Commas

1. Commas By Robi Bhattacharjee and Andrew Liao

2. Brief Overview • Used for series • John, Johnny, and Jonathon went to the store. • Used to form compound sentences • I went to the store + I bought an apple + I went home = I went to the store, bought an apple, and went home. • Used for interruptions • Mr. John Jones, a chimney sweeper, got soot all over his face.

3. Using Commas in a Series • Words in a series • Used to separate independent parts of speech - like nouns, verbs, and adjectives • Ex: Bob takes karate, piano, and swimming. (nouns) • Ex: Bob tripped, fell, and cried. (verbs) • Ex: Bob is big, fat, and foolish. (adjectives)

4. Using Commas in a Series (cont.) • Phrases in a Series • Used to separate independent phrases • Ex: Bob went to the store, bought apples, talked with the manager about the poor quality of their apples, and left. • Clauses in a Series • Used to separate independent clauses • Ex: Bob danced, he sang, he fell, and he cried. • Ex: As Bob was trying to study, his dog licked him, his mother kissed him, and his brother kicked him.

5. Using Commas in Compound Sentences • Commas in Compound Sentences • Join two clauses with a comma before a conjunction • Bob offered me apples + I declined = Bob offered me apples, but I declined. • Bob decided to play baseball + Bob got out a roll of wrapping paper and a crumpled piece of paper = Bob decided to play baseball, so he got out a roll of wrapping paper and a crumpled piece of paper.

6. Using Commas to set off Interrupters • Setting off expressions • Place commas around the expression of interruption, unless it is at the beginning or end of the sentence. • Bob, my friend, says hi to all of you. • A very dangerous creature, the cobra can kill Bob in an instant. • Setting off unneeded phrases/ clauses • Place commas around an interrupting phrase/clause that does not affect the sentence’s meaning. • Bob, screaming like a maniac, fell off the cliff and died.

7. Examples • John played lost and cried. • Ans: John played, lost, and cried. • John gave me a present + I liked it = ? • Ans: John gave me a present, and I liked it. • John a smart boy likes to play piano. • Ans: John, a smart boy, likes to play piano.

8. Practice Problems • John an ingenious child proved Einstein’s theory at age 5. • Ans: John, an ingenious child, proved Einstein’s theory at age 5. • Bob Jr. sat in a chair chewed bubble gum and farted. • Ans: Bob Jr. sat in a chair, chewed bubble gum, and farted. • An incredible discovery penicillin saved the lives of many people. • Ans: An incredible discovery, penicillin saved the lives of many people. • Tim broke his foot + Tim cried for his mommy = • Ans: Tim broke his foot, and cried for his mommy.