Comma Rules 1-6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Series of 32 adjectives before a noun

FANBOYS compound sentenceIntro. adverb clause complex sentence

AppositiveDirect address

Why was the comma invented?

• The comma was invented to help readers. • Without the comma a sentence can cause confusion.

• Confusing: While we were eating a rattlesnake approached our campsite.

• By adding a comma, the sentence is no longer confusing and we are no longer eating the rattlesnake.

• Correct: While we were eating, a rattlesnake approached our campsite.

Commas can save lives… Lets eat Grandpa!

Lets eat, Grandpa!

Examples• "You have no idea what I think”• "You have no idea what, I think".• "Jane claimed John made the mess” • "Jane, claimed John, made the

mess.”• "A pretty tall girl”• "A pretty, tall girl”

Examples• "Birds that migrate

occasionally fly high“ • "Birds that migrate

occasionally, fly high”• "Birds that migrate,

occasionally fly high."

• "The year before John went away”• "The year before, John went

away.”

Examples• "John and Jane did not marry

because they wanted security“ • "John and Jane did not marry,

because they wanted security." (The first implies that they did

marry, the second that they did not.)

• Unfortunately, Tyrone read the message to Adorabelle's sister over the phone. She wrote it down, but had no idea how to punctuate in such a way as would capture Tyrone's meaning. Poor Adorabelle received this message:

"How I long for a girl who understands what true romance is. All about you are sweet and faithful girls who are unlike you. Kiss the first boy who comes along, Adorabelle. I'd like to praise your beauty forever. I can't. Stop thinking you are the prettiest girl alive. Thine, Tyrone."

• Tyrone wants to send his girl friend a message that he wrote as:

"How I long for a girl who understands what true romance is all about. You are sweet and faithful. Girls who are unlike you kiss the first boy who comes along, Adorabelle. I'd like to praise your beauty forever. I can't stop thinking you are the prettiest girl alive. Thine, Tyrone."

Examples• "You have no idea what I think”• "You have no idea what, I think".• "Jane claimed John made the mess” • "Jane, claimed John, made the

mess.”• "A pretty tall girl”• "A pretty, tall girl”

Rule 1 - series

• Rule 1: Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more. These items can be words, groups of words, phrases, or clauses. Always be sure that there are at least three items in the series. Two items do not need a comma between them.

• Example: December, January, and February are all

summer months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rule 1- Practice

• For my lunch I had a sandwich some milk and an

orange.• The delegates nominated one candidate voted

for her and installed her in office.• There were spots on the top on the sides and on

the bottom of the dog’s fur.• We sang we danced and we played word games.

Rule 2- 2adj./noun

• Rule 2: Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives immediately before a noun. You can test to see whether or not a comma is needed by inserting an and between the adjectives. If the and sounds awkward, the comma is unnecessary.

• Example: Jupiter is a large, strange planet.

Rule 2- Practice

• Mrs. Gibson played a powerful brilliant game of chess.

• My spaniel is a fat sassy puppy.• Bumble is the stout fussy official in Oliver

Twist.• Soccer can be an exciting energizing sport.

Rule 3- , FANBOYS

• Rule 3: Use a comma before FANBOYS in a compound sentence.

• Example: I ate the hottest pepper after my

friends dared me, and I immediately became sick.

Rule 3- Practice• They had been working very hard but they didn’t seem

especially tired.• The twins will see their favorite baby sitter for their parents

are going out.• I will either eat pizza tonight or I will go out with my friends

for burgers. • DANGER******** Never use a comma between two

sentences without including a conjunction. THIS IS CALLED A COMMA SPLICE AND CREATES A RUN-ON SENTENCE.

•

Rule 4- intro. adv. clause complex

Rule 4: Use a comma after an introductory adverb clause in a complex sentence. • Example: After I finish my homework, I will go

to the park.

Rule 4- practice

• Because I was absent for yesterday’s test I must make it up today.

• Although Jesse Jackson did not win the 1984 Democratic Presidential nomination his campaign raised many important issues.

• When I go to bed late I have trouble waking up in the morning.

• Since you turned in all of your homework you will receive an award.

Rule 5- , appositive,

• Rule 5: Use a comma to separate an appositive from the rest of the sentence. When the appositive is a single word closely related to the preceding word, the comma is not needed. ( our friend Alicia, my dog Roma)

• Example: Carrie, my cousin, is flying in from San Francisco.

Rule 5-Practice

• Do you own a thesaurus a dictionary of synonyms?• The Galapagos Islands a group of volcanic islands

in the Pacific were named for the Spanish word for tortoise.

• The mastodon an elephant-like animal was hunted by early people.

• At Gettysburg a town in Pennsylvania General Meade and the Union forces defeated General Lee.

Rule 6- , noun direct address,

• Rule 6: Words used in direct address are set off by commas.

• Example: Ben, please answer the doorbell.

Rule 6 - Practice

• Please Roma don’t jump on the counter and eat my sunglasses.

• Class pay attention.• Learn this concept students.• Mr. Anderson will you let me rake your yard?