Intro to Commas

1
Intro to Commas

• Examples images adapted from The Deluxe
  Transitive Vampire

2
Introductions

• Use commas after introductory phrases of 3 words
• Battered by winds of misfortune, Flaumina
  Untergassers spring collection hobbled down the
  runway to the adagios of Fascist Italy.
• Imponderable looks and all, he is irresistibly
  attractive to me.

• Use after introductory subordinate clauses
• After they removed the leeches, she showed him to
  the door.
• If this is love, Ive made a terrible mistake.

3
Introduction Exercises

• Do these examples need commas?
• Next Monday well be in Arizona.
• Next Monday well be in Arizona.
• Since the schloss lies far to the east of our
  mother tongues we always come with interpreters.
• Since the schloss lies far to the east of our
  mother tongues, we always come with interpreters.
• If Lucifer confesses well let the rest of you
  go.
• If Lucifer confesses, well let the rest of you
  go.

4
Ending Clauses

• Use a comma if the concluding subordinate clause
  is incidental or contrasting
• He excoriated her behavior, even though he
  secretly approved.
• The restaurant was second-rate, though its prices
  were very steep.
• DO NOT use a comma if the concluding subordinate
  clause is closely related to the main idea of the
  sentence
• I fondled his lapels before I caressed his socks.
• The debutante took to the great outdoors as if
  shed been raised by wolves.

5
Ending Clause Exercises

• Insert commas where needed.
• She swooned though there was a curious gleam in
  her eye.
• She swooned, though there was a curious gleam in
  her eye.
• My son is a horse thief because his father was a
  thug.
• My son is a horse thief because his father was a
  thug.
• We went to Ulaan Bataar where everyone spoke
  English.
• We went to Ulaan Bataar, where everyone spoke
  English.

6
Conjunctive Adverbs Absolutes

• Use after conjunctive adverbs at the beginning of
  sentences or clauses
• Therefore, we took the long route.
• However, we found no bananas.
• Set off absolute phrases (a participle noun,
  modifying an entire sentence)
• Things having preceded as planned, the rats were
  rubbing their paws on their lapels and looking
  very smug.
• The magician was out on his ear, his chicanery
  having been unmasked.

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Exercises

• Nonetheless our hero forged ahead.
• Nonetheless, our hero forged ahead.
• Shorn of wool the sheep were cold.
• Shorn of wool, the sheep were cold.
• Consequently we went straight to sleep.
• Consequently, we went straight to sleep.
• We left the bazaar fleeced of all our money.
• We left the bazaar, fleeced of all our money.

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Commas to Enhance Meaning

• Contrasts or transitions
• Owning a car is a necessity, not a luxury.
• Verb omissions
• Brad Pitt once worked as a giant chicken Rod
  Stewart, as a gravedigger Whoopi Goldberg, as a
  mortician
• Clarity
• The motto of some critics seems to be that
  whatever is, is wrong.
• Conversational Expressions
• The dancers are full of themselves, arent they?

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Exercises

• It isnt the Prime Minister but his
  Under-secretary who will address us.
• It isnt the Prime Minister, but his
  Under-secretary who will address us.
• Billie Holiday was called Lady Day Sarah
  Vaughn Sassy and Dinah Washington The Queen
  of the Blues.
• Billie Holiday was called Lady Day Sarah
  Vaughn, Sassy and Dinah Washington, The Queen
  of the Blues.
• Those who can do those who cant teach.
• Those who can, do those who cant, teach.

10
Non-Essential Modifiers

• Enclose N-E Modifiers in commas
• The crawdads, who were reduced to a scene of
  wanton destruction, once creaked about a
  peaceable kingdom by the bayou.
• The crawdads that remain in their plates could
  mean curtains for the cat.
• The frogs that emerged from the samovar are more
  winsome than most frogs.
• Non-essential appositive phrases need commas
• The famous courtesan Mog Cinders was an
  accomplished lepidopterist, too.
• Mucho Trabajo, my Mediterranean donkey, is losing
  all joy in life.

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Essential/Non-Essential Modifiers Exercise

• Mr. Peabody whose son attends the University of
  Mizuna is our minister.
• The Victorian poets Tennyson and Browning were
  outstanding literary spokesmen of their day.
• The cabbage that I bought yesterday is missing.
• The lake that we visited last year is now choked
  with water hyacinths.
• The teacher who wrote the textbook is Ms.
  Oliphant.
• My new Mini Cooper which I bought yesterday is
  missing.
• Snowflake Lake which we visited last year is now
  choked with jet skis.

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Linking Commas

• Use commas before (NOT AFTER) conjunctions that
  join independent clauses.
• The mannequin gave the baby vampire her cell
  number, but she knew hed never call.
• She was kicked by the soft shoe of destiny, and
  she landed in Wales.
• Use them in lists of 3 items
• The tabloid failed to explain who had seen the
  aliens, where exactly they had landed, or why
  they had decided to visit New Orleans.

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Coordinate Adjective v. Adjectivals

• Coordinate Adjectives (use a comma where an and
  can be inserted between the adjectives)
• Drew is a hapless, flustered, underappreciated
  manager.
• Mimi is a vindictive, sarcastic, and slightly
  frazzled secretary.
• The team members all wore lime green jackets.
• Adjectivals (the adjective and noun form a single
  idea-unit) dont take commas
• The best supporting actor
• His customary good humor
• A long fly ball
• A large cardboard box

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Coordinate Adjectives Exercise

• The tall muscular discus-thrower
• Thick maple syrup
• The lost frightened child
• Melissa proved to be a kind cooperative employee.
• A fat juicy Christmas turkey
• Her own special place

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DONT USE COMMAS

• To separate a subject and a verb
• What happened to the team since last season,
  isnt clear
• To separate compound subjects, verbs, or objects
• Joe, and Fred went to the zoo.
• Joe jumped, and ran.
• Joe threw the ball, and the bat.
• To introduce a series
• States rich in natural beauty include, New York,
  Louisiana, California, and Oregon.