COMMA USAGE Trust me, everyone needs a review in this…

First off… ◦ Use commas to separate independent clauses (complete sentences) when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. ◦ WRITE DOWN- “Use commas to identify two complete sentences joined by ◦ F - For ◦ A - And ◦ N - Nor ◦ B - But ◦ O - Or ◦ Y - Yet ◦ S – So ◦ Independent clauses can stand on their own without the conjuntion or other parts of a sentence. They have a subject and a verb.

What this looks like: (write at least 1) ◦ The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave. ◦ The student explained her question, yet the instructor still didn't seem to understand. ◦ Yesterday was her brother's birthday, so she took him out to dinner. ◦ Subjects are in italics, verbs are underlined, and the conjuctions are in bold.

SHELBY WAS COLD SO SHE JUMPED ONTO THE MIDDLE OF THE BED.

◦ Colby Jack was already on the bed and got mad but he refused to get down.

Rule Two: ◦ Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. ◦ Common starter words for introductory clauses that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while. (These all indicate time or situation.) ◦ While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door. ◦ Because her alarm clock was broken, she was late for class. ◦ If you are ill, you ought to see a doctor.

EXCEPTION!!!! (Because English is complicated and not always logical) ◦ However, don't put a comma after the main clause when a dependent (subordinate) clause follows it (except for cases of extreme contrast). ◦ INCORRECT: The cat scratched at the door, while I was eating. ◦ CORRECT : The cat scratched at the door while I was eating. ◦ Write down: DON’T USE A COMMA if a sentence starts with a complete sentence, THEN ends with the additional information of time or condition.

To comma, or not to comma? ◦ When Shelby rides in the truck she refuses to stay in the back seat.

◦ Colby Jack actually likes car rides if the dog isn’t there.

Rule two, part two ◦ Some introductory sections will be only one word. ◦ Common introductory words that should be followed by a comma include yes, however, well, no. ◦ Example: “No, you may not go to the bathroom right now.”

Rule Three: ◦ Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. (These work like parenthesis.) ◦ Write down : Use two commas to surround words/ideas that don’t need to be there for the sentence to make sense. ◦ Example: My dog, who is part pit bull, loves to go hiking with me.

The fact that she’s part pit bull has nothing to do with her love of hiking. ◦ So we separate it with commas. If we took it out of the sentence, the sentence would still make perfect sense: ◦ “My dog loves to go hiking with me.”

MY CAT WHO IS PERFECTLY HEALTHY WEIGHS ALMOST 20 POUNDS.

We’ll come back to #4 later this week…

Rule #5 ◦ Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. ◦ This is probably the first way you learned to use commas. ◦ There is some debate about using a comma before the word “and” at the end of a series. This optional comma is called the “Oxford Comma.” ◦ Some people say it’s not very important. I disagree. Here’s why:

Things tend to get weird without it… ◦ I like cooking my pets and my family.

NOW, LET’S PRACTICE! Don’t worry, we’ll have more tomorrow.