Although we are often taught that commas are used to help us add breathing spaces to sentences they are, in fact, more accurately used to. Never connect two complete sentences with a comma alone also see using. The colons, commas and other punctuation marks are instead used to great visual effect, seeming more like embellishments than grammatical requisites. To separate two or more nouns, adjectives, or adverbs that come together. No matter what theyre called, in english these longer descriptions follow one simple rule. If the sentence is punctuated correctly, click correct as is at the end of the sentence. Improve your language arts knowledge with free questions in commas with compound and complex sentences and thousands of other language arts skills.
Just place a comma between each item and an appropriate punctuation mark at the end. There are 4 main uses of commas in sentence construction. Rule 1 to avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. The following conjunctions socalled coordinating conjunctions are used in such case. In a series when listing three or more things, commas are needed to separate them. To mark off nouns, pronouns or phrases in apposition. Always use commas to separate the elements of a series of three or more. Here, we offer a brief, basic guide to using commas correctly. You may have a subjectverb expression which grammarians call a clause or a verb form in technical terms, a participle. Learning grammar and punctuation doesnt have to be boringnot with engaging minibooks that use a fun format and highinterest stories to teach the nuts and bolts of english language mechanics. You dont have to be an english master to understand punctuation and sentence structure. The blue book of grammar and punctuation by jane straus the authority on english grammar. The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically.
If a description is essential to the meaning of the sentence, dont put commas around it. The blue book grammar and punctuation pdf download in its 11th version right now, the blue book of punctuation and sentence structure will assist you create and talk with disadvantage. Coordinate adjectives versus cumulative adjectives. One of the most common errors identified in writing is the misuse of commas in complex sentences. Use a comma if the if clause is at the beginning of the sentence example. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle. A comma is never used as an end mark, and it is read with a shorter pause than an end mark. Adding a comma can change the meaning of a sentence. Don t use a comma if the if clause is at the end of the sentence example.
I took angie, the one with the freckles, to the movie last night. The younger children spent the afternoon at chuck e. The last item is usually joined by a conjunction like and, or, or nor. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughterinlaw, and nephew. Of all the punctuation marks in english, this one is perhaps the most abused and misused. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a. Red, white, and blue i went to the store to buy eggs, bread, and bacon. The important things to remember about using commas in series are these. The comma has the following uses in a simple sentence. Top 10 authors who ignored the basic rules of punctuation. The comma is the most common mark of punctuationand the most commonly misused.
Our rule 1 of spacing with punctuation states, with a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. If you have what can be two separate sentences but want to make them one creating a compound sentence, use a comma and a coordinating. The comma rule comes down to the difference between two kinds of adjectives. Sometimes, though, you dont use a comma between two adjectives. One reason is that different editors have different opinions about when a comma is needed.
The comma is a punctuation mark used within a sentence. Punctuation, commas in english english grammar exercises. Commas separate parts of a sentence or set off words or phrases from the rest of a sentence. Tag questions and commas are important, arent they. Below, youll find guidance for the trickiest comma questions. When you use a string of adjectives, you often separate the adjectives with commas, as in he is tall, dark, and handsome. However, you will find that in english there are many other ways to use the comma to add to the meaning of a sentence or to emphasise an item, point, or meaning. Here are a few simple pieces of information to help you understand the basic rules of usage. Complex sentences are sentences that have two clauses. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Yes, ting said, i did see the baby panda at the zoo today.
Rules for comma usage guide to grammar and writing. In his time magazine essay, in praise of the humble comma, author and essayist pico iyer compared the punctuation mark to a flashing yellow light that asks us only to slow down. As, she, stepped, off, the, plane, the, crowd, cheered. Whether a comma is used between them depends on the types and positions of the clauses. This rule is controversial, because some grammar books and professors will. A comma separates elements in a sentence, such as items in a list or series, but it also shows that those elements are connected to each other within the same sentence. Commas quiz 1 the blue book of grammar and punctuation. In the current edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation and on the website, we have stated a preference for use of the serial, or oxford, comma.
Youre likely to read one book in which commas abound, while in another text, they are scarce. Dont use a comma before which when its part of a prepositional phrase, such as in which. Ophelia is picking up the food, and i am making the centerpieces. The comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence. Ixl commas with compound and complex sentences 8th. Mix play all mix learn english with alex engvid youtube learn english. A runon sentence occurs when independent clauses complete sentences are joined without any punctuation. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences. A comma may have been omitted from each of the following sentences. To mark off each one of a series of words belonging to the same part of speech.
Originally, typewriters had monospaced fonts skinny letters and fat letters took up the same. Commas in a series english grammar 101 online grammar. Ophelia is picking up the food and i am making the centerpieces. If necessary, insert a comma by clicking the space after the appropriate word. The students sentence reads, people see the word emotion and they think of a person crying like. Commas can be tricky, but they dont have to trip you up.
Other times, the comma separates grammatical components of the sentence. Your new sentence should follow the guidelines in parenthesis and use the same number of commas as in the original. Wartime inventions b now name the types of sentences used in the paragraph above. Commas can also be used to separate three or more items in a list.
Commas indicate pauses or brief breaks between ideas in sentences. Commas provide clarity, particularly in sentences that contain several different elements. English grammar commas and the complex sentence readable. Most newspapers and magazines drop the oxford comma in a simple series, apparently. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. The comma has several uses in english grammar, all related to markingoff separate elements within a sentence. The students asked for a second chance to rewrite the exam, but the teacher did not grant it. One use of the comma is to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a list or series. Grammar and punctuation the blue book of grammar and.
Wordsworth, the famous english poet, was a lover of nature. I took angie the one with the freckles, to the movie last night. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughterinlaw in the above example, it is known as the oxford comma. Before and after words used in apposition to a noun. Exercises on comma rules in english 12 writing english. Can distinguish between simple sentences with compound elements no comma and compound sentences comma. Commas are the most frequently used internal punctuation in sentences, and people have more questions about them than about any other punctuation mark. An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders. I took angie, the one with the freckles, to the movie, last night. The descriptions in a sentence may be longer than one word.
Yes, ting said i did see the baby panda at the zoo today. Like the rule for joining sentences, the comma goes right before the conjunction. Commas grammar, punctuation, and sentences research. However, that didnt stop critics from hailing him as one of the most notable of 20th century american poets cummings received over 10 awards for his poems in his lifetime, including the. Focus ranges from early skills capitalization, end punctuation, etc. There are some general rules which you can apply when using the comma. Use a comma before which when it introduces a nonrestrictive phrase. Winston churchill, the statesman, was also an eminent writer.
Complex sentences contain at least one main independent clause and one or more subordinate dependent clauses. Dont use a comma before which when it introduces an indirect question. Between adjectives when using two or more descriptive words to describe one thing, commas should separate them. Commas are used to separate cities from states and to separate salutations and closings in letters. Commas are used to separate a sentences elements, to connect independent clauses, to avoid confusion, and much more. Use each of the four sentences below as the model for a new sentence of your own. A comma is a punctuation mark that separates elements and ideas within a sentence. Interestingly, the dispute was resolved through the use of semicolons and cash. Every generation of english scholars despairs because the language appears to. Many writers either neglect to use or overuse commas, which complicates their sentences, or can sometimes obscure the meaning. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential. Commas also separate numbers over three digits except dates, serial numbers, page numbers, years, and street numbers.
Using a comma in these 4 cases adds clarity to your writing, but using commas where theyre not needed will cause confusion. In most sentences, a because clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, and it will not be set off with a comma. This article is about commas with quotation marks enjoy your reading. Using commas, semicolons, and colons within sentences two weeks ago we revisited the case of the lawsuit brought by a group of maine dairy truck drivers that centered on the proper use of commas. Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. I took angie, the one with the freckles to the movie last night. There can be two independent clauses each having a subject and predicate, or an independent clause and dependent clause missing a subject or predicate. Commas, uses of grammar and style in british english. Place a comma after introductory phrases that tell where, when, why, or how.
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