Name_________________________________________
7th grade Rules for Commas
Period________
You use commas to/when:
1. Separate three or more items in a series or listing.
a. Example: She went to the store and purchased cheese, milk, eggs, bread, and cookies.
2. Separate two or more equal adjectives of the same importance before a noun.
a. Example: She is a talented, flexible gymnast.
3. Before the coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
a. Example: I love playing soccer, but I also enjoy playing piano.
4. Offset extra information that is not needed to make the sentence complete.
a. Example: Mrs. Burg, a teacher at Ingomar Middle School, loves to go running.
b. Example: Ingomar Middle School, located in Pittsburgh, is a nationally ranked school.
5. Offset words used in a direct address of a person.
a. Example: Mrs. Miles, please shut the door.
b. Example: Please shut the door, Mrs. Miles.
6. After yes, no, or any mild exclamation at the beginning of a sentence. (Can also happen with the
word too at the end of a sentence.)
a. Example: No, I cannot go to the concert with you tomorrow.
b. Example: I really enjoyed the Fall Out Boy concert, too!
7. After an introductory phrase that tells where.
a. Example: Next to the old and dirty refrigerator, we found a cookbook from 1952.
b. Example: Beside the tall bookshelf, we found his lost wallet.
8. After an introductory phrase that tells when.
a. Example: After the football game, we all went to Wildwood Highlands.
b. Example: At 3:10pm on Friday afternoon, the school will leave for holiday break.
9. Write the greeting and closing in a letter.
a. Example: Dear Mom,
b. Example: Sincerely,
10.
Write dates.
a. Example: Today is Monday, August 27, 2012.
b. Example: She was born on November 26, 1975.
11.
Write a mailing address.
a. Example: He lives at 1515 Tiger Pride Way, Ingomar, Pennsylvania 15237.
b. Example: Please mail the letter to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
12.
After transitional words and phrases at the beginning of a sentence.
a. Example: First, mix together the eggs, milk, and cheese.
b. Example: When all is said and done, the pros to banning hunting outweigh the cons.
c. Finally, another con is hunting causes death.
Your Practice Sentences
In the same order as the rules above, write one sentence that practices each comma rule correctly.
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My notes/questions about commas: