Comma Rule #4

Essential =

Important or a “must have”

Sun

Water

Shelter

Heat

Electricity

Nonessential =

Not important, do not HAVE to have

Comma Rule #4: Set off nonessential(=extra information) in the middle of a sentence

• These are generally called the appositives.Example of Appositives:

1. Ms. West, the teacher next door, is the softball coach. –Phrase

2. The dentist, who practiced his trade often, was a little nervous about his new patient.—Clause

Example of other Interrupters3. The new student, Mark, participated in class the first

day.—Word4. The best player, in my opinion, is Roberto. -- phrase

Adjective clauses modify/describe nouns and pronouns.

These clauses start with the pronouns: that, which, who, whom, or whose

– Nonessential: The Wizard of Oz, which I saw last night, is my favorite movie.

– Essential: The dress that I made has been sold.

Adverb clauses modify/describe verbs, an adjectives, or adverbs.

These clauses start with: A WHITE BUS conjunctions A after, although, asW when, where, whileH howI if, in orderT than, that, thoughE evenB because, beforeU unless, untilS since, so Nonessential: When I run, even after the sun goes down, I

like to wear sunglasses.Essential: The test was difficult since I did not study.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

Write the sentence correctly. Insert commas when needed.

1. Allie the one who’s laughing wants her mother to swim with her.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

1. Allie, the one who’s laughing, wants her mother to swim with her.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

2. Parents who know how to swim can join the group.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

2. Parents who know how to swim can join the group.

Correct as is

Watch out for phrases that start with who or that you must decide if it is essential, or important to meaning, or not

Essential = no commas

Nonessential = commas needed

Comma Rule 4 Practice

3. No Ben you may not wander around the room.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

3. No, Ben, you may not wander around the room.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

4. You don’t need a highlighter however if you decide to underline the words with a pencil.

Comma Rule 4 Practice

4. You don’t need a highlighter, however, if you decide to underline the words with a pencil.

On your own

GUM p. 224

Highlight final commas

Practice: Lang. p. 344-345

• Ex. 6 and 7

• Follow the directions in the book

• GUM 223 and 224