Commas with Coordinate Adjectives

Front

What are coordinate adjectives?

Back

Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that modify the same noun and are of equal importance. They can be separated by a comma or the word 'and'. For example, 'The tall, dark man' or 'The tall and dark man'.

Front

When should you use a comma between coordinate adjectives?

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You should use a comma between coordinate adjectives when they can be joined by 'and' without changing the meaning. For example, 'The big, fluffy dog' can also be 'The big and fluffy dog'.

Front

What is the rule for using commas with three or more adjectives?

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When using three or more adjectives to describe a noun, commas should be used between each adjective. For example, 'She wore a bright, colorful, beautiful dress'.

Front

How do you determine if adjectives are coordinate?

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To determine if adjectives are coordinate, you can test if you can place 'and' between them or reverse their order without changing the meaning. If yes, they are coordinate adjectives.

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What is an example of non-coordinate adjectives?

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Non-coordinate adjectives are adjectives that do not require a comma because they describe different qualities of the noun. For example, 'The wooden chair' (wooden describes the material, not a quality that can be separated).

Front

What is the correct punctuation for this sentence: 'The old tired dog slept.'

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The correct punctuation is 'The old, tired dog slept.' because 'old' and 'tired' are coordinate adjectives.

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What is the correct punctuation for this sentence: 'She has a small red car.'

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The correct punctuation is 'She has a small red car.' because 'small' and 'red' are non-coordinate adjectives.

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

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The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of items, used before 'and' or 'or'. For example, 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.' It clarifies the separation of items.

Front

How do you punctuate adjectives in a series?

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When adjectives are in a series and are coordinate, use commas between them. For example, 'It was a long, exhausting, and challenging day.'

Front

What is the difference between coordinate and cumulative adjectives?

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Coordinate adjectives can be separated by commas or 'and', while cumulative adjectives build on each other and cannot be separated. For example, 'a small red ball' (cumulative) vs. 'a small, red ball' (coordinate).