WRR 2: Practice with Commas

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WRR 2 Practice with Commas

• Three Rules of Comma Usage

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Rule 1 In a Compound Sentence

• Use a comma before a conjunction (for, and, nor,
  but, or, yet, so) FANBOYS
• Always check to make sure that you have written
  two complete sentences joined by a coordinating
  conjunction before you insert a comma.
• Sentencesubjectverbit all makes sense

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Examples of Rule 1

• Two complete sentences-
• We picked the movie.
• The boys bought the tickets.
• We picked the movie, and the boys bought the
  tickets.

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Practice 1

• The drummers beat out the rhythms and the band
  marched proudly along the parade route.
• 1. The drummers beat out the rhythms, and the
  band marched proudly along the parade route.
• The photograph clearly showed your feet but
  somehow your head was cut off.
• 2. The photograph clearly showed your feet, but
  somehow your head was cut off.

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On Your Own 1Insert commas where needed.

1. The students visited the aquarium but they did
   not go to the planetarium.
2. We have come a long way in caring for our planet
   yet we have much more to learn.
3. Did Rita make this cabinet herself or did her
   teacher help her?
4. The train we were on had started to move and we
   couldnt find Sofia anywhere.

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Answers 1

• The students visited the aquarium, but they did
  not go to the planetarium.
• We have come a long way in caring for our planet,
  yet we have much more to learn.
• Did Rita make this cabinet herself, or did her
  teacher help her?
• The train we were on had started to move, and we
  couldnt find Sofia anywhere.

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Rule 2 Separate Items in a List/Series

• Use commas to separate three or more words,
  phrases, or clauses in a list/series.
• HINT The number of commas is one fewer than the
  number of items in the list/series.
• Example I gathered the socks, shirts, and pants
  for the wash.
• Three items are in the list, so two commas are
  needed.

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No Commas for Rule 2

• Commas are NOT needed when all the items in a
  list/series have already been separated by
  conjunctions.
• Example I cut and chopped and diced onions until
  I cried.
• Is this example well written?
• No, and is repeated too often, so use commas to
  avoid repetition

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Practice 2

• 1. I carefully watered the philodendrons the ivy
  and the African violets.
• 1. I carefully watered the philodendrons, the
  ivy, and the African violets.
• 2. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats
  listened with awe and absorbed the speakers
  powerful words.
• 2. The crowd sat on the edge of their seats,
  listened with awe, and absorbed the speakers
  powerful words.

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On Your Own 2Insert commas where needed.

1. The politician answered with great patience
   diplomacy and knowledge.
2. I looked under the bed in the closet and through
   my desk to find my homework.
3. Ackerman wants us to understand our planets size
   beauty and fragility.
4. Mom always puts diced egg grated cheese and
   homemade dressing on her salad.

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Answers 2

1. The politician answered with great patience,
   diplomacy, and knowledge.
2. I looked under the bed, in the closet, and
   through my desk to find my homework.
3. Ackerman wants us to understand our planets
   size, beauty, and fragility.
4. Mom always puts diced egg, grated cheese, and
   homemade dressing on her salad.

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Rule 3 Separate Adjectives of Equal Rank

• Use commas to divide adjectives of equal rank.
• Such adjectives are called coordinate adjectives.
  
• To determine whether the adjectives are
  coordinate you can ask yourself two questions.

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Two Questions

• Can you put an and between the adjectives and
  still have the sentence retain its exact meaning?
• Can you switch the adjectives and still have a
  sentences that sounds grammatically correct?
• Example The dogs matted, filthy coat needed
  washing.

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No Comma

• If adjectives must remain in a specific sequence,
  do not use a comma to separate them.
• Such adjectives are called cumulative adjectives.
• Example I watched several plump puppies eat
  puppy chow. (amount adjective)
• Example I love your shiny green dress. (color
  adjective)

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Practice 3

• 1. Father placed several steaming heaping
  colorful dishes on the table and called us to
  dinner.
• 1. Father placed several steaming, heaping,
  colorful dishes on the table and called us to
  dinner.
• 2. Kimchi is a spicy tasty relish that
  accompanies many Korean meals.
• 2. Kimchi is a spicy, tasty relish that
  accompanies many Korean meals.

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On Your Own 3Insert commas where needed or write
correct if no comma is needed.

1. many delicious jams and jellies
2. ripe juicy oranges
3. dark angry clouds
4. several sharp pencils
5. bright red dress
6. hot greasy French fries
7. disorganized crowded cabinet

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Answers 3

• correct
• ripe, juicy oranges
• dark, angry clouds
• correct
• correct
• hot, greasy French fries
• disorganized, crowded cabinet

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Practice with CommasInsert commas where needed
or write correct if no comma is needed.

1. Mark hit the ball over the fence and into the
   parking lot.
2. The kids walked through the dark scary haunted
   house.
3. We will sing dance and act in the school play.
4. The students enjoy books only if they are short
   and if they are action packed.
5. She practices her routine daily but she still
   makes mistakes.

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Practice Answers

1. correct
2. The kids walked through the dark, scary, haunted
   house.
3. We will sing, dance, and act in the school play.
4. correct
5. She practices her routine daily, but she still
   makes mistakes.