Use commas to set of

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Use commas to set of NON ESSENTIAL PARTICIPIAL
PHRASES
By Kara Caputo
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What are they?

• Participial phrases are brief interrupters that
  add descriptive details to your sentences. They
  allow you to pause while reading the sentence and
  analyze a detail or certain situation apart for
  the main sentence.
• They start with -ed or ing words.
• Participial phrases are adjectives therefore they
  have no subjects or verbs.

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• Some participial phrases are essential parts of
  the sentences.
• If they are essential you do not add commas.

How do you tell the difference between ESSENTIAL
and NON ESSENTAIL participial phrases?
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Ex. The girl limping severely fell down the
stairs.
Step 1. Remove ing or ed phrase.
Ex. The girl fell down the stairs.
Step 2. Reread the sentence and ask yourself if
the subject is still clear.
In this case the sentence leaves you asking
which girl therefore its essential and does
not need commas.
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Ex. John laughing in the corner likes to eat
cheese pizza.
Ex. John likes to eat cheese pizza.
In this sentence, even after removing the phrase,
the subject is still clear therefore it is a non
essential phrase and need to be surrounded by
commas.
Ex. John, laughing in the corner, likes to eat
cheese pizza.
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• Mr. Ellsworth flapping his arms wildly directed a
  game of Simons Says.
• The class mimicking the teachers lead flapped
  their arms too.
• A boy walking outside the room laughed when he
  saw the class through the windows.
• Mr. Ellsworth continuing to flap his arms lost
  his balance while looking outside and fell over.

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• 5. Wyatt yelling rude comments was hit by a
  marker thrown by Ellsworth.
• 6. Ms. Wampler annoyed by the loud noises came in
  and yelled at Mr. Ellsworth.
• 7. Mr. Ellsworth shocked by Ms. Wamplers
  confrontation told his class to be quite.
• 8. Kenny Angel laughing mischievously hid Mr.
  Ellsworth keys in all the commotion.
• 9. Alex wanting to keep his good grade, stayed on
  task throughout the ordeal.
• 10. The class quietly working finally began to
  regain composure.

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ANSWERS

• Mr. Ellsworth, flapping his arms wildly, directed
  a game of Simons Says.
• The class, mimicking the teachers, lead flapped
  their arms too.
• NO COMMAS- Essential Participial Phrase
• Mr. Ellsworth, continuing to flap his arms, lost
  his balance while looking outside and fell over.
• Wyatt, yelling rude comments, was hit by a marker
  thrown by Ellsworth.

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• 6. Ms. Wampler, annoyed by the loud noises, came
  in and yelled at Mr. Ellsworth.
• 7. Mr. Ellsworth, shocked by Ms. Wamplers
  confrontation, told his class to be quite.
• 8. Kenny Angel, laughing mischievously, hid Mr.
  Ellsworth keys in all the commotion.
• 9. Alex, wanting to keep his good grade, stayed
  on task throughout the ordeal.
• 10. The class, quietly working, finally began to
  regain composer.

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• General Comma Links
• Links With Practice Tests
• Exercises at Grammar Bytes!
• New York State Elementary Comma Page
• Faculty of Arts Writing Center Comma Test

LINKS