ACT English
Preparation
University of Illinois-Chicago
Curriculum Framework Project
Spring 2011
Schedule of Lessons
Introduction to Test
Strategies
General
Commas/Punctuation
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Adjective vs Adverb
Lesson #4
Introduction to Test
Strategies
General
Commas/Punctuation
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Adjective vs Adverb
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
COMMA RULE: KNOW YOUR ABBIs!
 ABBI SAW A WUWU
 After
 Before
 Because
 If
 Since
 Although
 When(ever)
As
While
Unless
Whether
Until
These twelve words are the
second KEY to correctly placing
commas. They are easy to
remember, so MEMORIZE them.
Once you RECOGNIZE them in a
sentence, you can evaluate how
they are being used so you can
correctly place a comma.
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 ABBIs get a comma EVERY TIME a sentence
begins with one of those words.
ABBI CLAUSE
COMMA
COMPLETE SENTENCE
Because I love to read, I go to the library every
week.
An ABBI word begins an INCOMPLETE THOUGHT. It must be followed by a
complete sentence/thought.
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 ABBI rule changes when the ABBI clause is at
the end of a sentence. Remember this!
COMPLETE SENTENCE
NO COMMA
ABBI CLAUSE
I go to the library every week because I love to
read.
THIS IS THE MOST COMMON ERROR MADE with COMMAS.
ACT knows this; people want to put a comma before “because” but it is
NOT CORRECT! Commas do NOT go before an ABBI when the complete
sentence comes before it.
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #1 with ABBIs
Sometimes the ABBI clause comes in the middle of a sentence. You
have to be aware of what the complete thought is.
I, because I love to read, go to the library every
week.
The complete thought/action is I GO TO THE LIBRARY.
The ABBI “interrupts” the sentence and works just like a nonessential.
It gets surrounded by commas. This is the only time you will ever have a
comma before an ABBI in a single sentence.
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #2 with ABBIs
When an ABBI is used in a more complex sentence, you have to be very
careful. You have to separate the two sentences to figure out what you
need.
I am an avid reader, and because I love to read, I
go to the library every week.
LET’S BREAK THIS UP AND FIGURE OUT
THE RULES HERE.
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #2 with ABBIs
THIS IS ONE COMPLETE THOUGHT
I am an avid reader
THIS IS ANOTHER
I go to the library
every week
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #2 with ABBIs
THIS IS THE ABBI CLAUSE
because I love to read
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #2 with ABBIs
THE ABBI CLAUSE goes with the 2nd sentence so you need the
comma
because I love to read, I go to the library
every week
COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2
IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1
 TRICK #2 with ABBIs
The other sentence is then combined with the 2nd using a
FANBOYS.
I am an avid reader, and because I love to
read, I go to the library every week.
So, this other comma deals with a different rule: the
FANBOYS rule we learned earlier.
Review of COMMA RULES
1.
KNOW your FANBOYS
2.
Watch for NONESSENTIALS
3.
Recognize your ABBI phrases
4.
Remember to be consistent with
dashes and parenthesis
5.
Know the three combo options