Practice with
Commas
Rules of Comma
Usage 1-3
Rule 1:
In a Compound Sentence
 Use
a comma before a conjunction
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so: fanboys)
 Always
check to make sure that you have
written two complete sentences joined by
a coordinating conjunction before you
insert a comma.
#1
Examples of Rule #1
 Two


complete sentences-
We picked the movie.
The boys bought the tickets.
 Two
complete sentences combined into
ONE:

We picked the movie, and the boys bought
the tickets.
Practice 1- Look on your notes:
1.
1.
2.
2.
The drummers beat out the rhythms and
the band marched proudly along the
parade route.
The drummers beat out the rhythms, and
the band marched proudly along the
parade route.
The photograph clearly showed your feet
but somehow your head was cut off.
The photograph clearly showed your feet,
but somehow your head was cut off.
“On Your Own 1”:
On your notes
1.
2.
3.
4.
Neither did we visit the aquarium nor did
we watch the show at the planetarium.
We have come a long way in caring for
our planet yet we have much more to
learn.
Did Rita make this cabinet herself or did
her teacher help her?
The train we were on had started to
move and we couldn’t find Sofia
anywhere.
Answers 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Neither did we visit the aquarium, nor
did we watch the show at the
planetarium.
We have come a long way in caring
for our planet, yet we have much
more to learn.
Did Rita make this cabinet herself, or
did her teacher help her?
The train we were on had started to
move, and we couldn’t find Sofia
anywhere.
Rule #2: Separate Items in a Series

Use commas to
separate three or more
words, phrases, or
clauses in a series.

The number of
commas is one fewer
than the number of
items in the series.
• Example: I gathered
the socks, shirts, and
pants for the wash.
AKA The OXFORD Comma
When NOT to use commas
for rule #2…
 Commas
are NOT needed when all the
items in a series have already been
separated by conjunctions.

Example:
I cut and chopped and diced onions until
I cried.
2 #2: On your notes
1.I carefully watered the philodendrons the
ivy and the African violets.
1.I carefully watered the philodendrons, the
ivy, and the African violets.
2.The crowd sat on the edge of their seats
listened with awe and absorbed the
speaker’s powerful words.
2.The crowd sat on the edge of their seats,
listened with awe, and absorbed the
speaker’s powerful words.
“On Your Own 2”:
On your notes
1.
2.
3.
4.
The politician answered with great
patience diplomacy and knowledge.
I looked under the bed in the closet and
through my desk to find my homework.
Ackerman wants us to understand our
planet’s size beauty and fragility.
Soup and salad can make a light tasty
nutritious meal.
Answers 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
The politician answered with great
patience, diplomacy, and knowledge.
I looked under the bed, in the closet,
and through my desk to find my
homework.
Ackerman wants us to understand our
planet’s size, beauty, and fragility.
Soup and salad can make a light, tasty,
nutritious meal.
Rule 3:
Separate Adjectives of Equal Rank
 Use
commas to divide adjectives of equal
rank.
 To
determine whether the adjectives are
of equal rank you can ask two questions.
The questionable safety of
this room.
 Via
craigslist.org
$900 Pretty safe furnished
room
Question 1

Can you put an and between the adjectives and
still have the sentence retain its exact meaning?
 Example:
His smart and athletic friend is coming to the party.
 Means
the same as:
His smart, athletic friend is coming to the party.
Question 2:

Can you switch the adjectives and still have a
sentences that sounds grammatically correct?
 Both
sound grammatically correct.
His smart, athletic friend is coming to the party.
His athletic, smart friend is coming to the party.
When to NOT use a comma
in Rule 2:
 If
adjectives must remain in a specific
sequence, do not use a comma to separate
them.
 Correct:
I watched several plump puppies eat puppy
chow.
 Not

correct:
I watched plump several puppies eat puppy
chow.
#3
1.Father placed several steaming heaping
colorful dishes on the table and called us
to dinner.
1.Father placed several steaming, heaping,
colorful dishes on the table and called us
to dinner.
2.Do you like kimchi, a spicy tasty relish that
accompanies many Korean meals.
2.Do you like kimchi, a spicy, tasty relish that
accompanies many Korean meals.
On Your Own 3
Insert commas where needed or write
correct if no comma needed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Many delicious jams and jellies
Ripe juicy oranges
Dark angry clouds
Several sharp pencils
Bright red dress
Hot greasy french fries
Disorganized crowded cabinet
Answers 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
correct
Ripe, juicy oranges
Dark, angry clouds
correct
correct
Hot, greasy french fries
Disorganized, crowded cabinet
Practice with
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mark hit the ball over the fence and
into the parking lot.
The kids walked through the dark
scary haunted house.
We will sing dance and act in the
school play.
The students enjoy books only if they
are short and if they are action
packed.
She practices her routine daily but
she still makes mistakes.
Practice answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
correct
The kids walked through the dark, scary,
haunted house.
We will sing, dance, and act in the
school play.
correct
She practices her routine daily, but she
still makes mistakes.
Homework
 Finish
comma exercises and fragment
practice handed out in class.

Due 1/28