Commas are used to indicate brief pauses in sentences, separate items in lists, and break up longer sentences into smaller parts for clarity. They also separate additional information enclosed in commas from the main clause, and are used in dates, numbers with thousands, and within quotation marks. Commas help change meaning and properly punctuate sentences.

1. Commas
How to use them

2. Commas - ,
• A comma is a punctuation mark
• It tells us to take a brief pause when
we are reading – not as long as a full
stop.
• It is the most common punctuation
mark but has to be used carefully.

3. Commas
• Commas can change the meaning of a
sentence
• Title of book
– Eats shoots and leaves.
– Eats, shoots and leaves.

4. Changing meaning 2
• The old lady collected all sorts of things:
silver, paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths.
• The old lady collected all sorts of things:
silver paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths.
• The old lady collected all sorts of things:
silver, paper hats, clocks and tablecloths.

5. Different Uses - 1
• When there is a list of words in a
sentence
– We will need hammers, nails and a saw.
– She stopped, stared and ran.
– Mr Cherry was a warm, hospitable man.
– Sam frightened the cat, teased the dog
and annoyed the neighbours.

6. Different Uses - 2
• Commas are used to break up longer
sentences into smaller parts to make
more sense.
– When he saw the pirate ship on the
horizon, the captain gave the alarm.
– She called as loudly as she could, but no-
one could hear her.

7. Different Uses - 3
• Commas are used to separate any
extra information that is added.
• The words enclosed by the commas
could be left out without changing
the general meaning of the sentence.

8. Adding information
• Paul Mann, our star player, broke his
leg in the match on Saturday.
• Paul Mann broke his leg in the match
on Saturday.
• The man, who was wearing a blue hat,
slid silently into the room.
• The man slid silently into the room.

9. Other Uses
• To break up groups of numbers into
thousands.
– 1,999,999
• When writing a date.
– February 14th, 1990
• Inside speech marks.
– “We are leaving tomorrow,” said Fred.

10. Practice
, the plumber,
, Jennifer,
, the typist,
, my hairdresser,
, our teacher,
is good at looking after children.
blow dries my hair every week.
has a son called Sam.
fixed a leak in our pipes last week.
works in a large office.
Miss Jones
Peter
Mrs White
Our nanny
Mr Smith

11. Practice
• When he reached the car park,
• Although he was very tired,
• Despite queuing for hours,
• We did our homework,
• I waited for my brother,

12. Summary - Commas
• Show a brief pause within a sentence
• Separate items in a list
• Separate additional information
• Break up longer sentences into
smaller parts
• Break up numbers into thousands
• Inside speech marks.