Commas

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Commas

• By Robi Bhattacharjee and Andrew Liao

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Brief Overview

• Used for series
• John, Johnny, and Jonathon went to the store.
• Used to form compound sentences
• I went to the store I bought an apple I went
  home I went to the store, bought an apple, and
  went home.
• Used for interruptions
• Mr. John Jones, a chimney sweeper, got soot all
  over his face.

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Using Commas in a Series

• Words in a series
• Used to separate independent parts of speech -
  like nouns, verbs, and adjectives
• Ex Bob takes karate, piano, and swimming.
  (nouns)
• Ex Bob tripped, fell, and cried. (verbs)
• Ex Bob is big, fat, and foolish. (adjectives)

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Using Commas in a Series (cont.)

• Phrases in a Series
• Used to separate independent phrases
• Ex Bob went to the store, bought apples, talked
  with the manager about the poor quality of their
  apples, and left.
• Clauses in a Series
• Used to separate independent clauses
• Ex Bob danced, he sang, he fell, and he cried.
• Ex As Bob was trying to study, his dog licked
  him, his mother kissed him, and his brother
  kicked him.

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Using Commas in Compound Sentences

• Commas in Compound Sentences
• Join two clauses with a comma before a
  conjunction
• Bob offered me apples I declined Bob offered
  me apples, but I declined.
• Bob decided to play baseball Bob got out a roll
  of wrapping paper and a crumpled piece of paper
  Bob decided to play baseball, so he got out a
  roll of wrapping paper and a crumpled piece of
  paper.

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Using Commas to set off Interrupters

• Setting off expressions
• Place commas around the expression of
  interruption, unless it is at the beginning or
  end of the sentence.
• Bob, my friend, says hi to all of you.
• A very dangerous creature, the cobra can kill Bob
  in an instant.
• Setting off unneeded phrases/ clauses
• Place commas around an interrupting phrase/clause
  that does not affect the sentences meaning.
• Bob, screaming like a maniac, fell off the cliff
  and died.

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Examples

• John played lost and cried.
• Ans John played, lost, and cried.
• John gave me a present I liked it ?
• Ans John gave me a present, and I liked it.
• John a smart boy likes to play piano.
• Ans John, a smart boy, likes to play piano.

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Practice Problems

• John an ingenious child proved Einsteins theory
  at age 5.
• Ans John, an ingenious child, proved Einsteins
  theory at age 5.
• Bob Jr. sat in a chair chewed bubble gum and
  farted.
• Ans Bob Jr. sat in a chair, chewed bubble gum,
  and farted.
• An incredible discovery penicillin saved the
  lives of many people.
• Ans An incredible discovery, penicillin saved
  the lives of many people.
• Tim broke his foot Tim cried for his mommy
• Ans Tim broke his foot, and cried for his mommy.