Day 3

II. Commas 2

I. Commas…

D. To set of nonrestrictive phrases and clauses. Use commas to set off information that is

not necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence.

Example: People get drinking water from surface

water or groundwater, which makes up only one percent of the earth’s water supply.

Unrestricted = not necessary, not required, additional information.

Restricted = necessary, required information. Restricted phrases or clauses are not set off

with a comma. Example:

Groundwater that is free from harmful pollutants is rare.

E. To set off titles or initials • Use commas to set off a title, a name, or

initials that follow a person’s name. (Use only one period if an initial comes at the end of a sentence.)

• Example:• Melanie Prokat, M.D, is our family’s

doctor. However, she is listed in the phone book as Prokat, M.

F. To set off interruptions Use commas to set off a word, phrase, or

clause that interrupts the main thought of a sentence.

Examples: There are, indeed, about 1,000 people

in my school. (word) The gym, not the cafeteria, was

expanded a while ago. (phrase) Our school, as we all know, is becoming

overcrowded again. (clause)

Identify interruptions by using the following test:

1. You can leave them out of a sentence without changing the sentence’s meaning.

2. You can place them other places in the sentences without changing the sentence’s meaning.

Homework: Please complete pages ____________ in

your notebook. Homework is due next class meeting. 10 points

Practice!

• Complete “Comma 2” in your notebook on the left side. Title your page “Comma 2.” You only have to write the answer.

• You may not leave when the bell rings if you did not finish the assignment.

• You have 15 minutes. You may work together. We will correct your answer in class.

Day 4 III. Commas 3

G. To set off appositives Commas set off an appositive from the

rest of the sentence. An appositive is a word or phrase that

identifies or renames a noun or pronoun. Examples:

The capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, has a population of almost 643,000.

Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, is about half the size of Connecticut.

The Mediterranean island Cyprus is about half the size of Connecticut.

H.To separate equal adjectives

• Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that equally modify the same noun.

Adjectives are describing words that modifies nouns.

• Examples: • Comfortable, efficient cars are

becoming more important to drivers • Some automobiles run on clean,

renewable sources of energy. • Conventional gasoline engines emit a

lot of pollution.

Use these tests to help you decide if adjectives modify equally.

1. Switch the order of the adjectives; if the sentence is clear, the adjectives modify equally. o Yes: Efficient, comfortable cars are becoming

more important to drivers o No: Gasoline conventional engines emit a lot of

pollution.

2. Put the word and between the adjectives; if the sentence is clear, use a comma when and is taken out. o Yes: Comfortable and efficient cars are becoming

more important to drivers. o No: Conventional and gasoline engines emit a lot

of pollution.

Homework: Please complete pages ____________

in your notebook. Homework is due next class meeting. 10 points

Practice!

• Complete “Comma 3” in your notebook on the left side. Title your page “Comma 3.” You only have to write the answer.

• You may not leave when the bell rings if you did not finish the assignment.

• You have 15 minutes. You may work together. We will correct your answer in class.