Transcript Comma Game - Norman Public Schools

Commas
Think of your readers!
Problems with run-on
sentences and incomplete
sentences are problems with
commas!
BUILDING
BLOCKS
• WORD
• PHRASE
• CLAUSE
• SENTENCE
WORD
dog
speaker
PHRASE
SMALL WORD GROUP
dog house
without a dog bone
dogged determination
CLAUSE
A sentence plus a word that makes it depend on something else
after Juan builds a dog house
though Sally suffers without her dog bone
because dogged determination helps
Look for dependent clause buzz words
SENTENCE
SUBJECT + VERB (can also have details)
The new puppy will sleep outside. Juan will build it
a dog house.
Sally suffers without her dog bone. The cat sleeps
contentedly.
Never give up. Dogged determination helps.
More sophisticated sentences have
SUBJECT + VERB + additional sentences or clauses
After Juan builds a dog house, the new puppy will sleep
outside.
While Sally suffers without her dog bone, the cat sleeps
contentedly.
Never give up because dogged determination helps.
COMBINE
BUILDING
BLOCKS
Sentence + comma +
conjunction + sentence
Mary sleeps soundly, but Bob tosses and
turns.
Cats hunt at night, for they are nocturnal.
Summer goes too fast, yet winter passes too
slowly.
Reading makes for easy travel, and travel
improves with reading.
introductory element + comma
+ complete sentence
Suddenly, the room burst into flames.
Without fail, mom always forgets her car
keys.
Despite bad reviews, the movie became a
blockbuster.
Although college is demanding, getting a
diploma is worth the effort.
Clause + comma + sentence +
additional phrase
Whenever it rains hard, the backyard floods
over a foot deep.
Because my brother lives out of state, I don’t
get to see him except at Christmas time.
When I was born, my mom and dad were
surprised I had red hair.
Though recycling is easy, some people ignore
the environment without feeling guilty.
Phrase + comma + sentence +
clause
Bugging me severely, my sister kept calling
my cell phone though I refused to answer.
Hunkered down for the night, Rachel watched
old movies that she’s already seen.
In the basement, the cellar is stacked with
stolen goods, which the police must
identify.
phrase + comma + sentence +
conjunction + sentence + clause
On Monday, my car is getting an oil change,
and I am getting my hair cut while my
children attend school.
Every spring, daffodils and tulips bloom, and
the grass turns bright green before
Memorial Day weekend arrives.
intro element + comma + sentence
+ comma + conjunction + sentence
+ phrase + phrase
Luckily, the gate was closed, and the latch
was locked to prevent any canine escapes.
Over and over, I explained to the clerk my
problem, but she didn’t listen to my
complaints very well.
After studying for her calculus test, Shawna
took a nap, and she slept like a baby for
over an hour.
Whew!
Some general rules to
help you with commas…
Interrupter commas
set off elements that can be removed.
Significant others, the ones you really want to
keep, require tender loving care.
Good students, even a few bad students,
listened attentively to the teacher.
The dog who usually sleeps all day woke up for the mail
delivery person.
Joseph rang the doorbell incessantly which was clearly rude yet
he didn’t pause once in three full minutes.
no commas
WHEN AN INTERRUPTER ELEMENT IS
NEEDED FOR THE SENTENCE TO MAKE
SENSE
Significant others who communicate well
stay together longer.
Students who work hard usually succeed.
The mail that came yesterday was all wet.
Joseph with the red hair sits next to me.
Commas help coordinate
adjectives.
Lyle wears loud, colorful and often striped
clothing.
Good students fill their comp notebooks with
writing that is reflective, honest and
worthwhile reading.
Whether tall short or shaggy all dogs love fleshy bones.
My sister’s boyfriend is tall dark and handsome.
Commas are used to separate
three or more items in a series.
The woman grabbed her purse, cell phone, car
keys and a bag of roasted soy beans.
Under the river, through the woods, behind
the airport and beyond the mall to
grandmother’s house we go.
Tailgating happily before the big game, Gerald Natalie Kate and Felicia
relaxed in the stadium parking lot.
The kindergartener played quietly with a yellow crayon two green markers a
red fire engine and blue blocks.
Use commas to set off a signal
phrase and quotation.
(unless there is a stronger punctuation mark
needed)
The instructor repeated, “Pick a point and stick
to it!”
“Why isn’t homework illegal?” the student
complained.
“Think of your audience!” the teacher reminded.
The teacher reminded us “make sure you finish your rough draft by
Monday!”
Reginald replied “No problem” and went back to his work.
Do not use commas alone to
join two sentences.
Wrong:
After the sixth inning, I went home, my
family stayed.
Right:
After the sixth inning, I went home; my
family stayed.
After the sixth inning, I went home, but my
family stayed.
Save the Comma game