Punctuation Rules

1
Punctuation Rules

• Rules 5 and 6

2
Rule 5

• Words, phrases, and dependent clauses joined in
  pairs and series with conjunctions should
  ordinarily not be separated by commas.

3
Phrases

• A phrase is a string of words thats not quite
  enough to make a complete sentence.
• Do not contain a subject and a verb
• Phrases can function as parts of speech
• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Adverbs

4
Phrases cont.

• an eminent authority on volcanoes (noun)
• skipping blithely through the hollyhocks (noun or
  adjectival)
• green and blue with brown speckles (adjectival)
• should have been finished (verb)
• with all of the bells and whistles (adverbial or
  adjectival)

5
Dependent Clauses

• A clause is a group of words that contains both a
  subject and a predicate.
• A dependent clause (subordinate clause) cannot
  stand on its own but is usually a modifier
  adverbial or adjectival that has its own
  subject and verb.
• Adverbial
• Adjectival
• Noun

6
Dependent Clauses cont.

• Ive always admired Kelly, who never seems to get
  angry. (adjectival clause)
• All dependent clauses begin with a marker word
  such as a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose,
  which, or that), a subordinating conjunction
  (although, because, whether, while, etc.), or a
  conjunctive adverb (besides, incidentally,
  moreover, etc.)

7
Rule 5 Examples

• Words A loud and terrifying roar was caused by
  the surf beating upon the coral reefs.
• Phrases Over the lagoon and along the beach and
  even in the jungle there was an air of
  expectancy.
• Dependent Clauses We shall be able to move when
  the sun goes down and the moon comes up.

8
Rule 6

• Words, phrases, and dependent clauses joined in
  pairs or series without conjunctions should be
  separated by commas.
• Note To see whether you have a true pair or
  series, see whether and makes sense between the
  words or phrases.

9
Rule 6 Examples

• Words A loud, terrifying roar was caused by the
  surf beating upon the coral reefs.
• Phrases Over the lagoon, along the beach, even
  in the jungle there was an air of expectancy.