1. COMMAS! The Rules
Mr. Palomo, Fall 2015

3. Terms to Know
Independent Clause: a clause that can stand by itself as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate (verb, and sometimes object); it makes sense by itself and therefore expresses a complete thought.
“Eduardo ate the carrot.” (Subject verb object)

4. Terms to Know (cont.)
Dependent Clause: a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.
“When the president arrives” (Subject verb)

5. Terms to Know (cont.)
Conjunction: a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause
“He will go to the mall and buy silverware.”
“I will drink water, and he will drink milk.”
Coordinating Conjunction: a conjunction placed between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank
FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

6. Terms to Know (cont.)
Subordinating Conjunction: a conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause. Subordinating conjunctions connect dependent and independent clauses.
Subordinating conjunctions make independent clauses dependent
“The truck is full of gas.” (Independent clause)
“Even though the truck is full of gas” (Dependent clause; not a full sentence)
Most common subordinating conjunctions: although, because, before, however, unless, even though
“Unless somebody pays for my ticket, I won’t go.” (Subordinate clause, Independent clause)

7. Terms to Know (cont.)
Subordinate Clause: a clause, typically introduced by a conjunction, that forms part of and is dependent on a main clause. A subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.
“The bull that charged us is back on the field.”
“Until there are no more shoppers, keep working.”

8. Terms to Know (cont.)
Appositive: a group of words that gives us more information about a noun.
“Hank, sliding into home base, saved the day.” (Subject, appositive, predicate)
Appositives can also be found at the beginning of the sentence.
“Sliding into home base, Hank saved the day.” (appositive, independent clause)

9. Use a Comma…

10. 1. Between two independent clauses joined by a conjunction
A comma is used between clauses only when the second clause is another independent clause.
Correct: I washed the dishes and went to the game. (SVO and VO)
Incorrect: I washed the dishes, and went to the game. (SVO, and VO)
Correct: I washed the dishes, and he went to the game. (SVO, and SVO)
Incorrect: I washed the dishes and he went to the game. (SVO and SVO)

11. 2. After a dependent clause that comes before the main clause of a sentence
When subordinating conjunctions occur at the beginning of a sentence, a comma should be placed between clauses
“Before I take this test, I must study.” (Dependent clause, Independent clause)
Subordinating conjunctions do not require a comma when located after the independent clause
“I must study before I take this test.” (Independent clause Dependent clause)

12. 3. To separate an appositive from the rest of the sentence
Appositives do not need to be in a sentence, but they give readers more details (extra information) about a particular noun.
“The spaceman, tall and thin, squeezed through the opening.” (Subject, appositive, predicate)
“The spaceman squeezed through the opening.” (Appositive removed, still a complete sentence)
Appositives can also be found at the beginning of a sentence
“Tall and thin, the spaceman squeezed through the opening.” (Appositive, independent clause)

13. 4. To set off contrasting expressions or to show emphasis
“We went to the mall, not the park.”
Showing emphasis:
“That was a great meal, especially the dessert.”
“Wow, that painting is beautiful.”

14. 5. To separate a quotation from the rest of a sentence
Commas and periods that are part of the overall sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they aren’t part of the original quotation
“My favorite day of the week,” Beth said, “is Wednesday.”
The flight attendant asked, “May I please see your boarding pass?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Martin shouted.

15. 6. Between coordinate adjectives
When two or more adjectives are used to modify the same a noun, they are separated with commas
Correct: “I have five big, smelly, hairy dogs.”
Incorrect: “I have five, big, smelly, hairy dogs.”

16. 6. Between coordinate adjectives (cont.)
You can tell whether to use commas for a series of adjectives by using one of two tests:
When you reverse the order of the adjectives, the sentence still makes sense
Correct: “I have five hairy, big, smelly dogs.”
Incorrect: “I have smelly, five, big, hairy dogs.”
When you insert and between the adjectives, the sentence still makes sense
Correct: “I have five hairy and big and smelly dogs.”
Incorrect: “I have five and big and smelly and hairy dogs.”

17. 7. Between items in a list of three or more
“Peter loves oranges, grapes, bananas, and apples.”
“Jessica mounted the horse, let out a sharp cry, and rode off into the sunset.”
“He likes swimming, running, and driving.”

18. 8. To separate the name of a city from a country or state.
The comma is placed between the city and country/state
Correct: “I live in Reno, Nevada.”
Incorrect: “I live in Reno Nevada.”
Correct: “I visited Paris, France.”
Incorrect: “I visited Paris France.”

19. 9. To separate the day of the week, month, and year.
The comma is placed between the day and year
Correct: “The date is September 21, 2015.”
When the sentence contains only the month and year, no comma is needed
Correct: “The average temperatures for July are the highest on record for that month.”
Incorrect: “The average temperatures for July, are the highest on record for that month.”

20. Commas in Action
On June 20, 1998, Mr. Palomo, your teacher, moved to Reno, Nevada. The first few years were difficult; he spent most of his free time walking around the neighborhood, making friends with his classmates, and searching online for things to do in town. “Wow,” he said, “I’m fascinated with the open, beautiful landscape.”