Commas

Commas

Let's eat Grandpa!

Let's eat, Grandpa.

Jacob enjoys cooking his family and his dog.

Jacob enjoys cooking, his family, and his dog.

Rule 1

Use a comma before FANBOYS to spearate 2 independent clauses

He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the correct compound sentence?

• Mary swam in the pool, but she didn't have any of her friends with her to swim with.
• Jennifer ate her lunch and, went to the ice cream store.
• Brooke had her party but, none of her friends could sleepover.
• Sarah and Julie had a picnic and then rode bikes

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 1.

Rule 2

Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause; Use a comma after a dependent clause in a complex sentence (D, I)

When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

Multiple Choice

Because you are my best friend I will be loyal to you always.

Where does the comma belong?

• between friend and I
• between you and are
• between loyal and to
• This is a correctly written and punctuated complex sentence.

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 2.

Rule 3

Use a comma to separate items in a series or list

We bought apples, bananas, and peaches today. 

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Sally is sweet, pretty, and nice.
• Sally is sweet, pretty, and, nice,.
• Sally is sweet pretty and nice.

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 3.

Rule 4

Use a comma to set off nonrestrictive or nonessential clauses
These may be intro phrases, concluding phrases, or phrases found in the middle of a sentence.

My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant scientist.

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 4.

Rule 5

Use commas to set off appositives

Alexander Pope, the Restoration poet, is famous for his monologues.

Multiple Choice

Choose the appositive.
John, where are you moving? I am moving to the best state in America, Texas.

• John
• Texas
• no appositive

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using an appositive phrase.

Rule 6

Use a comma to indicate direct address

I think you're right, John.

Multiple Choice

What word does the comma go after?

Cheryl I saw the new school buses.

• Cheryl

• I

• no comma

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 6.

Rule 7

Use a comma to set off quotations

Derek said, "I dislike concerts because the music is too loud."

Multiple Choice

Which one is correct?

• You need to clean your room today my mom reminded me.

• You need to clean your room today, "my mom reminded me."

• "You need to clean your room today," my mom reminded me.

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 7.

Rule 8

Use commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers

Examples

July 26, 1994

Sparks, GA

Dr. Demps, Ph.D.

The book sold more than 176,000 copies.

Multiple Choice

Martin Luther King Jr was an American Baptist minister and activist born January 15 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. Which date and city/state uses commas correctly?

• January 15 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.

• January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.

• January, 15 1929 in Atlanta; Georgia.

Open Ended

Type your own sentence using Rule 8 with the city, state or the day, year.

I wanted to go to the party but I had too much homework.

After a long day at school I took a nap.

My brother Jake is coming home for the holidays.

I bought apples, peanut butter and jelly.