Commas in a Series

Front

What is a comma?

Back

A comma is a punctuation mark (,) used to separate words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Front

When do we use commas in a series?

Back

We use commas in a series to separate three or more items in a list.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

Example of a series with commas:

Back

I like apples, bananas, and oranges.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the last comma in a list, placed before 'and' or 'or'.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

Correct use of commas: 'I have a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.'

Back

This sentence correctly uses commas to separate items in a series.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

Incorrect use of commas: 'I have a cat and, a dog and a rabbit.'

Back

This sentence incorrectly places a comma before 'a dog'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Front

What is the rule for using commas in a series?

Back

Place a comma between each item in the series, and before 'and' or 'or'.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

Can you use commas to separate adjectives?

Back

Yes, commas can separate two or more adjectives that describe the same noun.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

Example of adjectives with commas:

Back

The tall, dark, and handsome man walked in.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Front

What happens if you don't use commas in a series?

Back

Without commas, the sentence can be confusing and hard to read.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A