2. Commas Matter!

3. Burp Compare this sentence … I have already eaten Marvin. I have already eaten Marvin. B u r p !B u r p ! B u r p !

4. … to this sentence. No thank you! I have already eaten, Marvin. No thank you! I have already eaten, Marvin.

5. Writing Dates and Addresses 1.Use commas to set off the year when you write a month, day, and year. 2.Use commas to separate the parts of a geographical location. Example: I’m looking forward to heading to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. I’m leaving with my family on July 14, 2015.

6. Speaker Tag Introduces a direct quotation. Introduces a direct quotation. Includes a subject and verb. Includes a subject and verb. Check out this example: Check out this example: Then my doctor said, “Poodles are bad for your health!” Then my doctor said, “Poodles are bad for your health!”

7. Commas After Introductory Elements All introductory elements require a comma when they are connected to a main clause that follows. All introductory elements require a comma when they are connected to a main clause that follows. The pattern looks like this: The pattern looks like this: Introductory element +, + main clause.

8. 1. Because she is short Francine loves to go food shopping with Rachel, a tall friend. Strolling down the aisles Francine asks Rachel to grab packages of imported crackers and boxes of high-fiber cereal, items that are always too high to reach. 1. Because she is short, Francine loves to go food shopping with Rachel, a tall friend. Strolling down the aisles Francine asks Rachel to grab packages of imported crackers and boxes of high-fiber cereal, items that are always too high to reach. 1. Because she is short, Francine loves to go food shopping with Rachel, a tall friend. Strolling down the aisles, Francine asks Rachel to grab packages of imported crackers and boxes of high-fiber cereal, items that are always too high to reach. Example:

9. 2. Akram has a problem hitting the snooze button on his alarm over and over. To get to his first class on time Akram frequently eats a donut in the car, getting crumbs all over the seat of his new vehicle. 2. Akram has a problem hitting the snooze button on his alarm over and over. To get to his first class on time, Akram frequently eats breakfast in the car, getting crumbs all over the seat of his new vehicle. Example:

10. 3. Pablo walked all the way across campus before he noticed the lightness of his book bag. Suddenly he realized that his heavy chemistry text was on the backseat of his car. 3. Pablo walked all the way across campus before he noticed the lightness of his book bag. Suddenly, he realized that his heavy chemistry text was on the backseat of his car.

11. 4. In English class no one wants to sit next to Eli because he is always smacking his gum loudly. Moreover he nervously swings his leg, kicking people in the thighs, shins, and ankles. 4. In English class, no one wants to sit next to Eli because he is always smacking his gum loudly. Moreover he nervously swings his leg, kicking people in the thighs, shins, and ankles. 4. In English class, no one wants to sit next to Eli because he is always smacking his gum loudly. Moreover, he nervously swings his leg, kicking people in the thighs, shins, and ankles.

12. Nonessential Clause Begins with who, whoever, whom, whomever, where, wherever, which, or whichever. Begins with who, whoever, whom, whomever, where, wherever, which, or whichever. Contains a subject and a verb. Contains a subject and a verb. Check out this example: Check out this example: I can still eat poodle dinners, which I really enjoy, in moderation. I can still eat poodle dinners, which I really enjoy, in moderation.

13. 1.My brother James who cannot please Dad has decided to move to Michigan. 1.My brother James, who cannot please Dad has decided to move to Michigan. 1.My brother James, who cannot please Dad, has decided to move to Michigan.

14. 2.The movie Aliens which I have seen twenty-seven times contains too much violence for my nephews to watch. 2.The movie Aliens, which I have seen twenty-seven times contains too much violence for my nephews to watch. 2.The movie Aliens, which I have seen twenty-seven times, contains too much violence for my nephews to watch.

15. AppositivesAppositives An appositive is a noun phrase that renames another noun. An appositive is a noun phrase that renames another noun. An appositive comes either right before or right after the noun it describes. An appositive comes either right before or right after the noun it describes. Check out this example: Check out this example: The poodle, a yapping fur ball, was not as tasty as the human foot I snagged last week. The poodle, a yapping fur ball, was not as tasty as the human foot I snagged last week.

16. Other Interrupters Other Interrupters First part of the sentence +, + interrupterinterrupter rest of the sentence. +, + All interrupters require a comma in front and behind when they break the flow of a complete sentence. All interrupters require a comma in front and behind when they break the flow of a complete sentence. The pattern looks like this: The pattern looks like this:

17. 1.George used War and Peace a heavy, thick, intimidating book to smash the cockroaches he found crawling on the walls of his college dorm room. 1.George used War and Peace, a heavy, thick, intimidating book to smash the cockroaches he found crawling on the walls of his college dorm room. 1.George used War and Peace, a heavy, thick, intimidating book, to smash the cockroaches he found crawling on the walls of his college dorm room.

18. 2. Take this soup bone Joe and give it to the puppy before he starts chewing on our shoes. 2. Take this soup bone, Joe and give it to the puppy before he starts chewing on our shoes. 2. Take this soup bone, Joe, and give it to the puppy before he starts chewing on our shoes.

19. 3. Mr. Finklestein who assigns more papers than he has time to grade keeps us more stressed than any other teacher in the school. 3. Mr. Finklestein, who assigns more papers than he has time to grade keeps us more stressed than any other teacher in the school. 3. Mr. Finklestein, who assigns more papers than he has time to grade, keeps us more stressed than any other teacher in the school.

20. 4.Patrick always carries an English handbook with him, even to basketball games so that he can check other people’s grammar wherever he goes. 4.Patrick always carries an English handbook with him, even to basketball games, so that he can check other people’s grammar wherever he goes. The comma is for the interrupter, not the so that.

21. 5. January the month Julie usually dreads because of its cold, dark mornings was unusually warm this past year. 5. January, the month Julie usually dreads because of its cold, dark mornings was unusually warm this past year. 5. January, the month Julie usually dreads because of its cold, dark mornings, was unusually warm this past year.

22. Concluding Elements Main clause +, + concluding element. All concluding elements require a comma when they are connected at the end of a main clause. All concluding elements require a comma when they are connected at the end of a main clause. The pattern looks like this: The pattern looks like this:

23. 1.Jennifer tolerated the family reunion slapping mosquitoes with a paper plate and drinking iced tea to combat the heat. 1.Jennifer tolerated the family reunion, slapping mosquitoes with a paper plate and drinking iced tea to combat the heat.

24. 2. At Tito’s Taco Palace, James tried to keep pace with Theodore who can eat a burrito in thirty seconds flat. 2. At Tito’s Taco Palace, James tried to keep pace with Theodore, who can eat a burrito in thirty seconds flat.

25. 3.“Don’t bother to ask Mom” warned Sue. “She never extends curfew especially if you tell her that you will be out with a guy.” 3.“Don’t bother to ask Mom, ” warned Sue. “She never extends curfew especially if you tell her that you will be out with a guy.” 3.“Don’t bother to ask Mom, ” warned Sue. “She never extends curfew, especially if you tell her that you will be out with a guy.”

26. Using Commas with and Complete sentence Complete sentence +, +FANBOY complete sentence. itemitemitemitemitemitem +,+ and and + +,+ Follow these rules when you use commas with and. (In other words, use a comma with a compound sentence and when you list items in a series.)

27. 1.Kyle rushed to get the report typed and Martha frantically answered the phones. 1.Kyle rushed to get the report typed, and Martha frantically answered the phones. (This is a compound sentence.)

28. 2.When Carlie took her truck to the dealership, the mechanics wanted to put in a new starter, replace her shocks and overhaul the transmission. 2.When Carlie took her truck to the dealership, the mechanics wanted to put in a new starter, replace her shocks, and overhaul the transmission.

29. Commas Between Adjectives coordinate adjective +,+ Follow these rules when you use commas with a series of adjectives. Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that appear in sequence with one another to modify the same noun.

30. 2.The cute soft frisky ferret will bite your fingers if you try to pick him up. 1.The cute, soft frisky ferret will bite your fingers if you try to pick him up. 1.The cute, soft, frisky ferret will bite your fingers if you try to pick him up.

31. 2.The hot spicy appetizing bowl of squid eyeball stew steamed on the clean shiny kitchen counter. 2.The hot, spicy appetizing bowl of squid eyeball stew steamed on the clean shiny kitchen counter. 2.The hot, spicy, appetizing bowl of squid eyeball stew steamed on the clean shiny kitchen counter. 2.The hot, spicy, appetizing bowl of squid eyeball stew steamed on the clean, shiny kitchen counter.

32. 3.A strange smell emanated from Barbara's blue disorganized book bag, which lay on the floor beside her desk. 3.A strange smell emanated from Bethany’s blue, disorganized book bag, which lay on the floor beside her desk.

33. No Comma Necessary: Please pass me one of those delicious blueberry muffins. What is different about this sentence? Please pass me one of those delicious blueberry muffins. What is different about this sentence?

34. The END. The END.