Review Commas – TEST TOMORROW!

Rule 1:  Use commas to separate items in a series.  (I have a dog, a cat, and a parakeet. Tom, Dick, and Harry all have brilliant ideas.)

            You should eat your vegetables pork chop and salad instead of eating candy.

Rule 2:  Use commas between two adjectives that precede a noun.  (She wore long, flowing ribbons. Mary wore a navy blue sweater.)

            The dirty cotton blanket should be put in the laundry.

Rule 3:  Use commas in compound sentences.  (I am learning to speak Spanish, and I am learning to speak German.  I am learning to speak Spanish and German. (not compound)

            Terry ran three miles and then he biked from Cohasset to Grand Rapids.

Rule 4:  Use commas after introductory clauses that begin with subordinate conjunctions.   No comma if the sub. conj. is in the middle of the sentence.  (When the weather is nice, we can go to the beach. We can go to the beach when the weather is nice.)

            Whenever it snows outside my dog wants to come in the house.

Rule 5:  Use commas to set off appositives, which are phrases that explain the noun they follow.  (I think Mr. Drotts, my science teacher, is a genius.  I love my pet bird, a yellow parakeet. My friend Paul left school early.)

            Aaron Boyd the guy sitting next to me is from Montana.

Rule 6: Use commas to set off nouns of direct address.  You are directly speaking to that person.  (Marge, please open the windows. I know you’re busy, Kim, but I need help.) 
Also, set off interjections such as no, yes, well, etc.  (Well, I will ask my parents about it.

Ouch!  That bug bit me!)
            Wow  That sure was a great answer Bob!

Rule 7:  Set off parenthetical expressions and other interrupters.  (Of course, I would love to attend the prom.  I will, on the other hand, consider your offer carefully.)

 My Uncle Ted, who used to be in the Marines, is a tough guy. (specific subject)

The guy who used to be in the Marines is pretty tough. (generic subject – no commas)

            By the way Susan Smith who used to go to school here is in the Marines.

Rule 8:  Use commas to set off parts of addresses and dates in sentences.  (Mail your reply to Better Living, 402 Maple Street, Memphis, Tennessee 77930.   Today is Tuesday, September 21, 2004.) 

            I will meet you on Friday November 5^th at Sue’s house.  The address is 2323 Forest Road Deer River MN 56636.

PART ONE Directions:  Put commas in the sentences below.  Tell which rule is being used.

1.      Because the sun rises later in the morning I can tell that winter is fast approaching.  Rule _____

2.      She bought an expensive luxurious fur for the holidays.  Rule _____

3.      I did not realize Shawn that you had a job after school.  Rule _____

4.      Her address is 995 14^th Avenue Plymouth Minnesota 53258.  Rule _____

5.      None of the students in my opinion will have difficulty passing this test tomorrow.  Rule _____

6.      Mr. Thomas would you please sign my pass for me?  Rule _____

7.      I have to eat lunch clean my room and call my aunt before 2:00 today.  Rule _____

8.      The new principal Mr. Kyle Bronson will be our guest speaker.  Rule _____

9.      My sister used to live in Chicago but now she lives in Grand Rapids.   Rule _____

10.  Since it’s almost mid-quarter time you should get your make-up work in.  Rule _____

11.  The dance is scheduled for Friday November 3^rd 2004.   Rule _____

12.  Did you meet Sue Lipton the new girl in our class?  Rule _____

13.  We will have beef stroganoff for supper or just tacos if we are late.   Rule _____

14.  The cool calm water lapped against the shore.   Rule _____

15.  Mike Sally Tom and Jill all have Saturday off.  Rule _____

 

PART TWO Directions: Go back to the top and write one sentence of your own that illustrates each rule.  You can write your sentence right under the examples that were given.

           

PART THREE Directions: Put commas into this story wherever they are needed.

            Last week my mother decided to play a trick on me and it definitely worked.  Mom was getting tired of me leaving my dirty stinky clothes all over the place.  Sometimes I leave them in my room in the living room kitchen entryway—you name it.

            Well evidently Mom had a great plan.  First she told me, “Karen I want you to pick up your clothes from now on or you will be surprised to see what happens to them.”

            I told her, “Gee Mom I always try to pick them up but I will try to do even better.”  Of course I didn’t really mean that.  However I learned the person who messes with Mom is making a big mistake.  As the days passed I began to notice an important radical change. 

            If you knew my mom you would know something was up.  That week Mom who used to nag me constantly didn’t say a word about my dirty clothes.  In fact she was a sweet kind lady about everything.  Yes that was very unusual for my mom.

Something else however also seemed very strange.  When more than a week had passed I was beginning to wonder what was really going on.  I started to notice that my closet my drawers and my room were starting to look very bare.  By Wednesday August 5^th 2005 a very important date to me I finally figured it out.  Wednesday by the way was my birthday and I was meeting my friends to go to a movie and to celebrate.  I was looking for my new tan jeans jacket but I couldn’t find it anywhere.  I searched the house from top to bottom and found nothing.  I even  thought maybe my dog a golden retriever had dragged my jacket off somewhere.

Although I looked everywhere I simply could not find my new jacket.  Consequently I ran downstairs to find Mom and I demanded to know what was going on.  Mom told me calmly, “Gee I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out that your clothes were disappearing. I surely didn’t think it would take this long Sweetie.”

Then Mom a real practical joker announced, “Karen I have all the clothes you have left lying around the house for the past two weeks.  If you want them back it will cost you twenty-five cents for each item.   She walked off with nod of her head a sly wink a wicked smile.

Now you know why I pick up my clothes diligently every day and I never leave them lying around the house for more than a minute.  My mom who probably should be working for the police department certainly likes to “fine me for littering” if I leave my stuff lying around.  In fact Mom likes to brag that our house at 305 West Birch Street Grand Rapids Minnesota  55744 is as clean and uncluttered as North Memorial Hospital.