Can you COMMA?
Comma Rules
RULE # 1:
Separate three or more
items in a series or listing.
Ex. She went to the store and
purchased cheese, milk, eggs,
bread, and cookies.
Add the Commas if needed
1)The mountains and valleys of southern
Appalacia were once home to the
Cherokee people.
2)Cleveland Cincinnati Toledo and Dayton
are four large cities in Ohio.
3)The captain entered the cockpit checked
the instruments and prepared for takeoff.
4)The speaker took a deep breath and read
the report.
5)The horse ran jumped the puddle turned
the corner and sprinted the final stretch.
RULE # 2:
Separate two or more equal
adjectives of the same
importance before a noun.
Ex. She is a talented, flexible
gymnast.
Add the comma if needed
1)My spaniel is a fat sassy puppy.
2)The huge barn owl screeched.
3)The fluffy kitten with brown black
and white spots is my favorite.
4)The old red barn sat on top of the
hill.
5)The cranky fat horse refused to run.
RULE # 3:
Before the coordinating
conjunction in a compound
sentence
Ex. I love playing soccer, but I
also enjoy playing piano.
Add a comma if needed
1)The officer gave the lady a ticket but she
didn’t feel like she had made an error.
2)The students were excited for they were
going to English class.
3)I didn’t have my science homework done
nor was I prepared for my social studies
test.
4)I was tired yet I stayed.
5)The horse looked determined so I chose
the tougher track.
RULE # 4:
Offset extra information
that is not needed to make
the sentence complete.
Ex. Mrs. Burg, a teacher at Ingomar
Middle School, loves to go running.
Ex. Ingomar Middle School, located in
Pittsburgh, is a nationally ranked
school.
Add a comma if needed
1)My sister listening to the radio did not
hear me.
2)The Wizard of Oz which I saw again last
week is still my favorite movie.
3)The dress that I liked has been sold.
4)The people waiting to see the horse
whistled and cheered.
5)Millions of immigrants came through Ellis
Island which is in Upper New York.
RULE # 5:
Offset words used in a
direct address of a person.
Ex. Mrs. Miles, please shut the
door.
Ex. Please shut the door, Mrs.
Miles.
Add a comma when needed.
1)Pay attention now class.
2)Excellent work Cam.
3)Sydney will you pass out the candy?
4)Did you hear the directions Charlie?
5)Roman can you read your example?
RULE # 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.)
Ex. No, I cannot go to the concert
with you tomorrow.
Ex. I really enjoyed the Fall Out
Boy concert, too!
Add a comma if needed.
1)Yes I will go with you to the game.
2)No that horse is not fit to run.
3)Well I think you are wrong.
4)You can earn an A in this class too.
5)Why its Mr. Gamache!
RULE # 7:
After an introductory
phrase that tells where.
Ex. Next to the old and dirty
refrigerator, we found a cookbook
from 1952.
Ex. Beside the tall bookshelf, we
found his lost wallet.
Add a comma if needed.
1)Walking home from school I saw Mrs.
Stark driving.
2)On the counter at home you will find my
project that I needed for class today.
3)At the stoplight turn right.
4)On the grassy island the students lined up
quietly.
5)Turning to the back of the book she
discovered the hero was really the villain.
RULE # 8:
After an introductory
phrase that tells when.
Ex. After the football game, we all
went to Wildwood Highlands.
Ex. At 3:10pm on Friday
afternoon, the school will leave
for holiday break.
Add a comma if needed.
1)When I go to bed late I sometimes have
trouble waking up in the morning.
2)After eating the cake the children were
very energetic.
3)During the assembly no one could sit still.
4)Before the test we had some time to
study.
5)While I was reading my mind drifted back
to the game.
RULE # 9:
Write the greeting and
closing in a letter.
Ex. Dear Mom,
Ex. Sincerely,
Can you come up with 5 creative
greetings and closings?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
RULE # 10:
Write Dates.
Ex. Today is Monday, August 27,
2012.
Ex. She was born on November
26, 1975.
Add a comma if needed.
1)The test is on Friday.
2)A letter dated from March 10 1890 was in
the box.
3)There will be no school for students on
Friday October 9th.
4)The baby was born on Tuesday June 5th
2015.
5)On July 4th 1776 the United States
declared is independence from England.
RULE # 11:
Write a mailing address.
Ex. He lives at 1515 Tiger Pride
Way, Ingomar, Pennsylvania
15237.
Ex. Please mail the letter to
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Please CORRECTLY write your
address.
RULE # 12:
After transitional words
and phrases at the
beginning of a sentence.
Ex. First, mix together the eggs, milk,
and cheese.
Ex. When all is said and done, it was
the best class of the day.
Ex. Finally, another benefit of
chocolate is that it puts people in a
good mood.