Term 2 Week 3
Commas with Phrases
*HIGHLY IMPORTANT: First, it must be noted that commas represent A BRIEF PAUSE. So, every
time you hear a brief pause in a sentence, it is likely to have a comma in that spot. (Note the last
sentence.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Monday, October 26th
Nonessential clauses and phrases
What are these? Good question. Nonessential clauses and phrases add information to the sentence that is
not actually needed. (It sort of interrupts the flow of the sentence, but it spices it up and gives the reader a
little extra knowledge.) When you have a nonessential clause, offset it from the sentence with a comma
or commas. Here are some examples:
- Mr. Geary, my odd English teacher, cares a lot about commas.
- On my last essay, which Mr. Geary graded quite harshly, I neglected proper punctuation.
~For today, simply add commas at the appropriate place(s):
1. Marie Curie who studied radioactivity won the Nobel Prize in 1911.
2. Did the 1998 Senate hearings which were televised attract a large audience?
3. Monique carrying the heaviest load lagged far behind the others.
4. Willie Herenton defeating the incumbent in 1991 became the mayor of Tennessee.
5. The house cat which is Mr. Geary’s favorite animal is a fearsome predator.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, October 27th
Essential clauses and phrases!
What are these? Another great question, my young scholar! Essential clauses and phrases are phrases
that ARE NOT set off by commas because they contain information that is vital to the information. Let
me give examples for clarity:
- The lesson taught by Mr. Geary was fascinating. (See? If we left that out, it wouldn’t be the same
sentence.)
- The bellwork written by Mr. Geary helped me understand comma usage. (Leaving out “written
by Mr. Geary” would have changed the sentence completely.)
~For today, determine if the sentence needs commas or not for its clauses. If it does, add them.
1. Students going on the trip tomorrow will meet in the auditorium.
2. The Popps Ferry Bridge which closed today for resurfacing is a lovely bridge.
3. The driver stopped on the side of the road had a flat tire.
4. Semantics which is concerned with the meanings of words is an interesting subject.
5. Mr. Geary always interested in Native American music recorded their songs while on his trip out
west.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wednesday, October 28th
Well, we could talk about introductory elements.
Next, we will talk about introductory elements. Yes, they certainly are interesting. Introductory elements
come at the beginning of the sentence, and they should be offset with a comma because it helps the reader
understand the sentence a little better. These introductory elements can be one word (yes, well, finally [to
name a few]), a few words (in conclusion, after that), or a phrase. Let me give some examples:
- After he fed the cat, Mr. Geary at a pizza Hot Pocket.
- Yikes, that Hot Pocket was hot!
- Looking poised and calm, the cat stared at my Hot Pocket.
~For today, make some sentences with introductory elements. Then, we can share a few as a class.
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thursday, October 29th
~For today, make sentences containing nonessential clauses. Try to make them good! No one likes
boring sentences!
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Friday, October 30th
~Add commas to these sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Have you seen Mrs. Wedgeworth our new English teacher?
Please listen class while Ms. Manners makes an announcement.
Our friend Ms. Thompson gets our mail when we are on vacation.
Mrs. LeMaster the yearbook photographer always gets the best photos.
It’s the phone that’s ringing Mrs. Strickland not the doorbell.
If you’re real you’ll do your bellwork.
Ms. Prine may I please use the restroom,?
Now after all this practice I bet you know commas a little bit better.