The Power of the Comma Commas The comma can appear several times in the same sentence performing many different functions that help give that sentence greater structure stability and ID: 242977
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Slide1
Commas
The Power of the CommaSlide2
Commas
The comma can appear
several times in the same sentence, performing many different functions that help give that sentence greater structure,
stability
, and
clarity.Slide3
Powers of the comma
List a series
List multiple adjectivesTo addressAfter introductory words
Join sentences with a conjunctionSlide4
The Power to
list a series
Whenever there is a
list
of items in a sentence, they can be
separated by commas to show that each separate item is acting as an
equal component of the same list. When commas are used in this way, they are often called serial commas.Examples:My powers give me
strength,
speed, and X-ray vision.
Cameras,
alarms, and sensors are included in our security system.Slide5
The Power to list
multiple adjectives
Nouns can be described or modified, with more than one adjective. Multiple adjectives can be separated by commas, and this shows that each multiple adjective is acting as a
separate
modifier for the
same word.Examples:
Do not press that large, ominous button.This hairy, smelly, drooling creature is my friend.Slide6
The power to address
Anytime a sentence is
directly
addressing a
person
or
group of people, that person or group of people needs to be set apart from the rest of the sentence with a comma. Direct addresses can be placed at the beginning
,
middle
, or
end
of a sentence.
Examples:
Dr. Brainstorm,
your schemes are always brilliant.
You,
Captain Hijinks,
are my hero.
The evil invaders are dissolving
, Captain Hijinks
.Slide7
The power to address
If a person being
addressed
in a sentence is not properly set aside with a comma, it can
change
the meaning of the sentence, and that can cause
confusion.Example:Let’s eat,
Grandma
.
–
This sentence is addressing Grandma and is
informing
her it is time to eat.
Let’s eat Grandma. –
In this sentence
Grandma
is the one being
eaten
!Slide8
The power to introduce
Words such as
yes, well, and no are called introductory words when they
begin
a sentence.
Always use a comma after an introductory word.
Examples:Yes, I have superpowers.Well, will you save the universe?No, I can’t by myself.Slide9
The power to address and introduce
Sometimes you may use
introductory words and nouns in direct address in the same sentence.Examples:Yes,
Captain
Hijinks,
the crook took the girl’s wallet.No, Dr.
Brainstorm, Sarah Johnson has mutant powers.Slide10
The power to join sentences
Commas with
coordinating conjunctions can be used to join two or more independent clauses.Examples:
You win this battle
, but
we’ll meet again.I struck him with all my might, yet
he still stands.Commas with subordinating conjunctions can be used to join a dependent clause before the
independent
clause.
Examples:
After I capture
you,
you won’t be laughing.
Until justice is
served,
I will not rest.