The document discusses different uses of commas in sentences, including using commas to separate items in a series of three or more items, placing commas after long introductory phrases or clauses but not short ones, using commas and conjunctions to join independent clauses in compound sentences, and setting off interjections with commas unless an exclamation point follows.

1. Commas
English Language Arts
Notes

2. Commas in a Series

3. Commas in a Series
Use a comma to separate three or more
items in a series.

4. Commas in a Series
Use a comma to separate three or more
items in a series.
Please grab the leash, collar, and
treats. (series of words)

5. Commas in a Series
Use a comma to separate three or more
items in a series.
Please grab the leash, collar, and
treats. (series of words)
Was it a toy poodle, miniature
poodle, or standard poodle? (series
of phrases)

6. Commas in a Series

7. Commas in a Series
Commas also separate the items in a
series of three or more predicates.

8. Commas in a Series
Commas also separate the items in a
series of three or more predicates.
The dogs stepped out of their crates,
sniffed the ground, and began to
play.

9. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses

10. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses
Use a comma after a LONG introductory
phrase or clause.

11. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses
Use a comma after a LONG introductory
phrase or clause.
When you become really good at
handling dogs, I will let you show
them. (long introductory clause)

12. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses
Use a comma after a LONG introductory
phrase or clause.
When you become really good at
handling dogs, I will let you show
them. (long introductory clause)
Until we arrived at the dog show, we
had no idea what the schedule was.
(long introductory clause)

13. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses

14. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses
DO NOT USE a comma after SHORT
introductory phrases or clauses.

15. Commas After Introductory
Phrases or Clauses
DO NOT USE a comma after SHORT
introductory phrases or clauses.
At 12:00 the show began.(short intro
phrase)
When it started we had a schedule.
(short intro phrase)

16. Commas in Compound Sentences

17. Commas in Compound Sentences
Compound sentences contain two or
more independent clauses. Use a
comma and a conjunction such as and,
but or or to join the clauses.

18. Commas in Compound Sentences
Compound sentences contain two or
more independent clauses. Use a
comma and a conjunction such as and,
but or or to join the clauses.
The terrier wanted to play catch, and
the beagle wanted to chase him.

19. Commas in Compound Sentences
Compound sentences contain two or
more independent clauses. Use a
comma and a conjunction such as and,
but or or to join the clauses.
The terrier wanted to play catch, and
the beagle wanted to chase him.
I would like to see the Smiths, but
they may not be home.

20. Commas in Compound Sentences

21. Commas in Compound Sentences
DO NOT USE commas to separate the
COMPOUND SUBJECTS or COMPOUND
PREDICATES of simple sentences.

22. Commas in Compound Sentences
DO NOT USE commas to separate the
COMPOUND SUBJECTS or COMPOUND
PREDICATES of simple sentences.
Jed brushed his dog from head to tail
and walked it outside near the barn.
(compound predicate)

23. Commas and Interjections

24. Commas and Interjections
Use a comma to set off an interjection
not followed by an exclamation point.

25. Commas and Interjections
Use a comma to set off an interjection
not followed by an exclamation point.
Oh, well, I came to the dog show
mostly for fun.