CP Writing - Gaffney
Grammar Lesson #5 – The Comma
Keep in mind that to separate elements means to place a comma between two equal
elements . To set off an element means to put a comma before and after it.
RULES
1. Commas in a series – Use a comma to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a
series.
ex: A chair, a table, a lamp, and a sofa were the room’s only furnishings. (words)
ex: The cat ran into the room, across the floor, and up the curtain. (phrases)
ex: Skim the section titles, study the picture captions, and make a note of any boldface terms.
(clauses)
2. Commas and coordinate adjectives: Place a comma between adjectives that precede a noun.
To determine whether adjectives are coordinate, try to reverse the order or put the word and
between them. If the sentence still sounds natural, the adjectives are coordinate.
ex: Popeye is a playful, affectionate, intelligent cat.
3. Commas and Compound Sentences - Use a comma between the main clauses in a compound
sentence. Place commas before coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, not, for, so, yet).
4. Commas and Nonessential Elements – Use commas to set off participles, infinitives, and their
phrases if they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. These nonessential elements are
sometimes placed before the noun or pronoun to which it refers.
Needs commas
ex: Puzzled, she watched as the man in yellow convertible drove away.
ex: A customer, complaining loudly, stepped up to the counter.
ex: I have no idea, to be honest, what would you like for a graduation present.
No Commas
ex: The man standing by the door is my dad.
ex: My mother’s car is the one parked in the driveway.
ex: She went to medical school to become a doctor.
5. Use a comma to set off the following: interjections (oh, well, alas, good grief, etc.),
parenthetical expressions (in fact, on the other hand, for example, on the contrary, by the
way, to be exact, after all), conjunctive adverbs (however, moreover, therefore,
consequently).
ex: Oh, I didn’t know.
ex: We have to leave, unfortunately.
ex: Bicycles, unlike cars, produce no pollution.
6. Set off two or more introductory prepositional phrases or a single long one.
ex: On the afternoon of the day of the game, we made a banner.
ex: Because of the rather frightening and extremely unusually circumstances, all the students at
Hogwarts were kept under very close supervision.
7. Use commas to set off introductory participles and participial phrases.
ex: Purring, the kitten went to sleep.
ex: Sitting in a tree, my little sister called down to us.
8. Use commas to set off introductory adverb and adverb clauses.
ex: Surprisingly, parsnips taste quite good.
ex: Although I like country music, rock and roll is still my first love.
9. Use commas to set off internal adverb clauses that interrupt the flow of a sentence, but not
typically at the end of the sentence.
ex: Evan, although he had thought about it a while, decided not to go.
10. Use commas to set off a title when it follows a person’s name.
11. Don’t forget about dates and addresses.
12. Use commas to set off the parts of a reference that direct a reader to the exact source.
ex: Odysseus become reunited with his son in the Odyssey, Book 16, lines 177-219.
13. Use commas to set off words (sir, ma’am, etc) or names in a direct address.
14. Use commas to set off tag questions.
ex: You understand, don’t you?
CP Writing - Gaffney
Exercises – Add any necessary commas. Be sure to circle them.
1. Mrs. Weston my neighbor threatened to call the police.
2. I ordered a pizza with mushrooms olives peppers and sausage.
3. If Sammy isn’t here in five minutes he’s fired.
4. We planned to ask for the money but we were too chicken.
5. My dog a collie always sleeps at the foot of my bed.
6. Peter who is an excellent student is the captain of our team.
7. Unless something is done now we will all suffer.
8. Ben Richard Tom and Shane were sent to the principal’s office.
9. His brother is an honor student but Doug is barely passing.
10.Having lost her way the child began to cry.
11.My mother an English teacher is always correcting my grammar.
12.While waiting for the bus the man read a newspaper.
13.The game which lasted three hours ended in a tie.
14.My German teacher speaks English French and Italian.
15.Last summer we visited New York Florida and California.
16.Knowing the consequences Mark told his parents the truth.
17.Mr. Daniels our track coach plans to resign.
18.Standing in the hallway the teacher caught students ditching class.
19.Under the house of the old man lay a buried treasure.
20.You understand that it is difficult to accommodate your wish right?
21.Melissa don’t stand by the window when it is lightening.
22.Memoirs of a Geisha while a great book was a so-so movie.
23.Realizing her mistake, Kelly apologized to Sara.
24.The weather called for blue skies but Aunt Alice brought an umbrella just in
case.
25.Rusty the Cat prefers tuna but he will eat salmon in a pinch.