L.7.2
Use a comma to
separate coordinate
adjectives
Coordinate
Adjectivemodifies a noun equally
 How
do you know when to use a comma?
 There are 2 steps:
› Check by putting and between the
adjectives OR
› Switch their order
 If
the sentence has the same meaning,
the adjectives are coordinate
 When you write coordinate adjectives,
put a comma after each one except the
last
 No
one could figure out where
the unusual, mysterious noises
were coming from.
 Peyton
has the strong,
determined, independent
attitude that her grandparents
had.
Which sentences use commas appropriately
between adjectives?
 We were prepared for a long, tedious,
planning session.
 We could say "a long and tedious planning
session" or "a tedious, long planning session."
Thus, we need the comma between the words
long and tedious. However, we could not say
"a tedious and planning session," nor could we
say "a planning, tedious session." Thus, we
should not use a comma between the words
tedious and planning.

 Allen
owns several blue, wool
sweaters.
 We
do not need a comma between
the words blue and wool because
the two adjectives are not
coordinate. It would sound illogical
to say "blue and wool sweaters" or
"wool blue sweaters."
 In
order to get home, we must travel
over several narrow, winding,
treacherous roads.
 The
adjectives in sentence three are:
narrow, winding, and treacherous—are
coordinate with one another, so the
commas are appropriate. The word and
would sound fine between those words
("the narrow and winding roads" or "the
winding and treacherous roads"), and I
could easily rearrange the three
modifiers in any order.
On your whiteboard add commas or an X
if the sentence does not need commas
 In the attic we found old thin paper
cutouts we used to play with when we
were children.
 Answer: In the attic we found old, thin
paper cutouts we used to play with when
we were children.
 For breakfast we ate two oversized
blueberry muffins.
 Answer: For breakfast we ate two
oversized blueberry muffins.(no commas)

 The
poster depicted a brown-haired
blue-eyed child wearing a red denim
shirt.
 Answer: The poster depicted a brownhaired, blue-eyed child wearing a red
denim shirt.
 We bought two dozen boxes of mouthwatering peanut butter Girl Scout
cookies.
 Answer: We bought two dozen boxes of
mouth-watering peanut butter Girl
Scout cookies. (no commas)
 Complete
numbers 1-3 on the
Commas for Coordinate
Adjectives worksheet, raise
your hand
 When you get a star complete
the rest of the worksheet