The Comma Rule One Use a comma and

The Comma

Rule One: Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses together. Sentence, FANBOYS sentence.

Independent Clause An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Coordinating Conjunctions? ? Here is a simple acronym to help you remember the most common coordinating conjunctions: For And Nor But Or Yet So

In the following quotes, highlight: independent clauses coordinating conjunction comma “Every day was a happy day, and every night was peaceful. ” -E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web “Celia says you’re in shock, but I think you are just lazy. ” -Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion “You can pick your friends, but you’re stuck with your family. ” -Jeff Foxworthy, You Might Be a Redneck If… This is the Biggest Book You’ve Ever Read “Hiccup leapt out of the way, but the sharp point of the blade pierced his shirt and tore a neat slice out of it. ” -Cressida Cowell, How to Be a Pirate

Be creative! Turn the following sentences into compound sentences. Write your own independent clause and don’t forget the FANBOY! • • Every day is a good day. Celia says you’re a loser. You can pick your friends. John leapt out of the way.

Rule Two: Use a comma to set off an introductory element or phrase. Opener, sentence.

Prepositional Phrase • Begins with a preposition and is separated by a comma in the beginning of the sentence: – In the doorway the ominous figure stood. – While I was cooking breakfast my sister talked about her week. – Because she chews up baby dolls and paper towels I think I have the weirdest puppy in the world.

Participles/Participial phrases • Participles are verbs that are used as an adjective: – Stepping softly he sneaked through the door. – Raising the hair on the back of my neck the scream sliced through the room. – Waking up early Sue made coffee for everyone.

Dependent Clause Contains a subject and a verb, but cannot stand alone. While I was sleeping the dog jumped the fence. Because of this I hate the dog.

Adverb • Quickly I rushed through the store. • Frantically I looked in each department and changing room. • Finally I found my little brother hiding in the jeans rack.

Interjections • • Well I want to buy a Starbucks coffee. Yes the white mochas are my favorite. No I don’t mind if you buy me one. Hmmm I do not think you should eat that squirming bowl of spaghetti.

Add an introductory element to create a complex sentence. Every day is a good day. Celia says you’re a loser. You can pick your friends. John leapt out of the way.

What’s going on here? Use your newfound knowledge to create a Sentence, FANBOYS sentence. and Opener, sentence about the characters in the pictures. Write two sentences per picture. If you are stuck: Why are they smiling? What are they thinking? What are they doing? What are they about to do?

Rule Three: • If a group of words interrupts a sentence, it needs a comma on both sides. • AKA- Nonessential element Sent, interrupter, ence.

Practice with interrupters! • Our yellow ranch house 26 Bobolink Drive had a garage and a bathroom shower with sliding glass doors. – Wally Lamb, She’s Come Undone • My best friend lives in Italy the home of the pizza with her husband two kids. • U 2 I think is the best band in the world.

Rule Four: • Use a comma to set off additional information if it’s after an independent clause and the additions modify or describe elements of the clause. Sentence, closer.

Closers • The screen was coming away from the screen door in one corner, curling away from the metal frame like a leaf. – Suzanne Berne, A Crime in the Neighborhood • I remember the precise moment, crouching behind the crumbling mud wall peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. – Khaled Housseini, The Kite Runner

Rule Five: • Use a comma to separate a series of three or more things, actions, or phrases. Sent e, n, c, (and) e.

Serial Commas • I love to eat apples bananas and grapefruits. • Getting to school on time doing all my assignments and behaving well are all things I can do to ensure success in school. • Inside the calzone were sausage cheese and onions.

Rule Six: • If a quotation is used as an interrupter, add a comma before the first quotation mark and inside the second quotation mark. Sent, “Quote, ” ence.

Dialogue • She said, “I would love to come, ” like she really meant it.