1. Four Basic Comma Rules

2. Compound Sentences
1. Insert a comma between two independent clauses (sentences) that are joined with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)
Sentence __________, conjunction _sentence__________.
for
and
nor
but or
yet so
The hummingbird fluttered close to the feeder, but it never took a drink of the sweet nectar.

3. Commas After Introductory Dependent Clauses and Phrases
2. Use a comma after a long introduction at the start
of a sentence.
Introductory information, ___sentence(independent clause).
Participial Phrase
Driving along a sandy lane in a rural area of upstate New York, we spotted a stray puppy.
Prepositional Phrase
On our way to upstate New York, we spotted a stray puppy.
Dependent Clause
When we spotted a stray puppy on our way to upstate New York, we stopped to pet it and give it a drink of water.

4. Commas to Set Off Non-essential Information
3. Use commas to set off “grammatically unnecessary
information from the rest of the sentence.
Sen , grammatically unnecessary information, tence.
Mrs. Blades, my English teacher, is fat.
My uncle Jim, the youngest of my uncles, graduated first in his class.

5. Commas After Each Item in a Series
4. Use a commas after each item in a series.
Main sentence item one, item two, item three.
Yesterday we saw kids playing, old men sitting, dogs napping, and women talking.