Title: commas
1 commas
2- Rule 1
- Commas need to accompany conjunctions in compound
sentences. - They are used to separate two independent clauses
joined by a conjunction. - The market is full of exotic produce, and the
prices are being driven up. - I smiled, but I feared she was right.
- He forgot to call his girlfriend
- yesterday, so he called her today.
3Where not to put a comma...
- Do not separate compound subjects and/or
compound verbs with a comma - incorrect - Tom, and Jerry went to the basketball
game. - correct - Tom and Jerry went to the basketball
game. - incorrect - Sally ran, and jumped down the path.
- correct - Sally ran and jumped down the path.
4- REMEMBER . . .
- A comma alone will result in a comma splice
- incorrect - I didnt believe a word Phil said, I
told him so. - correct - I didnt believe a word Phil said, and
I told him so.
5Rule 2Use a comma to set off an introductory
subordinate clause.
When the riot started, the police fired tear gas
into the crowd.Because the 1993 flood was so
devastating, some farmers in the Mid-west decided
to relocate.
6Rule 3Do not put a comma after the main
clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause
follows it (except for cases of extreme
contrast).
She was still quite upset, although she had won
the Oscar.
Some people refused to leave their homes, even
though the hurricane winds had started.
7- NOTE that in the following sentences the idea in
the main clause will not be realized without the
subordinate clause therefore, we use no comma - Ill pack up and leave if you tell me to.
- We left the area because we were afraid to stay.
-
- In general, if and because clauses are NOT set
off those introduced by although and even though
are. If you are in doubt about the punctuation of
the clause in post-sentence position, you can
shift it to to the beginning of the sentence
there it will always be set off.
8Rule 4Use a comma to set off any introductory
phrase that contains a verb form.
- After studying all weekend, I felt absolutely
prepared for the mid-term exam. - Having worked at McDonalds for the past four
summers, Max felt confident when he applied for
the job of assistant manager. - To get in shape for ski season, my roommate has
begun working out on the Nordic Track.
9 use commas after introductory a) clauses b)
phrases c) words that come before the main
clause
Basically...
- While I was eating, the cat scratched at the
door. - Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late
for class. - If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.When
the snow stops falling, we'll shovel the
driveway.
10Rule 5 Use a comma to set off adverbial
prepositional phrases of approximately six or
more words.
- Towards the end of the semester, everyone in my
dorm starts to study seriously. - It is perfectly acceptable to set off shorter
prepositional phrases, especially if you think
the reader should pause. For example, information
of specific dates is sometimes set off - In 1994, Republicans gained strength in the
midterm election. -
11 In making decisions about such commas, consider
the punctuation in the rest of the sentence
Dont overload the sentence with commas. Also,
set off any prepositional phrase that might cause
a misreading
During the summer, vacation plans are our main
topic of conversation.
12Rule 6Set off words and phrases that modify
the whole sentence or that have a parenthetical
meaningat both the beginning and the end of the
sentence.
- Adverbs
- Luckily, we escaped without a scratch.
- We escaped without a scratch, luckily.
- Meanwhile, there was nothing to do but wait.
13Yes and No Sentences beginning with yes or
no, need a comma after yes or no.Yes, hes
the culprit. No, I cant go out
tonight.
Absolute phrasesAbsolute phrases A group of
words that modifies an independent clause as a
whole and does not contain a conjunction. The
rain having stopped, Doug and Deborah decided to
go ahead with the picnic.Eben and Paula relaxed
in front of the fire, their feet propped on the
coffee table.
14Rule 7 Use commas to set off commenting
(nonrestrictive) modifiers in the noun phrase.
- My oldest brother, who is a senior history major,
spends every night in the library. - If the clause restricts the meaning of the
sentence, then do NOT put commas before or after
the clause - The woman who wore the neon pink dress at the
party forgot her purse.
15-
- Rule 8Use commas to separate two or more
coordinate adjectives that describe the same
noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between
the final adjective and the noun itself or to use
commas with non-coordinate adjectives.
Coordinate adjectives are adjectives with equal
("co"-ordinate) status in describing the noun.
16- Coordinate refers to adjectives of the same
classfor example, subjective qualities. - a tender, delightful love story
- a challenging, educational experience
- a tall young man
- a huge red ball
- A good rule of thumb for making a decision
about commas between these prenoun modifiers is
this If you could insert and or but, use a
comma - a tender and delightful love story
- Notice that the two phrases without commas (a
tall young man AND a huge red ball) contain
adjectives from different classes (height, age,
size, color)so they will not be separated.
17Rule 9Use a comma to set off nouns of direct
address in both opening and closing position.
- Students, your time is up.
- Put your pencils down, everyone.
- Help me, dear!
18Rule 10Use commas to set off direct
quotations that fill the direct object slot after
verbs such as say and reply.
- The waiter said, Good evening. My name is
Pierre. - Im Harold, and this is Joyce, Harold replied.
19Rule 11Use commas to set off the name of a
state when it follows the name of a city and to
set off the year in a complete date.
- I was surprised to learn that Cheyenne, Wyoming,
isnt a larger city. - I remember where I was on November 22, 1963, when
I heard the news reports of President Kennedys
assassination.
20Lightning Speed Round
Get Set
Go!
21Insert commas where needed.
Disclaimer Some sentences may not need commas.
- When Agnes appeared unexpectedly at her front
door Mrs. Castaneda was delighted to see her
again.
- When Agnes appeared unexpectedly at her front
door, Mrs. Castaneda was delighted to see her
again.
- Having greedily devoured the cookies the hound
began to chew the corner of a rug but still Ms.
OLeary did nothing.
- Having greedily devoured the cookies, the hound
began to chew the corner of a rug, but still Ms.
OLeary did nothing.
22- Garrett Morgan invented the first traffic signal
with red yellow and green lights.
- Garrett Morgan invented the first traffic signal
with red, yellow, and green lights.
- The walls were freshly painted and the windows
had been washed to finish the redecorating job.
- The walls were freshly painted, and the windows
had been washed to finish the redecorating job.
23- The Suez Canal which was completed in 1869 is 107
miles long.
- The Suez Canal, which was completed in 1869, is
107 miles long.
- In this city, drivers who use their horns
unnecessarily are fined.
- Our library weeds out novels that have not
circulated during the past five years.
24- He hit the ball well but he ran toward third
base. - He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third
base. - Running toward third base he suddenly realized
how stupid he looked. - Running toward third base, he suddenly realized
how stupid he looked. - The Founders Bridge which spans the Connecticut
River is falling down. - The Founders Bridge, which spans the Connecticut
River, is falling down.
25- Calhoun's ambition to become a goalie in
professional soccer is within his reach. - Calhoun's ambition, to become a goalie in
professional soccer, is within his reach - Although Queasybreath had spent several years in
Antarctica he still bundled up warmly in the
brisk autumns of Ohio. - Although Queasybreath had spent several years in
Antarctica, he still bundled up warmly in the
brisk autumns of Ohio.
26- The Okies had to leave their farms in the midwest
because the drought conditions had ruined their
farms. - Correct as is!
- We visited Hartford Connecticut last summer.
- We visited Hartford, Connecticut, last summer.
- The question is said Alice whether you can
make words mean so many things. - The question is, said Alice, whether you can
make words mean so many things.
27- At the beginning of the first paragraph you can
find out where James Weldon Johnson was born.
- At the beginning of the first paragraph, you can
find out where James Weldon Johnson was born.
- Working energetically to promote civil rights
Johnson became the first African American to be
admitted to the Florida bar after Reconstruction.
- Working energetically to promote civil rights,
Johnson became the first African American to be
admitted to the Florida bar after Reconstruction.
28- Mount St. Helens a volcano in southwestern
Washington has erupted several times since 1980.
- Mount St. Helens, a volcano in southwestern
Washington, has erupted several times since 1980.
- A whale for example is a mammal, not a fish.
- A whale, for example, is a mammal, not a fish.
29- On Saturday July 4 1998 my little sister hit her
first home run.
- On Saturday, July 4, 1998, my little sister hit
her first home run.
- The plot of the book a murder mystery is far too
complicated.
- The plot of the book, a murder mystery, is far
too complicated.
30- Looking for economical transportation Harry who
had never bought a car before nervously
investigated all of the possibilities at Country
Motors.
- Looking for economical transportation, Harry, who
had never bought a car before, nervously
investigated all of the possibilities at Country
Motors.
- Listening to directions can be too hard to do.
31- Call Felipe as soon as you can Hope.
- Call Felipe as soon as you can, Hope.
- Alex Haley the author of Roots attributed his
interest in writing to stories his grandmother
and great-aunts told.
- Alex Haley, the author of Roots, attributed
his interest in writing to stories his
grandmother and great-aunts told.
32- The Suez Canal extending more than a hundred
miles links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red
Sea.
- The Suez Canal, extending more than a hundred
miles, links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red
Sea.
- Cities that seem alike bear a closer look.
- People who are overly nervous may not make good
drivers.
33- Each August visitors are welcomed to the Old
Spanish Days fiesta sponsored by the city of
Santa Barbara in California.
- Each August visitors are welcomed to the Old
Spanish Days fiesta, sponsored by the city of
Santa Barbara in California.
34Remove all unnecessary commas.
- Amy, and I put a videocassette and a fashion
catalog in the time capsule, but we thought it
was a stupid idea altogether.
- Amy and I put a videocassette and a fashion
catalog in the time capsule, but we thought it
was a stupid idea altogether.
- I wont leave now, if youll apologize, and admit
youre wrong.
- I wont leave now if youll apologize and admit
youre wrong.