1. Using Commas Why are commas important? Items in a series
Compound sentences
Interrupters
Introductory elements
Conventional uses of commas
Review A
Review B

2. Why are commas important?
Commas set apart words or groups of words within a sentence. Using commas correctly helps make your meaning clear.
George William Jo Ann Kevin and Maria are all members of the quiz team.
George? or George William?
Without commas, it is unclear who the members of the team are.
Jo? or Jo Ann?

3. Why are commas important?
Commas make the meaning of this sentence clear by separating the names in the list.
George William, Jo Ann, Kevin, and Maria are all members of the quiz team.
[End of Section]

4. Items in a series
Use commas to separate items in a series. A series is three or more items written one after another.
Words in a series
On the trail we saw chipmunks, woodpeckers, and snakes.
Phrases in a series
We drove along the highway, up the mountain, and into the woods to visit the nature center.

5. Grammar Guy Says... Items in a series
If all items in a series are joined by and, or, or nor, do not use commas to separate them.
Grammar Guy Says...
Shall we go bowling or rent a movie or listen to music?
I’ve seen snakes and lizards and toads in our yard.

6. Items in a series Use commas to separate items in a series.
Clauses in a series
Please let me know when the barbecue will begin, who will be there, and when it will be over.

7. Items in a series Use commas to separate items in a series.
Short independent clauses
The lights dimmed, the curtain rose, and the orchestra began to play.
Two or more adjectives before a noun
On the doorstep she found a huge, beautiful, fragrant bouquet of flowers.
Use a clean, glass measuring cup.

8. Grammar Guy Says... Items in a series
To determine if a comma should go between two adjectives, try switching the order of the adjectives. If the sentence does not make sense this way, do not use a comma.
Grammar Guy Says...
A large horned owl lives in that tree.
Would “horned large owl” make sense?
No. Do not add a comma.

9. Items in a series
Identify each series in the following sentences, and add commas where necessary.
1. This project is fun easy fast and inexpensive.
2. I finished my dinner brushed my teeth combed my hair and ran out the door.
3. The old diary had ragged yellowed pages.
4. I chose the gift Mike wrapped it and Gina gave it to Kelly.

10. Items in a series
Identify each series in the following sentences, and add commas where necessary. , , ,
1. This project is fun easy fast and inexpensive.
Use commas to separate words in a series.

11. Items in a series
Identify each series in the following sentences, and add commas where necessary. , ,
2. I finished my dinner brushed my teeth combed my hair and ran out the door. ,
Use commas to separate phrases in a series.

12. Items in a series
Identify each series in the following sentences, and add commas where necessary.
3. The old diary had ragged yellowed pages. ,
Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that come before a noun.

13. Items in a series
Identify each series in the following sentences, and add commas where necessary.
4. I chose the gift Mike wrapped it and Gina gave it to Kelly. , ,
Use commas to separate short independent clauses.

14. Items in a series Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The fluffy kitten with the brown white and black spots is my favorite.
For lunch we had milk tuna sandwiches and pears.
I searched for the book in my locker at my house and in my mother’s car.
4. At the beach we swam flew kites and built sand castles.
[End of Section]

15. Items in a series
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The fluffy kitten with the brown white and black spots is my favorite.
For lunch we had milk tuna sandwiches and pears.
I searched for the book in my locker at my house and in my mother’s car.
4. At the beach we swam flew kites and built sand castles. , , , , , , , ,

16. Compound sentences
Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet when it joins independent clauses in a compound sentence.
I am very tired, and my sister is sleepy too.
I am very tired. My sister is sleepy too.
Josie’s mother said she could go to the movies, but her father said she had to stay home.
Josie’s mother said she could go to the movies. Her father said she had to stay home.
The dog barked. I threw the ball.
The dog barked, so I threw the ball.

17. Compound sentences
A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as or, but, yet, so, or and.
Theo turned the knob.
The water poured out.
Theo turned the knob, and the water poured out.

18. Grammar Guy Says... Compound sentences
Do not be fooled by compound verbs, which can make a sentence look like a compound sentence. You do not need to use a comma between the parts of a compound verb.
Grammar Guy Says...
Dana hit the ball and ran to first base.
Dana hit the ball and ran to first base.
One subject with two verbs.

19. Compound sentences
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. Field hockey is an exciting sport but I like soccer even better.
2. I called my friends and told them all about my trip to New York.
3. The sailboat was almost hidden by the fog yet we could see part of the mast.

20. Compound sentences
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. Field hockey is an exciting sport but I like soccer even better. ,
The word but joins two parts of a compound sentence, so a comma should come before it.

21. Compound sentences
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. C
2. I called my friends and told them all about my trip to New York.
This sentence has a single subject, I, and a compound verb. It is not a compound sentence, so no comma is needed before and.

22. Compound sentences
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
3. The sailboat was almost hidden by the fog yet we could see part of the mast. ,
The word yet joins two parts of a compound sentence, so a comma should come before it.

23. Compound sentences Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The children must go to bed now or they will be tired in the morning.
The oak tree shaded the house but the shade kept the grass from growing.
3. Ariel sings in the choir and Heidi plays in a band.
4. Jim practiced the piano piece all month for he wanted to perform well at the recital.
[End of Section]

24. Compound sentences
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The children must go to bed now or they will be tired in the morning.
The oak tree shaded the house but the shade kept the grass from growing.
3. Ariel sings in the choir and Heidi plays in a band.
4. Jim practiced the piano piece all month for he wanted to perform well at the recital. , , , ,

25. Interrupters
Use commas to set off elements that interrupt the sentence.
Words used in direct address
Class, please pay attention.
I would like to give my speech next, Ms. Garza.
Your eagerness, Ben, is refreshing.

26. Interrupters
An appositive or appositive phrase describes or identifies another noun. Use commas to set off appositives and appositive phrases when they are not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Their dog, Chaco, is a mixed breed.
Chaco identifies the dog. It is not essential to the sentence’s meaning.
Jamaica, a popular island for tourists, is in the Caribbean Sea.
A popular island for tourists describes Jamaica.

27. Interrupters 1. Andrea when are you leaving for Detroit?
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. Andrea when are you leaving for Detroit?
2. Chuck Yeager an American pilot broke the sound barrier in 1947.
3. Please raise your hand Helen when you want to speak.
4. My friend Tim showed up late.

28. , Interrupters 1. Andrea when are you leaving for Detroit?
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
1. Andrea when are you leaving for Detroit?
Andrea is an interrupter that comes at the beginning of the sentence.

29. Interrupters
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. , ,
2. Chuck Yeager an American pilot broke the sound barrier in 1947.
An American pilot is an appositive phrase describing Chuck Yeager, so it should be set off by a comma.

30. Interrupters
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
3. Please raise your hand Helen when you want to speak. ,
Helen interrupts the sentence and needs to be set off by commas.

31. C Interrupters 4. My friend Tim showed up late.
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
4. My friend Tim showed up late. C
The appositive Tim is not set off by commas because it is essential. The speaker is telling us which friend was late.

32. Interrupters Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
1. My sister was happy to see her favorite movie Charlotte’s Web.
2. Elaine who swims well wants to become a lifeguard.
3. Juan the captain of our soccer team is ill.
4. When you go outside Kami please take out the trash.
[End of Section]

33. Interrupters
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
1. My sister was excited to see her favorite movie Charlotte’s Web.
2. Elaine who swims well wants to become a lifeguard.
3. Juan the captain of our soccer team is ill.
4. When you go outside Kami please take out the trash. , , , , , , ,

34. Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory elements.
Mild exclamations such as well, oh, or why
Well, have you girls finished with that mural yet?
Introductory words such as yes and no
Yes, Toni just finished painting her part.

35. Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory elements.
Introductory participial phrases
Signaling for a timeout, the coach gathered her players.
Two or more introductory prepositional phrases or one long one.
At the conclusion of the first half, her team was trailing by four points.

36. Introductory elements
To remember all the reasons to use commas, think of the word “LIES”: L
ists of items
Bring a hat, gloves, and a scarf. I
Yes, that is a cardinal.
ntroductions E
xtra information
Ian, of course, was late again. S
entences put together
I was tired, yet I stayed.

37. Introductory elements
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. In the evening he usually goes for a walk.
2. On her way to school in the morning Roseanne was thinking about her project.
3. Well I think we should ask for help.
4. Although he trained hard for a month Ernesto could not break his own record.

38. Introductory elements
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. In the evening he usually goes for a walk. C
The single, short introductory prepositional phrase In the evening does not require a comma.

39. Introductory elements
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
2. On her way to school in the morning Roseanne was thinking about her project.
Two or more introductory prepositional phrases should be followed by a comma.

40. Introductory elements
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
3. Well I think we should ask for help.
Mild exclamations such as well are set off by a comma.

41. Introductory elements
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
4. Although he trained hard for a month Ernesto could not break his own record.
Although he trained hard for a month is an introductory adverb clause and should be set off by a comma.

42. Introductory elements
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
In the corner of the room a night light showed the way to the door.
Why that’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing.
Because the snow cover was so thin the deer had no trouble finding food.
4. Smiling from ear to ear Monica told us the news.
[End of Section]

43. Introductory elements
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
In the corner of the room a night light showed the way to the door.
Why that’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing.
Because the snow cover was so thin the deer had no trouble finding food.
4. Smiling from ear to ear Monica told us the news. , , , ,

44. Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
Separate items in dates and addresses
A letter dated November 26, 1888, was found in the old house at 980 West Street, Davenport, Iowa, yesterday.

45. Conventional uses of commas
Use commas in certain conventional situations.
After the salutation of a personal letter
Dear Grandfather,
My dear Rosalyn,
After the closing of any letter
Sincerely yours,
With love,

46. Conventional uses of commas
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. The letter was signed “Best regards Cindy Murphy.”
2. Our new address is 1808 Jackson Drive, Ames, Iowa.
3. We adopted our cat in Dallas Texas on May

47. Conventional uses of commas
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. The letter was signed “Best regards Cindy Murphy.” ,
Use a comma after the closing of any letter.

48. Conventional uses of commas
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
2. Our new address is 1808 Jackson Drive, Ames, Iowa. C
Use a comma to separate items in addresses.

49. Conventional uses of commas
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C. ,
3. We adopted our cat in Dallas Texas on May , ,
Use a comma to separate items in addresses and dates.

50. Conventional uses of commas
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The Harvest Festival was on Friday November
The letter began “My dearest Janet How are the children?”
The main office in Santa Barbara California has a new fax number.
[End of Section]

51. Conventional uses of commas
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following sentences.
The Harvest Festival is on Friday November
The letter began “My dearest Janet How are the children?”
The main office in Santa Barbara California has a new fax number. , , , , ,

52. Review A
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
_____ 1. My little brother likes to draw castles dragons and horses.
_____ 2. This mild, creamy cheese will taste good with the bread.
_____ 3. I bought a new skirt but I haven’t worn it yet.
_____ 4. Mr. Reyes who teaches science at the high school will be our guest speaker today.
[End of Section]

53. Review A
Add commas where necessary. If a sentence is correct, write C.
_____ 1. My little brother likes to draw castles dragons and horses.
_____ 2. This mild, creamy cheese will taste good with the bread.
_____ 3. I bought a new skirt but I haven’t worn it yet.
_____ 4. Mr. Reyes who teaches science at the high school will be our guest speaker today. , , C , , ,

54. Review B Add commas where necessary in the following sentences.
The squirrel ran over the lawn up the tree and onto a high branch.
The beaver a rodent builds dams out of sticks and mud.
Marching for more than an hour the scouts often lost their formation.
Monday October was my grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary.
My oldest sister Kate sent a postcard from Tokyo Japan.
[End of Section]

55. Review B
Add commas where necessary in the following sentences.
The squirrel ran over the lawn up the tree and onto a high branch.
The beaver a rodent builds dams out of sticks and mud.
Marching for more than an hour the scouts often lost their formation.
Monday October was my grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary.
My oldest sister Kate sent a postcard from Tokyo Japan. , , , , , , , , , , ,

56. The End