COMMAS!
Dun, Dun, DUUNNNNNNN!
Comma Rules

Before:
Coordinating
conjunctions that
combine two complete
sentences

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Around:
Nonessential clauses
and Interrupters

After:
Introductory words and
phrases
Separate:
Items in a series

Quotation marks:
Commas Come Before
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Coordinating Conjunctions that separate two
complete sentences
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
The war lasted for several years, but not many people
supported it.
She studied very hard, yet she failed her exam.
 The politician campaigned enthusiastically but never
gathered much money.
Commas with Conjunctions
Mark each sentence as C or I. Correct Incorrect sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Lucy hit her brother but he said it didn’t hurt.
John took Vitamin C, and a multivitamin every day.
We wanted to leave, yet something held us there.
We didn’t know what to do so we sat down to wait.
The cave made me uncomfortable, for it was cold and
damp.
I had pancakes for breakfast and drank milk with them.
My mom bought a new car but didn’t drive it home.
The nuclear explosion caused sewage systems to
overflow, and disease to spread.
The banana was starting to brown yet it was still very
tasty.
Jerry was told he could either go to the mall or the
basketball game.
Commas Separate
 Items
I
in a series (3 or more)
went to the store for bread, milk, and eggs.
 Michelle was kicked off the team because she
failed a class, was disrespectful to her teacher,
and skipped practice.
 John is allergic to dairy products and chocolate.
Commas that Separate
Write each sentence and put commas where they are needed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The elderly man clutched his heart swooned
and fell to the floor when he had a heart
attack.
My dog gets scared whenever thunder booms
strangers knock at the door or I try to give him
a bath.
I spent the afternoon shopping for groceries
and playing tennis.
Fresh bread roasted chicken and three bottles
of sparkling wine were packed in the picnic
basket.
Commas Go Around
Nonessential Elements and Interrupters
 NONESSENTIAL
 The
man forgot, however, where he had placed his
keys.
 Mary Roberts, calling out Joe’s name, ran down the
street.
 Our neighbor, who is the foreman at the plant, is on
vacation.

ESSENTIAL
 Each
student who is going on the field trip must turn in
a permission slip.
 The woman who is running the cash register just went
on break.
Essential




The book that Chubb was eating is
overdue at the library.
 This sentence is about a particular
book -- the one Chubb was eating.
We watched the award-winning movie
"The Departed."
 Lots of movies win awards. It is
"essential" to know which one.
Lorraine drove her daughter Margie to
school and her daughter Suzie to work.
 Lorraine has more than one
daughter. The names are "essential."
Jarrett's neighbor Lisa watched from the
hedge.
 Jarrett has neighbors on both sides.
It is "essential" to know which one
watched.
Nonessential





The book, which Chubb chewed all night, was
due at the library yesterday.
 This sentence is about the fact that the
book is due. The fact that Chubb chewed
it all night is extra detail; it is nonessential.
Jarrett's bulldog, Chubb, likes books.
 Assume Jarrett has only one bulldog; the
name "Chubb" is nonessential.
The speaker was the winner of the 2007
Academy Award for leading actor, Forest
Whittaker.
 There was only one such winner in 2007.
Thus, the name is "nonessential."
Lisa's cat, Mordred, watched from the
shadows.
 Assume that Lisa has only one cat. This
makes the cat's name "nonessential" to
the meaning of the sentence.
Lorraine and her husband, Charlie, worked in
the garden.
 Lorraine only has one husband; therefore,
his name is nonessential.
Practice
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The woman who interviewed you is my sister.
The average world temperature however has
continued to rise significantly.
Company managers seeking higher profits hired
temporary workers to replace full-time staff.
The person checking tickets at the counter
asked for a form of identification.
My uncle Joe who is eighty years old walks three
miles every day.
The sixth-century philosopher Boethius was
arrested tortured and bludgeoned to death.
Commas that Go Around
Mark each sentence as C or I. Correct Incorrect sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sally, whom you met at last night's dance, wants to know if you
found her purse.
The game as you remember was a tie.
The French artist Jaques Laurent appeared at a speaking
engagement in New York.
Mr. Duffy named as college counselor in 1985 has been promoted
to Duke of Students.
Our son who won last year's prize was disqualified from the
competition.
Fred, green with envy, refused to acknowledge Harvey's mastery
of the game of Yahtze.
Jim, sheriff of Monroe County, wanted to question the witness.
The boy, who broke my car window, brought flowers to my house.
The parole violator must of course pay his fine.
The dog that dug up my garden was returned to its owner.
Commas Go After

Introductory Words and Phrases
 As
a matter of fact, he did graduate high school.
 However, Brad didn’t go to the movies.
 Brad didn’t go to the movies however.
 To pass the Economics test, you must study very
hard.
 To pass the Economics test without studying is
unheard of.
Commas that Go After
Mark each sentence as C or I. Correct Incorrect sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
To stay in shape for competition athletes must exercise
every day.
Meanwhile the athletes trained on the Nautilus equipment.
Still, the credibility of some witnesses was in question.
Extracting the most profit for the least expenditure on labor
and materials, is the primary goal of a capitalist.
The wind blowing violently, the townspeople began to seek
shelter.
After the adjustment for inflation real wages have decreased
while corporate profits have grown.
Preparing and submitting his report was one of the most
difficult tasks Bill had ever attempted.
To start a new business without doing market research
would be foolish.
Barking insistently Smokey got us to throw his ball for him.
A popular and well respected mayor Tom Bailey was the
clear favorite in the campaign for governor.
Commas that Go After
Mark each sentence as C or I. Correct Incorrect sentences.
Dear Johnny
I’m so excited to tell you about our Fourth of July!
That morning the rest of the family arrived at our house.
We cooked a big breakfast that consisted of eggs bacon
biscuits and gravy toast milk and orange juice. After eating
the kids wanted to go outside and we adults were more
than happy to let them! In the meantime Aunt Martha and I
cleaned the kitchen. The kids full of energy played nonstop
the rest of the morning. For dinner we grilled hotdogs and
had a great time and by the end of the day everyone was
exhausted. You must join us next year!
Love
Miranda
Commas with Quotation Marks

Every quotation must have punctuation at the end, inside the
quotation marks



When a quote comes at the beginning of the sentence, end
punctuation is determined by the type of sentence.




“Shut up!” she yelled.
“Don’t you love me?” he asked.
“I guess so,” he mumbled.
Some form of punctuation must always separate the quote
from the rest of the sentence



A comma if the quote is at the beginning--“Hurry up,” she said.
An end mark if it’s at the end.--She said, "Hurry up."
A comma if the quote is at the end--Mr. Johnson said, “Good grief!”
The punc. mark for the quote if the quote is at the beginning--“I didn't
see the alien,” Mr. Johnson said.
The placement of question marks with quotes follows logic.


She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"
Do you agree with the saying, "All's fair in love and war“?
Commas with Quotation Marks
My sister would like to go to the movies with us said Gina May
2. This summer promises continued Roger to be a very memorable
one for sure
3. Would you care for another slice of pizza asked Mom
4. Mrs. Miller said she wanted the tree projects on her desk first
period tomorrow
5. Mrs. Gardner added We should find out tomorrow
6. Nick said that he wasn't feeling well yesterday
7. We have to finish this quickly or we'll get in trouble cried Katie
8. Here is the hammer you asked for said Richard
9. Perhaps you wouldn't be so tired suggested Dad if you went to bed
earlier
10. Excellent work Paul praised Mom
1.
NAMES
 Carla, where are you going?
 How are you doing, Sandy?
 Well, Jacob, you are wrong.
Steven goes to the store.
 Blake likes turkey.
 My sister Angela lives in Ohio.
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Stuff Not on New Standards
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Coordinate Adjectives (insert “and,” swap)



Rachel lived a long, happy life.
We were prepared for a long, tedious planning session.
 The former secret agent had to change her identity.
Items in dates and addresses


The house at 100 Main Street, Rome, GA 21210, was sold
today.
My son was born on January 5, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois.
 It was on January 5 that my son was born.
 In July 1999, we went to Italy.