Commas for Coordinate Adjectives

1. Commas for Coordinate Adjectives

2. Common Core Standard • L.7.2 Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives

3. Language of the Discipline • Coordinate Adjective- modifies a noun equally

4. Coordinate Adjectives • 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

5. Examples • No one could figure out where the unusual, mysterious noises were coming from. • Peyton has the strong, determined, independent attitude that her grandparents had.

6. Modeling • 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.

7. 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."

8. 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.

9. Check for Understanding • 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)

10. The poster depicted a brown-haired blue-eyed child wearing a red denim shirt. • Answer: The poster depicted a brown-haired, blue-eyed child wearing a red denim shirt. • We bought two dozen boxes of mouth-watering peanut butter Girl Scout cookies. • Answer: We bought two dozen boxes of mouth-watering peanut butter Girl Scout cookies. (no commas)

11. Guided Practice • 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