Comma Rules 1-3

1
Comma Rules 1-3

• Ms. Frost

2
Rule 1

• Use a comma to separate items in a series.

3
Examples

• 3 items
• I like falafel tabouli and hummus.
• 2 commas

,
,
4
Examples

• 4 items
• I read poetry novels memoirs and plays.
• 3 commas

,
,
,
5
Examples

• It doesnt matter how many items are listed.
• The man complained of

back aches
headaches
,
,
stomach aches
dry skin
bad breath
stinky feet
heartburn
,
,
,
,
,
weak knees
poor eyesight
itchy scalp
toe fungus
and
,
,
,
,
a strange mole on his back.
Every item needs to be separated by a comma!
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Rule 2

• Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives
  preceding (in front of) a noun.

7
Example
The woman is described as angry and bitter,

• The angry bitter woman gave the guy a
  round-house kick to the face.

,
so we put a comma in between the two adjectives.
8
Example

• The student claimed his dog ate
  his homework.

cool aloof
,
Where are the adjectives in this sentence?
Where does the comma go?
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Rule 3

• Place a comma before a conjunction when it joins
  (connects) two sentences together.

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Conjunctions

• And
• Or
• Nor
• For
• So
• But
• Yet
• These conjunctions dont forget!

11
Example

Chuck Norris once kicked a horse in the chin
and
,
its descendants are known today as giraffes.
To set the sentences apart, we put the comma in
front of the conjunction.
There are two sentences in the sentence above.
12
Example
Sticks and stones may break your bones
but
,
a Chuck Norris glare will liquefy your kidneys. 
So, the comma goes before the conjunction.
Are there two complete sentences?
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Example
One sentence.
Chuck Norris once went skydiving
but
promised to never do it again.
One Grand Canyon is enough.
There are not two complete sentences.
Two sentences?
Um, No.
so there is NO COMMA!
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Example

• The KEY is to make SURE
• there is a sentence

(Items in a series!)
on either side
Paper beats rock
rock beats scissors
and scissors
,
,
Chuck Norris beats all three at the same time.
beats paper
but
,
of the conjunction!
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Recap

• Rule 1
• Use a comma to separate items in a series.
• Rule 2
• Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives
  preceding (in front of) a noun.
• Rule 3
• Place a comma before a conjunction when it joins
  (connects) two sentences together.