Punctuation Rules Rules 5 and 6

Rule 5  Words, phrases, and dependent clauses joined in pairs and series with conjunctions should ordinarily not be separated by commas.

Phrases  A phrase is a string of words that’s not quite enough to make a complete sentence.  Do not contain a subject and a verb  Phrases can function as parts of speech Nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs

Phrases cont.  an eminent authority on volcanoes (noun)  skipping blithely through the hollyhocks (noun or adjectival)  green and blue with brown speckles (adjectival)  should have been finished (verb)  with all of the bells and whistles (adverbial or adjectival)

Dependent Clauses  A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.  A dependent clause (subordinate clause) cannot stand on its own but is usually a modifier – adverbial or adjectival – that has its own subject and verb. Adverbial Adjectival Noun

Dependent Clauses cont.  I’ve always admired Kelly, who never seems to get angry. (adjectival clause)  All dependent clauses begin with a marker word such as a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, or that), a subordinating conjunction (although, because, whether, while, etc.), or a conjunctive adverb (besides, incidentally, moreover, etc.)

Rule 5 Examples  Words: A loud and terrifying roar was caused by the surf beating upon the coral reefs.  Phrases: Over the lagoon and along the beach and even in the jungle there was an air of expectancy.  Dependent Clauses: We shall be able to move when the sun goes down and the moon comes up.

Rule 6  Words, phrases, and dependent clauses joined in pairs or series without conjunctions should be separated by commas.  Note: To see whether you have a true pair or series, see whether and makes sense between the words or phrases.

Rule 6 Examples  Words: A loud, terrifying roar was caused by the surf beating upon the coral reefs.  Phrases: Over the lagoon, along the beach, even in the jungle there was an air of expectancy.