Who Gives an F* about Commas?

I do! (And you might too)

“The comma has many uses, the general rule being to use a comma whenever its use will help to make the meaning clear.” – Daily English Lessons by Willis H. Wilcox, 1915

1. Before Coordinating Conjunctions:

ForAndNorButOrYetSo

(You may want to memorize this if you haven’t already.)

To use or not to use a comma…

When coordinating conjunctions connect words or phrases

NO!When coordinating conjunctions connect independent clauses (complete sentences)

YES!

Lester’s Example:John opened the refrigerator,

John opened the refrigerator

John opened the refrigerator and (he) took out the milk.

and he took out the milk. (sentence 1) (sentence 2)

and took out the milk. (predicate 1) (predicate 2)

The Period Test“Replace the coordinating conjunction with a period. If what follows is a complete sentence, then use a comma before the coordinating conjunction” (Lester).

John opened the refrigerator

He took out the milk. .

The Period TestDr. House has an abrasive personality, and he says that“Everybody Lies.”

Dr. House has an abrasive personality and says that “Everybody Lies.”

2. Introductory MaterialIntroductory element – “…begins a sentence and modifies a word or words in the main clause. It is usually followed by a comma” (Aaron 302).

Example Sentences:1. Subordinate Clause

Despite his bedside manner, Dr. House is an effective doctor

2. Verbal phrase When you get better, we will go for a run. Peering over the edge of the cliff, Bella contemplated jumping into the dark water to bring Edward back.

Examples (cont.)3. Prepositional Phrase

On the drive home from work, I saw a man riding a lawnmower in the median.

4. Transitional Expressions In addition, my lazy cat Horatio sleeps on the ottoman for at least eight hours a day.

When you’re not sure…The Introductory-Element Deletion Test: “Delete any suspected introductory material. If the sentence is still grammatically complete, then the material is introductory and should be set off with a comma” (Lester). I saw a man riding a lawnmower in the median.

3. Nonessential elements.

1. Nonessential Phrases and Clauses Grace O’Malley, who lived in the 16th century, was an Irish pirate. (clause) She is a famous historical figure, inspiring many works of modern-day literature. (phrase)

Nonessential Info (cont.)“All the passengers on the flight, from Newark Liberty International Airport to Warsaw, are safe and uninjured, she told CNN.” (phrase)http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/11/02/pkg-foster-poland-emergency-landing.cnn “The LOT Polish Airlines flight, which had been due to land at 1:35 p.m. local time, circled above the airport for an hour before coming down in a belly landing at 2:40, she said.” (clause)

2. Nonessential Appositives

Daniel Woodrell’s novel, Winter’s Bone, was adapted for the silver screen and was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2011.

The novel Winter’s Bone portrays a self-sufficient teenager who tries to track down her father.

(a noun that renames another noun).

3. Other Nonessential Elements

1. Absolute phrases - a phrase modifying the whole main clause and consisting of a participleA word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective (e.g., working woman, burned toast) or a noun (e.g., good breeding). In English, participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g., is going, has been).

“Verb like” word that takes on the role into an adjective or noun

Absolute and Participial Phrases

His face beaming, Cinna relished in the audience’s response to Katniss’ mockingjay costume in the second installment, Catching Fire. (absolute phrase)Beaming incessantly, Cinna relished in the audience’s response to Katniss’ mockingjay costume in the second installment, Catching Fire. (participial phrase)

ABS. PHRASEconsists of a noun or pronoun and a participle

+any modifiers

2. Parenthetical and transitional expressions

Interestingly, more and more people are developing a gluten intolerance. My sister, for example, cannot eat foods with gluten.

3. Phrases of contrastI prefer to eat at Chick-fil-A, not at Taco Bell.Reece Witherspoon’s marriage to Ryan Phillippe was short, but not as short as Kim Kardashian’s.

WRONG!Reece Witherspoon’s marriage to Ryan Phillippe was short but not as short as Kim Kardashian’s.

4. Tag questions

Me: I think this house is occupied by shape shifters, don’t you?[ …]

5. Yes and noKatie: Did you see that squirrel disappear just as that man walked outside from the same direction?Me: Yes, I saw a squirrel transform into a human on that front porch. Katie: No, that is impossible. You belong in the loony bin.

6. Words of direct addressHoney, please pour me some ginger ale. Yes, dear, I will get it in a minute.

Let’s eat Grandpa! Let’s eat, Grandpa!

7. Mild interjections.Well, no one in the neighborhood will ever know if shape shifters or animaguses really live there.

DANGLING MODIFIERS“The most common form of dangling modifier is a participle form of the verb that is not properly attached to the word it modifies” (Lester).

Though not this awkward…

Find the error in each sentence.

1. When only ten years old, my father took me spelunking. 2. Studying for the GRE, my cat kept me company. 3. Having attended class all day, my head was killing me.

How to test this out…1. Find the subject2. Connect the subject and modifier3. Revise as needed

1. When only ten years old, my father took me spelunking.

The Understood Subject Test

“If the subject of the main sentence makes sense as the understood subject of the of the participle, then the participle is grammatical. If the subject of the main sentence does NOT make sense as the understood subject of the participle, then it is a dangling participle” (Lester).

MISPLACED MODIFIERS1. My neighbor was walking his dog in his pajamas. 2. My neighbor, who was in his pajamas, was walking his dog.1. We sat on my parent’s screen porch listening to the birds sing while drinking coffee.2. We sat on my parent’s screen porch and drank coffee while we listened to the birds sing.

More examples:1. The tornado had damaged badly many homes and businesses in Tuscaloosa. 2. The tornado had badly damaged many homes and businesses in Tuscaloosa. 1. Sidney Bristow had three minutes exactly to defuse the bomb. 2. Sidney Bristow had exactly three minutes to defuse the bomb.

Works CitedAaron, Jane E. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook: with Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2007. Prin

Dr. House. http://www.desktopexchange.com/gallery/Television-Wallpapers/Dr_House

Gluten Free Logo. http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=651&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsl&tbnid=HLuQNhYdyDFToM:&imgrefurl=http://www.glennys.com/gluten-free&docid=A3_4jkSJrNwSpM&imgurl=http://www.glennys.com/skin/frontend/glennys/default/images/Certified_Gluten_Free_Logo.jpg&w=1664&h=1712&ei=J6GxTqDROouEtgfkl_CLAg&zoom=1

Lester, Mark, and Mark Lester. Grammar and Usage in the Classroom. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001. Print

Newark plane lands in Warsaw. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/11/02/pkg-foster-poland-emergency-landing.cnn

Pumpkin patch. http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2011/10/31/pumpkin-patch-2/

Undisclosed Address. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/(undisclosed-Address)-Aiken-SC-29803/2123894859_zpid/#{scid=hdp-site-map-bubble-photos}

Wilcox, Willis H. Daily English Lessons. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1915. Print.

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