Comma Rules Notes PDF

Comma Notes When something is in a series, you have to separate them with commas. There HAS TO BE a comma before the conjunction. This morning I had to shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed. When I got home I walked my dog, fed her, and then put her back in her cage. Never put a...

Comma Notes When something is in a series, you have to separate them with commas. There HAS TO BE a comma before the conjunction. This morning I had to shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed. When I got home I walked my dog, fed her, and then put her back in her cage. Never put a comma AFTER a conjunction ex. (and, or, but,). DON'T put a comma before or after because. I got food with my friends because we were hungry. We're getting out of school early today because it's wednesday. Independent Clauses Jane does meth. Ethel doesn't have a job. Frank needs to make better decisions. Love is the answer to the world's problems. Michael was accepted to Harvard University. When you have two independent clauses, and they are separated by a conjunction, you have to put a comma before the conjunction. ex.(Janes does meth, and she doesn't have teeth. He doesn't have a job, but he is looking for one.) Independent Clause + conjunction + Independent clause= comma I went to the store, but I forgot something. I went to my friend's house, and we decided it would be a sleepover. Dependent Clauses CANNOT be a sentence by itself. It's missing the “what” or “who”. Doesn't make a complete thought. Ind clause→dependent clause = no comma. That, she, he, it, or they→you have to put a comma. I went to the fair and bought tickets. I went to the movies and got popcorn. COMMON DEPENDANT MARKERS After, although , as, as if , because, before ,even if , even though, in order to, since though, unless until, whatever , when, whenever, whether, while. When a dependent marker word begins a sentence, it makes the first part dependent because it does not make a complete thought. (ex.) After Brylee helped out with the nursing home games,she encouraged girls to help out too. Dep+Ind (no conjunction)=comma. (ex.) Because Ava fell down the stairs, she has a large bruise on her forehead.  After she went to the fair, she was out of money. When she ate all the food, she was full afterwards. While he was at his friend's house, he didn't have fun. SEMICOLONS Instead of a “,” and “conjunction” you can put a “;” instead. Only 1-(2-maybe) per paragraph. EOC grades on different types of sentence structures. (, and or.. or ; ). (ex.) Torrance is really smart; he will go to a good college. Reece is friendly; we are glad to have him in our class. Place semicolons in between two independent clauses WITH NO CONJUNCTION. Elijah didn't like the cafeteria food; he refused to eat it. Dominick liked to sleep in class; he did not get much sleep last night. INDEPENDENT MARKER An independent marker word is a connecting word used at the beginning of an independent clause. Some common independent markers: Also, consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, and therefore. ALWAYS use a comma after an independent marker word. ACT These words can always begin a sentence that can stand alone. Independent marker words ALWAYS have a comma after it. If you want to join two sentences that begin with an independent marker word you join it with a semicolon. (ex. Betsys is a great person; therefore, I sat near her during the pep rally.) ✔ I went to the movies; consequently, they ran out of popcorn. She ran the track; however, she fell and faceplant. In the English language, people like to bury the however in a sentence to create an emphasis. (ex.) The horror movie; however, was scary. The girl, however, lied to the boy. *Since the marker word isn't separating two INDEPENDENT clauses NO semicolon is needed.* W  Independent Clause + conjunction + Independent clause= comma Ind clause→dependent clause = no comma. That, she, he, it, or they→you have to put a comma. Place semicolons in between two independent clauses WITH NO CONJUNCTION. *Since the marker word isn't separating two INDEPENDENT clauses NO semicolon is needed.*