Download Comma Rules - TeacherWeb

COMMAS
Learning the 7 Rules
RULE #1
Use commas to separate items in a series. (Items in a
series can be words, phrases or clauses.)
The basketball coach recommended that she practice
dribbling, shooting, rebounding, and passing.
(words)
We can meet before English, during lunch, or after school.
(phrases)
Later I have to clean my room, take my brother to the
doctor, and take out the garbage.
(clauses)
RULE #1
Some words, such as “bread and butter”,
“law and order” and “peanut butter and
jelly” are so closely related that they may
be considered a single item in a series.
For lunch I ate soup, salad, bread and
butter, and pizza.
RULE #1
Do not place a comma before or after a
series.
Incorrect: I enjoy, hiking, biking, and eating.
Correct: I enjoy hiking, biking, and eating.
RULE #2
Use a comma to separate two or more
adjectives preceding a noun.
Lucy is an smart, kind, responsible student.
RULE #2
When the last adjective before a noun is
considered part of the noun, the comma before
the adjective is omitted. (See “used car” in the
example below.)
Incorrect:
I found a nice, affordable, reliable, used car.
Correct:
I found a nice, affordable, reliable used car.
RULE #3
Use a comma before and, but, or, nor, for, so,
and yet when they join independent clauses.
(Independent clause is a group of words that
stands alone as a complete thought)
Amy followed the recipe, but she still ruined dinner.
Tommy drove to the movies, and Chris navigated.
RULE #3
Do not confuse a compound verb with a separate
complete thought.
Jill was accepted to Harvard but went to Yale
instead.
(No comma is necessary here because “but went
to Yale instead” is not a separate complete
thought. It is simply another part of the first
thought’s verb.)
RULE #3
Jill was accepted at Harvard, but she
decided to go to Yale instead.
The comma is necessary here because “but
she decided to go to Yale instead” is a
separate complete thought.
RULE #4
Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and
participial phrases.
The lawnmower, which is in the shed, is broken.
The lawnmower that is in the shed is broken.
How is the meaning of these two sentences different based
on the punctuation?
(nonessential means it does not change the meaning of
the sentence)
RULE #4
Barry, tired from running all afternoon, went
to bed early.
Does the information inside the commas
change the meaning of the sentence?
If it doesn’t, then you need to put it in
commas.
RULE #4
1. The juniors who made the baseball team
were happy.
2. Lee who was born in Michigan ate a
cupcake.
3. Willie taking a look at the weather
decided to stay home.
4. The girls participating in the show need
to show up by 6:00.
RULE #5
Use a comma after certain introductory
elements.
1. Interjections:
Well, I guess so.
Yes, I am going to finish the tofu.
2. Introductory Participial Phrases:
Looking calm, Jeff answered the question.
RULE #5
Participial Phrase: A phrase that modifies the
subject of a sentence using the present or past
participle of a verb. (-ing or -ed)
Following directions, I did well on my road test.
(“following directions” describes the subject of this
sentence, “I”)
RULE #5
Be careful not to confuse the subject of the
sentence with a participial phrase.
Following directions can be difficult.
Is a comma necessary here?
(“Following directions” is not describing the subject
of this sentence; it is the subject of this
sentence.)
RULE #5
3. Two or More Introductory Prepositional
Phrases:
In September of 2010, you started junior
year.
RULE #5
Prepositional Phrase: A phrase containing a
preposition and its object.
At the start of the race, Lynn was favored to win.
At the race Lynn was favored to win.
(The comma is only necessary when there are two
or more prepositional phrases.)
RULE #5
4. Introductory Dependent Clauses:
After I borrowed the Timmy’s car, I returned
it.
RULE #5
Dependent Clause: A group of related words with a
subject and a verb that does not stand alone as
a complete sentence.
After she bowled a perfect game, Mary enjoyed an
ice cream cone.
(“After she bowled a perfect game” does not stand
alone as a complete sentence, so it needs to be
followed by a comma.)
RULE #6
Use commas to set off elements that
interrupt a sentence.
1. Appositives:
Sally’s favorite book, The Scarlet Letter, is
really fun to read.
RULE #6
Appositive: words that follow a noun or pronoun to identify
or explain it.
My car, the one with the dented door, is in the driveway.
Sometimes an appositive is so closely associated with the
word preceding it the commas is not necessary.
Example:
My nephew Jack is getting sleepy.
RULE #6
2. Words Used in Direct Address:
Steve, are you going to the gym later?
Your essay, Theo, was well organized.
Can you answer my question, Monica?
3. Parenthetical Expressions:
Incidentally, the dinner went fine.
It’s too late, I believe, to do anything about it now.
I think he’s at the mall now, in fact.
RULE #7
Use commas in certain conventional
situations.
To separate items in dates and addresses:
On Friday, October 23, 1992, my niece was
born.
Please send all materials to 92 Elm Street,
Ida, OK 90210.
RULE #7
Dates and addresses—Special Rules
1. Commas do not separate month from day, house
number from street name, or state abbreviation from
zip code.
2. If the day is given before the month or only the month
and the year are given, no comma is necessary.
Examples:
On 21 June 1979 the greatest even in the history of the
world took place.
The new building will open in August 2015.
RULE #7
3. No commas are necessary when items in
an address or a date are joined by
prepositions.
Examples:
The play is at the Melrose Theater on Broad
Avenue in Midland Heights.
RULE #7
After the salutation of a friendly letter and
after the closing of any letter:
Dear Rosa,
Sincerely yours,
Grandma Lucy,
Hugs and kisses,
RULE #7
Use a comma after a name followed by an
abbreviation such as Jr., Sr., or M.D. and
also after the abbreviation when the name
and abbreviation are used together in a
sentence:
Examples:
Coretta Jones, M.D.
Is Justin Smith, Jr., your cousin?
FINALLY:
DO NOT USE UNNECESSARY COMMAS!
The clown getting out of the car now, is Steve’s
mom.
I am going to, the movies.
I am going to see, Star Wars.