1. Commas
How to use them

2. Commas - , A comma is a punctuation mark
It tells us to take a brief pause when we are reading – not as long as a full stop.
It is the most common punctuation mark but has to be used carefully.

3. Commas
Commas can change the meaning of a sentence

4. Changing meaning 2
The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver, paper, hats, and clocks.
The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver paper, hats, and clocks.
The old lady collected all sorts of things: silver, paper hats, clocks and tablecloths.

5. Different Uses - 1 Oh no! When there is a list of words in a sentence
We will need hammers, nails, and a saw.
She stopped, stared and ran.
Mr Cherry was a warm, hospitable man.
Sam frightened
the cat, teased the
dog, and annoyed
the neighbors.
Oh no!

6. Different Uses - 2
Commas are used to break up longer sentences into smaller parts to make more sense.
When he saw the pirate ship on the horizon, the captain gave the alarm.
She called as loudly as she could, but no-one could hear her.

7. Different Uses - 3
Commas are used to separate any extra information that is added.
The words enclosed by the commas could be left out without changing the general meaning of the sentence.
Paul Mann, our star player, broke his leg in the match on Saturday.
Paul Mann broke his leg in the match on Saturday.
The man, who was wearing a blue hat, slid silently into the room.
The man slid silently into the room.

8. Other Uses To break up groups of numbers into thousands. 1,999,999
When writing a date.
February 14th, 1990
Inside speech marks.
“We are leaving tomorrow,” said Fred.

9. Practice
Write a sentence using the different parts. Make sure to include commas!
Miss Jones
Peter
Mrs White
Our nanny
Mr Smith
, the plumber,
, Jennifer,
, the typist,
, my hairdresser,
, our teacher,
is good at looking after children.
blow dries my hair every week.
has a son called Sam.
fixed a leak in our pipes last week.
works in a large office.

10. Add information to complete these sentences.
Practice
Add information to complete these sentences.
When he reached the car lot,
Although he was very tired,
Despite asking for more hours,
We did our homework,
I waited for my brother,

11. Summary - Commas Show a brief pause within a sentence
Separate items in a list
Separate additional information
Break up longer sentences into smaller parts
Break up numbers into thousands
Inside speech marks.