Intro to Commas

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Intro to Commas
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Introductions

• Use commas after introductory phrases of 3 words
• To appreciate the pleasures of driving in snow,
  you have to live in Michigan or Wisconsin.
• Over the loud objections of my passengers, I
  turned off the main road.
• Use after introductory subordinate clauses
• Although the vote was close, we passed the
  motion.
• While the military band played taps, the flag was
  lowered.

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Introduction Exercises

• Do these examples need commas?
• Next Monday well be in Arizona.
• Next Monday well be in Arizona.
• On your left you can see the Grand Canyon.
• One your left, you can see the Grand Canyon.
• Despite your machinations our heroine vanquished
  her foe.
• Despite your machinations, our heroine vanquished
  her foe.

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Ending Clauses

• Use a comma if the concluding subordinate clause
  is incidental or contrasting
• We will attend the judges lecture, which is
  scheduled to last half an hour.
• 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
• The flag was lowered while the military band
  played Taps.
• The police officers found the window broken when
  they arrived.

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Ending Clause Exercises

• Insert commas where needed.
• We went to the movie although it received poor
  reviews.
• We went to the movies, although it received poor
  reviews
• We went to the restaurant that Jack recommended.
• We went to the restaurant that Jack recommended.
• We went to France where everyone spoke English.
• We went to France, where everyone spoke English.

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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
• His head shaved, Martin was in the Marines now.
• The pioneers pressed on, their water supplies
  almost gone.

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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 Gollberg, 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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Non-Essential Modifiers

• Enclose in commas
• The chemistry building, which had been erected in
  1928, was scheduled for demolition.
• The chemistry building (which had been erected in
  1928) was scheduled for demolition.
• Diamonds that are synthetically produced are more
  perfect than natural diamonds
• Non-essential appositive phrases
• The Beatles song Yesterday remains one of the
  most popular tunes of all time.
• The Beatles final album, Let It Be, remains my
  favorite.

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Linking Commas

• Use commas before (NOT AFTER) conjunctions that
  join independent clauses.
• Desert plants are fully adapted to their harsh
  environment, so they cant survive in more
  hospitable climates.
• 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
• Drew is a hapless, flustered, underappreciated
  manager.
• Mimi is a vindictive, sarcastic, and slightly
  frazzled secretary.
• Adjectivals
• The best supporting actor
• His customary good humor
• A long fly ball
• A large cardboard box

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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.