In Compound Sentences

• Use a comma between two independent clauses that are joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet), (FANBOYS) forming a compound sentence. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

• Example:• Many students enjoy working on computers, so

teachers are finding new ways to use them in the classroom. This phrase can stand alone (it’s

independent), so we need to add a comma. If the part after the conjunction can’t stand alone, you don’t need a comma!

Can you spot the missing commas?

• Because cows do not observe holidays they must be milked every day.

• It was too rainy to go skating so we watched a video.

• Dalton eats too much and blames his weight on genetics.

Be Careful! A comma isn’t needed in this sentence because it is simple; the part after the conjunction and cannot stand alone and still make sense.Examples from Write Source: “Commas in

Compound Sentences” and “Commas to Separate Introductory clauses and phrases”

Comma Challenge

• Eats, Shoots and Leaves #7, #6

Comma-kaze challenge

• Simon went to the mall and he washed his car on Saturday.

• While I was eating the cat scratched at the door.

Commas: Appositives

• Appositive = a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it.

• Restrictive: Needed to identify what you’re talking about (NO COMMA NEEDED)– Example: My sister Tabatha lives in England while

my sister Samantha works in Hong Kong.

• Nonrestrictive: Simply renames (COMMA NEEDED)– Dr. Einstein, my physics professor, is a great teacher.

Can you spot the missing commas?

• My cat Sadie is a calico cat while my other cat Fig is black and white.

• Sarah’s boyfriend Tom is firefighter.

Comma-kaze challenge

• My best friend Britni just got married.• Tom and Sarah will go to the dance together

and later go out to eat.• Walking with his gaze focused downward

Mark thought about his terrible day.

Between Items in a Series

• Chinese, English, and Hindi are three most widely used languages in the world.

• Rule: Use commas between words, phrases, or clauses in a series.

To keep Numbers Clear

• Rule: Use commas to separate the digits in a number in order to distinguish hundreds, thousands, millions, and so on.

• Example: More than 104,000 people live in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.

In Dates and Addresses

• Example: On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

• Rule: Use commas to distinguish items in an address and items in a date

Let’s Practice!

• There are more than 1200 students at my brother’s high school.

• He has been going there since August 18 2001.

• The school’s address is 1010 Water Street Arlo Texas 80989

• Nikki Rasheed and Collin are hall monitors.

Warm up

1. The teacher gave him until October 9 2009 to turn in his project.

2. Sam walked to his house at 3 St. Mary’s Lane Salem New Hampshire.

3. My mom made me make my bed pick up my room and walk the dog before I could go to the movies with my friends.

4. In January 2010 Tom will graduate from high school.

Commas Continued….

Rule: Use a comma to set off a title, a name, or initials that follow a person’s last name.

Example: Larry Smith, M.D., is our family doctor.

Commas continued…

Rule: 2 Use commas to set off a word, phrase, or clause that interrupts the main thought of a sentence. These interruptions can be identified through the following tests:

1.You can leave them out of a sentence without changing its meaning.

2.You can place them other places in the sentence without changing its meaning.

Commas continued…

Example:1.The songs of birds for example probably

inspired many composers.2.Our school as we all know is becoming

overcrowded again.3.The building however has room for only 850

students.

Commas continued…

Use commas to set off nonrestrictive phrases and clauses- those not necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence.

Example: People get drinking water from surface or ground water, which only makes up one percent of the earth’s water supply.

(Clause in italics is additional information-not needed.)

Commas continued..

Restrictive clauses and phrases- those needed – are not set off by commas.

Example: Groundwater that is free from harmful pollutants is rare.

(the clause ‘free from harmful pollutants’ is necessary to keep the meaning of the sentence.

Let’s Practice

1. When was music which plays a big role in every culture invented?

2. Prehistoric bone flutes which were played by cave dwellers are evidence of music’s long history.

3. Egytptian paintings that show people playing instruments are also evidence of music’s ancient beginnings.

Commas continued…

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

EX: Comfortable, efficient cars are becoming more important to drivers. Some automobiles run on clean, renewable sources of energy.

Commas continued…

Use these tests to help you decide:1.Switch the order of the adjectives. If it is

clear, they are equal.2. Put the word and between the adjectives. If

it works, take out the and and put in a comma

Practice

1. It is amazing to think that these big roomy houses are so inexpensive.

2. The catalog offered fine upscale clothing at cheap prices.

Commas Continued…

Use commas to separate a noun of direct address (a noun that names a person that is spoken to in the sentence.)

Example:Anna, please shut the door.Sure, Jack, I’d love for you to stop by my house.

Commas Continued…

Use commas to set off an interjection or a weak exclamation from the rest of the sentence. Use commas when you start a sentence with yes or no.

Example:No kidding, you mean that teacher has a class

size of forty-two students?Wow, I didn’t know that was still legal in this

state.

Commas Continued…

More examples:No, you may not leave the room at this time.Yes, you must complete the test before leaving.

Last Comma Rule!!!!

Use commas to separate an explanatory phrase from the rest of the sentence.

Example:English, the language computers speak

worldwide, is also the most widely used language in science and medicine.