phrase) ENDING PHRASES/CLAUSES I love cookies, the kind with both raisins and nuts. (appositive) I want it now, by the way. (parenthetical/interjectory) He looked exhausted, throwing 100 pitches (participial phrase)

8. A couple more notes
The word “that” is almost always an indicator of an essential phrase or clause.
S essential V
The pizza that I had at Joe’s was great.
Be careful with “the stuff at end”, as most phrases and clauses that end sentences use transitional words that DO NOT break sentence structure thus DO NOT require commas.
Ex.
I gave Joey a piece of gum because he ate onions for lunch, making his breath rancid.
Key Concept: The word “that” almost always indicates an essential phrase or clause.