English Online - Comma usage

1. Commausage
CLB3-4
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3. What is
a
comma?
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4. What is a comma?
A comma is a
punctuation mark.
What are some other
punctuation marks and what
are their functions?
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5. What is a comma?
A comma is a punctuation mark.
What are some other punctuation
marks?
. A period signals the end of a
sentence.
? A question mark signals a
question.
! An exclamation point signals
excitement.
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6. Here are 3 rules for
using
a comma:
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7. Rule1
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8. Rule 1:
Use commas to separate
words and word groups in a
series of three or more items.
1. I like apples, oranges, and
bananas.
2. She has visited Mexico, Iran, and
France.
3. Anita, Miguel, Rajinder, and
Martin will be here soon.
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9. Rule 1:
Use commas to separate words and
word groups in a series of three or more items
How can we use commas to
make the meaning of this
sentence clear?
9

10. Rule 1:
Use commas to separate words and
word groups in a series of three or more items
NOTE: The last comma in a list before the conjunction is optional.
1. Jane enjoys cooking, her family,
and her dog.
2. Jane enjoys cooking, her
family and her dog.
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11. Rule2
https://pixabay.com/photos/books-bookstore-book-reading-shop-1204038/ shared under CC0

12. Rule 2:
Use a comma to separate two or more
adjectives when the order of the
adjectives can be changed.
These adjectives are called coordinate
adjectives.
1. Fido is a happy, lively, and furry puppy.
2. We awoke to the sound of cheerful,
beautiful and perky songbirds.
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13. Coordinate adjectives
1. Describe the same noun.
2. Their order can be changed
without changing the meaning of
the sentence.
Example:
The river ends at the ocean in a wide
calm delta.
Are “wide” and “calm” coordinate
adjectives?
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14. There are:
2 tests
to check if the adjectives are
coordinate
adjectives:
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15. TEST 1.
Reverse the order of the adjectives.
Is the meaning still clear?
The river ends at the ocean in a wide
calm delta.
The river ends at the ocean in a calm
wide delta.
Correct!
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16. TEST 2.
Place the conjunction 'and' between
between the adjectives.
Is the meaning still clear?
The river ends at the ocean in a wide
calm delta.
The river ends at the ocean in a wide
and calm delta.
Correct!
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17. Coordinate adjectives:
1. Describe the same noun.
2. Their order can be changed without
changing the meaning of the
sentence.
Are “wide” and “calm” coordinate
adjectives?
Yes, they are! So put a comma
between them.
The river ends at the ocean in a wide,
calm delta.
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18. Coordinate adjectives
1. Describe the same noun
2. Their order can be changed
without changing the meaning of the
sentence
Are “ruby” and “red” coordinate
adjectives?
1. The emperor Flavius was named for his
ruby red hair.
2. The emperor Flavius was named for red
ruby hair.
3. The emperor Flavius was named for his
ruby and red hair.
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19. Coordinate adjectives
1. Describe the same noun
2. Their order can be changed without
changing the meaning of the sentence
Are “ruby” and “red” coordinate adjectives?
No, they aren’t. So don’t put a comma
between them!
1. The emperor Flavius was named for his
ruby red hair. Correct!
2. The emperor Flavius was named for red
ruby hair. Incorrect!
3. The emperor Flavius was named for his
ruby and red hair. Incorrect!
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20. Rule3
https://pixabay.com/photos/books-bookstore-book-reading-shop-1204038/ shared under CC0

21. Rule 3:
Use commas to separate independent
clauses in compound sentences.
1. Jon likes coffee, but he doesn’t like tea.
2. You can not go to school, nor can you
go to the mall.
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22. Rule 3:
Independent clauses contain a
subject and a verb, and can stand
alone as a sentence.
1. Jon likes coffee, but he doesn’t like tea.
2. You can not go to school, nor can you
go to the mall.
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23. Let’spractice!
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24. 24
Example:
The children played on the large round
grassy field.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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Example:
The children played on the large, round,
grassy field.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

26. 26
1.
I think we will need an umbrella a rain coat and
some rubber boots.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

27. 27
1.
I think we will need an umbrella, a rain coat, and
some rubber boots.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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2.
Jon bought milk eggs and bread for lunch today.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

29. 29
2.
Jon bought milk, eggs, and bread for lunch today.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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3.
Natalia likes salad but Pei-Jean likes to just eat
chopped vegetables.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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3.
Natalia likes salad, but Pei-Jean likes to just eat
chopped vegetables.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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4.
The children bought a friendly old playful dog.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

33. 33
4.
The children bought a friendly, old, playful dog.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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5.
Would you like soup for lunch or would you like
a salad?
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

35. 35
5.
Would you like soup for lunch, or would you like
a salad?
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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6.
Wow! He just bought a shiny new black Jeep!
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

37. 37
6.
Wow! He just bought a shiny, new, black Jeep!
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

38. 38
7.
I dropped my pens papers books and money on
the floor.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

39. 39
7.
I dropped my pens, papers, books, and money on
the floor.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

40. 40
8.
Johanna doesn’t like hockey nor does she like
baseball.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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8.
Johanna doesn’t like hockey, nor does she like
baseball.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

42. 42
9.
She’s a very loyal hard-working and kind leader.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

43. 43
9.
She’s a very loyal, hard-working, and kind leader.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

44. 44
10.
They are smart quiet students.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

45. 45
10.
They are smart, quiet students.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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11.
We are going to visit Calgary Drumheller and
Saskatoon.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

47. 47
11.
We are going to visit Calgary, Drumheller, and
Saskatoon.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

48. 48
12.
The children studied very hard but they failed the
exam.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

49. 49
12.
The children studied very hard, but they failed the
exam.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

50. 50
13.
The children behaved well at school so they can
go with you to the show tomorrow.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

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13.
The children behaved well at school, so they can
go with you to the show tomorrow.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

52. 52
14.
Margarita took a long restful sunny vacation in
Mexico.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

53. 53
14.
Margarita took a long, restful, sunny vacation in
Mexico.
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

54. 54
15.
Put your gloves hat scarf jacket and winter boots
away. Winter is over!
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

55. 55
15.
Put your gloves, hat, scarf, jacket, and winter
boots away. Winter is over!
To separate a series
of words
To separate
coordinate adjectives
To separate simple
clauses in a
compound sentence

56. Questions?
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57. Your Homework is…
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Add commas to the sentences below.
1. Maria would like a large house a grassy yard and a dog.
2. Jake is a good player but Rasha and Isme are better.
3. George is buying a new yellow umbrella to take to the warm sandy
beach.
4. Zoe’s cat is furry friendly and gray.

58. 1. Submit your homework to Lori on Skype.
The first sentence of your homework is this: HW - time – date
For a Virtual Coffee Chat on October 20th you would write: HW-10-Oct 20
2. After class, you have until the 11:59 pm the same day to complete the assignment.
3. The teacher corrects the first three homework assignments they receive 

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60. Thankyou!
Lori Morency
live:loramoren
livelearn.ca

61. Thankyou!
Blaine
broberts@myenglishonline.ca
livelearn.ca
1-204-946-5140
Website:
livelearn.ca
Email:
info@myenglishonline.ca