Now where do you put the Commas?

Now where do you put the Commas? Sentences, Sentence Combining, & punctuation basics.

Phrases and Clauses • A clause is a group of related words which has a subject and a verb. s v the clowntipped his hat. • A phrase is a group of related words which doesn’t have a complete subject and verb. v v smiling and waving to the crowd (but no subject—we don’t know who was smiling and waving)

Independent Clauses • A sentence is called an independent clause. It’s a clause because it has a subject and a verb, and independent because it’s a complete thought which can stand on it’s own. S V The clownrode his tricycle around the ring.

Dependent Clauses • A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, and as you might guess by the name, it can’t stand alone as a sentence. Although the elephants were tired (You’ve got a subject and a verb, but this isn’t complete; it’s a sentence fragment.) Common markers for dependent clauses are words such as because, though, when, until, while, whether, as, before, once, unless, and if.

Compound Sentences • Compound sentences contain two independent clauses, and for punctuation, you have two options: 1. You can join them with a comma + a conjunction (and, but, or, so, nor, for, yet). I love to read, and I have read fourteen books this month. 2. You can also join them with a semicolon. I love to read; I have read fourteen books this month.

Comma Splices • Can you join two complete sentences with a comma? NO! ! ! I love to read,I have read fourteen books this month. (That’s a comma splice and it’s, well, an ugly sight.) • Remember that punctuation marks are there to send messages to the reader; the wrong punctuation sends wrong signals, and the reader gets lost. (Note the use of a semicolon and a comma + conjunction to join the independent clauses above)

Think you’ve got the idea? • Where would you put commas & semicolons? • Everyone told me I would like The Hunger Games but I definitely didn’t. • I decided I don’t like narratives written in present tense, if the action happened in the past, the narrative needs to be written in past tense. • In the long run it saves me money though I don’t have to shell out for two more books or the upcoming movies. Everyone told me I would like The Hunger Games,but I definitely didn’t. • I decided I don’t like narratives written in present tense; if the action happened in the past, the narrative needs to be written in past tense. • In the long run it saves me money though; I don’t have to shell out for two more books or the upcoming movies.

Punctuation rules for dependent clauses and phrases • An introductory phrase or clause (one that comes at the beginning of a sentence) needs to be followed by a comma. • Examples: After I dropped my sister off at her lesson, I headed home to study. Wishing I hadn’t put off studying until the last night, I settled in for a very long night of work. Because I hate cramming for tests, I have resolved to never procrastinate again.

Essential phrases and clauses • If the phrase or clause comes in the middle of a sentence and is essential to the meaning (if you took it out the sentence wouldn’t be clear), then you don’t need commas. SV dependent clause I wish I had studied for the test because I didn’t do well at all.

Non-essential phrases and clauses • When the phrase or clause isn’t essential (it adds information, but the sentence would still be clear without it), then you do need commas. Snon-essential phrase V The old mill,built around 1890,provided a perfect spot for our hideout. See, you could say “The old mill provided a perfect spot for the hideout,” and it would make perfect sense.

Use commas to separate items in a list. The apples were cold, crisp, and delicious (list of single words) The apples were perfect because I had forgotten breakfast, I hadn’t had time for lunch, and I now have to run to a meeting. (list of clauses) I love the solitude of hiking , the chaos of a party, or the companionship of spending time with a close friend. (list of phrases)

Use Commas to separate adjectives when they are distinct and equal. • Test: if you can put “and” between the adjectives + they make just as much sense if you reverse the order, then you need commas The smallgrey kitten looked hungry I took it home to give it something to eat and a warm, soft place to sleep (Because “grey, small kitten” has a slightly different meaning than “small, grey” you’d leave out the comma. But because it makes just as much sense to say “soft, warm” as it does “warm, soft,” you need a comma.)

Remember commas to separate cities & states, and between dates. My grandfather was born January 4,1949 ,and raised in Kentucky. He lives in Franklin, Massachusetts today.

Test yourself: Where would you put the commas? The vocation that I would most like to pursue is medicine (no commas) The vocation that I would most like to pursue is medicine. [click] My pediatrician Doctor Larson has mentioned several times how fun and rewarding his job is. It will be a long difficult road for me. I will need 4 years of college 4 years of medical school and at least 2 years of specialty training. If I work hard I could have the profession of my dreams by the end of the decade. My pediatrician,Doctor Larson,has mentioned several times how fun and rewarding his job is. (Doctor Larson is a non-essential phrase) It will be a long,difficult road for me. (commas between adjectives) I will need 4 years of college,4 years of medical school,and at least 2 years of specialty training (commas separating items in a list) If I work hard,I could have the profession of my dreams by the end of the decade. (comma after an introductory phrase)

Now where do you put the Commas?