Commas that set off Parenthetical Expressions

1
Commas that set off Parenthetical Expressions

• Remember to keep these notes in the Grammar
  Section of your notebook.

2
Parenthetical Expressions

• This rule is simply a collection of four small
  rules.
• All of them are extra items added to the
  sentence.
• Put commas on both sides to set it off from the
  rest of the sentence.

3
Parenthetical Expressions

• Names of People Being Addressed
• Dont walk your dog here, Larry.
• Why would you do that, Larry, after your
  accident?
• Larry, dont forget the cheese.
• Make sure that the name is just something to grab
  the listeners attention. You must be talking to
  someone directly.
• Never put commas around a name if it is an
  important part of the sentence like the Subject
  or Indirect Object.

4
Flava Flav sez

• Notice that we put commas around words added Fo
  Flava

Flava Flav, singer for Public Enemy
5
Parenthetical Expressions

• Transitional Adverbs therefore, however,
  nevertheless, furthermore.
• Hint any time you see these four words, put
  commas around them.
• Nevertheless, the movie made money.
• The actors, therefore, became famous.
• The cats, however, escaped through the open door.

6
Parenthetical Expressions

• Contrasting Expressions This, not that
• Mighty Mouse, not Mickey Mouse, is a super hero.
• I want this shirt, not that one.
• Brooklyn, not LA, is the original home of the
  Dodgers.

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Parenthetical Expressions

• Common Expressions I think, I believe, of
  course
• Only put commas around these words if it is a
  little extra information that is added to the
  sentence.
• The I can never be the subject and the
  think/believe can never be the verb since those
  are important parts of the sentence.
• If I think, I believe, of course come at the
  beginning of the sentence, do not put a comma.
• The Lakers, I think, will win.
• I think the Spurs will lose. (no comma)

8
Grammatical Explanation

• Pickles are delicious, I think.
• I think pickles are delicious. (grammatically
  incorrect)
• I think that pickles are delicious.

9
Practice

• The mayor I believe will make it an official
  holiday.
• Mr. Nare may I ask you a question?
• Therefore you should never mix vinegar and baking
  soda.
• Make our reservations for six not seven.

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Answers

• The mayor, I believe, will make it an official
  holiday.
• Mr. Nare, may I ask you a question?
• Therefore, you should never mix vinegar and
  baking soda.
• Make our reservations for six, not seven.

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List of Rules

• Intro (intro material comes first)
• Adjectives (comma between 2 adj.)
• Series (3 things in a list)
• Parenthetical (4 small rules)
• Compound (S,V,Conj,S,V)

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Where does the comma go, and what rule is being
applied?

• I would go swimming but I just ate.
• She would not go in the cold deep water.
• The dog nevertheless will jump in the water.
• Without a swimsuit I cant go swimming.
• Whenever I swim I always get sunburned.
• He would always rather be in the mountains not
  the sea shore.

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Answers

• I would go swimming, but I just ate. (compound)
• She would not go in the cold, deep water. (adj of
  equal rank)
• The dog, nevertheless, will jump in the water.
  (parenthetical)
• Without a swimsuit I cant go swimming. (Intro
  material short prep phrase)
• Whenever I swim, I always get sunburned. (Intro
  material, intro clause)
• He would always rather be in the mountains, not
  the sea shore. (parenthetical)

14
Where does the comma go, and what rule is being
applied?

• Help I need somebody.
• The White Album Abbey Road and Sgt. Peppers are
  my favorite Beatles albums.
• I saw Paul McCartney play and he put on a great
  show.
• My friend wanted to come but lost her ticket.
• While I was standing in the crowd at the concert
  I called her.

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Answer

• Help, I need somebody. (Intro word)
• The White Album, Abbey Road, and Sgt. Peppers
  are my favorite Beatles albums. (items in a
  series)
• I saw Paul McCartney play, and he put on a great
  show. (compound)
• My friend wanted to come but lost her ticket.
  (almost a compound but missing 2nd subject)
• While I was standing in the crowd at the concert,
  I called her. (intro clause)