1. Rules of Comma Usage Part I: With conjunctions, in lists, and with nonessential phrases 8 The

2. My grandpa eats shoots and leaves. That's weird. Is your grandpa a panda or something?

3. My grandpa eats, shoots, and leaves. Oh! That makes so much more sense now!

4. 1 Rule Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more. My brother smells like fish, feet, and dirty laundry. He needs to buy shampoo, soap, and deodorant.

5. I love watching basketball but I hate playing it. Wait! We learned this! Where does the comma go!?

6. I love watching basketball, but I hate playing it. Oh yeah! It goes BEFORE the coordinating conjunction!

7. 2 Rule Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined using coordinating conjunctions. My brother took a shower, and now he smells all better! He should have taken one days ago, but he didn't know he was so smelly.

8. If I get an A in Ms. English's class I'll jump for joy. This looks familiar too... but I don't remember!

9. If I get an A in Ms. English's class, I'll jump for joy. Right! The comma goes after the dependent clause!

10. 3 Rule Use a comma to separate a dependent clause or introductory phrase from an independent clause. Although my brother used to smell so bad, he still has a girlfriend. Without me telling him he smelled, he would've never gotten better!

11. 3 Rule Use a comma to separate a dependent clause or introductory phrase from an independent clause. BUT NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! My brother smelled bad because he never showered. You DON'T need a comma when the independent clause comes first.

12. Grandpa a panda eats shoots and leaves. Err... that's confusing.

13. Grandpa, a panda, eats shoots and leaves. Oh! So your grandpa IS actually a panda!

14. 4 Rule Use a comma to separate words or phrases that are not essential to the sentence's meaning. My sister, on the other hand, never smells bad. Jenelle, my brother's girlfriend, is good friends with my sister.

15. Now practice! Write a paragraph or two about someone in your family (like I did with my smelly brother). Include sentences that correctly use all four comma rules. You may include other sentences as well. This should be about 100 words long, and it is due at the end of the hour.