Fun with Commas:The Rules for the “Polite Punctuation”

BRAIN PICK!Before we begin, title a new section in your

notebook, “Comma Brain Pick” and list all the times you know a sentence (or any writing) needs a comma! Think letters….they have manyThink SASSY

COMMA PRACTICEThe packet you received, and SHOULD KEEP,

has all the rules and examples!!

As we go through them, you will come up with your OWN example. Title a section in your notebook “Comma

Practice” and write the rule and # and then your EXAMPLE!

Rule One: Commas and Dates

month day, yearDecember 25, 2005

weekday, month day, yearSunday, December 25, 2005

Month day, year, (in a sentence)On December 25, 2005, Santa came.

Rule Two: Commas and Cities

* city, state*Glendale, Arizona

*city, country*Sydney, Australia

*street address, city, state zip code*21150 North Arrowhead Loop,

Glendale, AZ 85308

Rule Three: Commas and Introductions

* Use to separate the intro word from the sentenceExample:

Yes, I love writing.No, I do not mind homework.Ouch, that hurt!Crack, the baseball flew into the air!

This includes interjections and onomatopoeia too!

Rule Four: Commas and All Interrupters

* Be POLITE…use commas to add informationExamples:

*I finished my homework, barely, before it was collected.*Boxers, I believe, are the best breed of dog.*I like to write, however, I prefer to choose my owntopic.

WARNING: Although both use commas, it is only an appositive if the information informs more about the NOUN (rule 13)

Rule Five: Commas and Salutations & Closings

*Begin and end your friendly letter politely!

*Comma after a salutationDear Ms. Neveux,

*Comma after the closingSincerely,With love,Your friend,

Rule Six: Commas and Lists/ Series

*Offset the items in a list with commas*I need a pencil, paper, and an

eraser to write.*Off set multiple phrases with a comma (balanced sentence)

*Ms. Neveux walked into the room, smiled at the class, and instinctively began to teach.

Rule Seven: Commas and Speaking

*Separate the person being spoken to from the words with a comma.

EXAMPLES*Adam, did you finish your paper?*I need money, Mom!*Did you, Michael, find the

hidden message?

Independent Practice!

Quietly, work on page 579

Rule Eight: Commas and Adjectives*Separate two or more adjectives with a comma

EXCEPTION: colors and numbers

*Ambitious, dedicated students excel in school. *The woman wore an exquisite, lavish bracelet.*Many jumbo orange pumpkins are bought in

the Fall.

Rule Nine: Commas and Complex Sentences

*To clarify, a writer must put a comma between a dependent and independent clause when the dependent comes first. We consider

These COMPLEX sentences many times.

CORRECT: When the sun came out, the birds sang.

INCORRECT: When the sun came out the birds sang.

Rule Ten: Commas and Quotes*Separate what is said, dialogue, from who said it and how (speech tag)with a comma or commas!* “Quote,” Speech tag

“Snow peas are good with mustard,” laughed Amy.*Speech tag, “Quote”

Gretchen bellowed, “They’re coming!”* “Quote,” Speech tag, “Quote”

“Her dog,” sobbed Alice, “ran away.”

Rule Eleven: Commas and Inverted Names*When a name is inverted, it will follow the structure:

Last Name, First Name

• Neveux, Emily• Bush, George• Werder, Rebecca

Rule Twelve: Commas and Compound Sentences

* Compound Sentence: Two or more simple sentences, subject and predicate, joined with a comma and conjunction., and ,or ,but

*I wanted the pink one, but the store had sold out.*She came late to school, and the office gave her

detention for it!*The girls will finish the project, or the teacher

will have to give them a zero.

Rule Thirteen: Commas and Appositives*Just like any interrupter, use commas to add information about a noun.

Ms. Neveux, my teacher, loves to write.

Cacti, unusual and distinctive plants, are very common in Arizona.

Independent Practice!

Quietly, work on page 583