Comma Rules
A Power Point
presentation
with examples and
exercises
© Laura Torres 2014 all rights reserved. www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Laura-Torres
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Rule #1
Use a comma to separate a dependent
clause at the beginning of a sentence
from the rest of the sentence.
As part of their welcome to America,
immigrants at Ellis Island were served
vanilla ice cream.
Rule #1
Practice
Over a lifetime one cow produces
enough milk for 9,000 gallons of
ice cream.
Rule #1
Answer
Over a lifetime, one cow produces
enough milk for 9,000 gallons of
ice cream.
Rule #2
Use a comma after introductory adverbs.
Surprisingly, more ice cream is sold in
the winter months in Canada than in any
other season.
Rule #2
Practice
Fortunately ice cream is a readily
available treat found all over the
world.
Rule #2
Answer
Fortunately, ice cream is a readily
available treat found all over the
world.
Rule #3
Use a comma to separate independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice
cream, and chocolate syrup is the most
popular topping.
Rule #3
Practice
There are some strange ice cream
flavors such as garlic and curry
but hot dog flavor might be the
strangest of all of them.
Rule #3
Answer
There are some strange ice cream
flavors such as garlic and curry,
but hot dog flavor might be the
strangest of all of them.
Rule #4
Use commas to separate items in a series.
Use the “Oxford Comma” – the comma
before the “and” at the end of the series.
The United States eats the most ice cream
per capita, followed by New Zealand,
Australia, and Finland.
Rule #4
Practice
China Pakistan Indonesia and
India are among the countries
with the least per capita
consumption.
Rule #4
Answer
China, Pakistan, Indonesia, and
India are among the countries
with the least per capita
consumption.
Rule #5
Use a comma to separate adjectives that
modify the same noun.
(This is true only for coordinate adjectives. If the sentence makes sense
with the word “and” in between the adjectives, use a comma.)
This shop has especially sweet, smooth ice cream.
(This shop has especially sweet and smooth ice cream. “and” works, so use a
comma.)
The other shop has my favorite rich chocolate ice cream.
(The other shop has my favorite rich and chocolate ice cream. “and” does not
work here, so don’t use a comma.)
Rule #5
Practice
The bubblegum flavored ice
cream has large chewy chunks
of gum inside.
Rule #5
Answer
The bubblegum flavored ice
cream has large, chewy chunks
of gum inside.
Rule #6
Separate an appositive (synonym) from the
rest of the sentence with commas.
The United States, the number one producer
of ice cream, makes most of its ice cream in
California.
Another favorite frozen treat is sherbet, a
fruit-based form of ice cream.
Rule #6
Practice
Gelato another tasty frozen
confection has more milk and less
cream than ice cream.
Rule #6
Answer
Gelato, another tasty frozen
confection, has more milk and
less cream than ice cream.
Rule # 7
Separate a negation from the rest of the
sentence with commas.
Before the 10th Century, ice cream was
made with ice, not milk.
Rule # 7
Practice
The main ingredient in ice cream
is air not milk, cream, or sugar as
one might assume.
Rule # 7
Answer
The main ingredient in ice cream
is air, not milk, cream, or sugar, as
one might assume.
Rule #8
Use a comma after directly addressing
someone, or when the first word of the
sentence is “yes” or “no.”
“Christina, would you like some more ice
cream?” I asked.
Rule #8
Practice
“Yes I would love some more,”
she said.
Rule #8
Answer
“Yes, I would love some more,”
she said.
Rule #9
Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements
(part of the sentence that can be removed
without changing the meaning).
National Ice Cream Month, created by Ronald
Reagan, is July.
Twenty percent of ice cream consumers,
that’s one out of five, share their
ice cream with their dog or cat.
Rule #9
Practice
The first ice cream cone was
made by an Italian Italo
Marchiony in New York City.
Rule #9
Answer
The first ice cream cone was
made by an Italian, Italo
Marchiony, in New York City.
Rule #10
Use a comma with direct quotes.
Novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder said,
“My advice to you is not to inquire why or
whither, but just to enjoy your ice cream while it
is on your plate.”
“That was the best ice cream soda I ever tasted,”
said Lou Costello, just before he passed away.
Rule #10
Practice
“Without ice cream” said Olympic
marathoner Don Kardong “there
would be darkness and chaos.”
Rule #10
Answer
“Without ice cream,” said Olympic
marathoner Don Kardong, “there
would be darkness and chaos.”
Rule #11
Use a comma to separate the day of the
month from the year. Also use a comma after
the year in a sentence.
On September 13, 2005, Baskin Robbins set
the The Guinness World Record for the
largest ice cream scoop.
Rule #11
Practice
Baskin Robbins also holds the
record for the largest ice cream
scoop pyramid, which was set on
May 18 2000.
Rule #11
Answer
Baskin Robbins also holds the
record for the largest ice cream
scoop pyramid, which was set on
May 18, 2000.
Rule #12
Use a comma in large numbers, every three
places to the left of the decimal point.
The largest scoop of ice cream weighed
8,865 pounds, and the largest scoop pyramid
had 3,100 scoops of ice cream.
Rule #12
Practice
California ice cream producers
make 142000000 gallons of the
sweet treat every year.
Rule #12
Answer
California ice cream producers
make 142,000,000 gallons of the
sweet treat every year.
Rule #13
Use a comma to separate elements in an
address, except between the state and zip
code.
America’s oldest ice cream company is
Bassetts, located in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
Rule #13
Practice
One of their shops has been at
The Reading Terminal Market 45
th
N. 12 St. Philadephia PA 19107.
Rule #13
Answer
One of their shops has been at
The Reading Terminal Market, 45
th
N. 12 St., Philadephia, PA
19107.
Put in the Commas
Ice cream in one form or another has been around since
Biblical times and its origins and inventors are much
debated. From Alexander the Great to the emperors of the
Tang Dynasty stories and myths of frozen treats abound.
Historically one thing that is not in dispute is the role of ice
cream in American history. The first advertisement for ice
cream was on May 12 1777 in the New York Gazette. The
first ice cream shop opened at 76 Chatham Street New
York New York in 1790. George Washington the first
president spent $200 that summer on ice cream. Yes ice
cream was even served at the White House by residents
such as Thomas Jefferson Dolly Madison and Mary Todd
Lincoln.
Answer Key
Ice cream, in one form or another, has been around since
Biblical times, and its origins and inventors are much
debated. From Alexander the Great to the emperors of the
Tang Dynasty, stories and myths of frozen treats abound.
Historically, one thing that is not in dispute is the role of ice
cream in American history. The first advertisement for ice
cream was on May 12, 1777, in the New York Gazette. The
first ice cream shop opened at 76 Chatham Street, New
York, New York in 1790. George Washington, the first
president, spent $200 that summer on ice cream. Yes, ice
cream was even served at the White House by residents
such as Thomas Jefferson, Dolly Madison, and Mary Todd
Lincoln.
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