Parenthetical Commas

Parenthetical elements can be removed from a sentence and the sentence will still make sense.

• True

• False

Which part of the sentence is the parenthetical element? Marsha loves reptiles, even snakes, and likes to read books about them.

• Marsha loves reptiles

• even snakes

• likes to read

• and likes to read books about them

What punctuation marks can be used to set apart a parenthetical element?

• commas

• dashes

• parentheses

• ALL of these!

What way are the commas being used?

Michael, my friend from middle school, is turning thirteen today.

• List

• Introduction

• Combining Clauses

• Extra Information (Parenthetical Statement)

Where should the second comma go in the following sentence?

A spinosaurus, my favorite dinosaur has a giant sail on its back.

• A spinosaurus, my favorite dinosaur, has a giant sail on its back.

• A, spinosaurus, my favorite dinosaur has a giant sail on its back.

• A spinosaurus, my favorite dinosaur has a giant sail, on its back.

• A spinosaurus, my favorite, dinosaur has a giant sail on its back.

What types of punctuation can you put around a nonrestrictive phrase?

• , ,

• - - 

• ( ) 

• all

How can you tell if a phrase is nonessential? 

• it has punctuation around it

• you naturally pause before and after

• you can remove it from the sentence without losing meaning

• all of these

Which sentences uses commas correctly?

• NGMS ,as a whole, is a great school, and it is the biggest in the state.

• NGMS, as a whole, is a great school and it is the biggest in the state.

• NGMS, as a whole is a great school,  and it is the biggest in the state.

What is the primary function of parenthetical commas in a sentence?

• To separate items in a list

• To introduce a sentence

• To set off nonessential information

• To indicate a pause

Identify the parenthetical element in the following sentence: 'The car, which was red, sped past us.'

• The car

• which was red

• sped past us

• The car, which was red