Commas Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is a verb?
A verb describes an action or experience. -Every sentence has to have a verb. Ex. Run, Walk, Push, Eat
What is an adjective?
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. Ex. Short, Beautiful, Red, Old
What is a noun?
A noun is a person, place, thing or idea (communism). Ex. House, Teacher, Cup, Shop
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun replaces the name of a person, place, thing or idea in a sentence. Ex. I, she, our, they, it.
What is a Coordinating Conjunction?
Coordinating Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
What is a Subordinating Conjunction?
Subordinating Conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, even if, if, now, that, once, since, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while
What are FANBOYS?
FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
What is a Dependent Clause?
Dependent Clauses cannot stand by themselves. Do not express a complete thought. Conjunction + Subject + Predicate. Ex. Because I care. And you lose your cool.
What is an Independent Clause?
Independent Clauses can stand by themselves or with a dependent. Expresses a complete thought. Subject + Predicate (no conjunction). Ex. Fractions are fun. The pizza tastes good.
What is a subject?
A subject is a noun or pronoun that takes the predicate.
What is a predicate?
A predicate is an action or state of being (verb).
What is a clause?
A clause is a subject and a predicate working together.
What are the comma rules with dialogue?
When someone speaks directly, place a comma and quotation mark after the dialogue, then the speaker’s name. NOTE: Remember the comma always goes inside the quotation marks.
“You will want to flee now,” says the ninja at the door.
When the action comes before the dialogue, use a comma and then quotation marks. Remember to put the final quotation mark at the end.
I spin, back away from both of them, and say, “I am not going anywhere.”
When the dialogue is interrupted by action, you must determine if the dialogue is split into two separate thoughts or if the two parts make up one thought. If it’s two thoughts, put a period after the action in the middle. If the dialogue is one connected thought, put a comma after the action.
“The door, ” I say, “is a myth that no one has ever proven exists.”
“Trust me, ” he says. “It exists, and you’ll want to hear my story.”
What are the comma rules with geography?
When writing a geographic location with two parts (e.g. city, state, county, country, continent), use a comma after each part, unless it comes at the very end of a sentence.
Do we really need to convince you to go see the Grand Canyon, Arizona, and the miles of colors?
When you go explore Freedom Trail, you’ll find that you enjoy all the rest of Boston, Massachusetts.
What are the comma rules with a direct address?
When the start of a sentence says someone’s name because you’re speaking to that person, put a comma after the name to separate it from the sentence.
Taylor, have you finished upcycling your old scarf into your gloves for Prom yet?
When the middle of a sentence says someone’s name because you’re speaking to that person, put a comma before and after the name to separate it from the sentence.
Before you hang up, Destiny, tell me about the cooking class you’ve been taking.
When the end of a sentence says someone’s name because you’re speaking to that person, put a comma before the name to separate it from the sentence.
Did you tell Tracy about the new podcast you starting listening to while you go jogging, Kayla?
What are the comma rules with added info?
When using introductory information at the beginning of the sentence, separate it with a comma.
Actually, the magazine sale is a perfect way to earn a day off school.
If your sentence begins with a prepositional phrase of four or more words, separate it with a comma.
In the middle of class, an earthquake struck.
If your sentence begins with a prepositional phrase of only two or three words, separate it with a comma if the meaning would be unclear without the comma.
In an hour we are going to leave. -no comma needed
While flying, squirrels can do flips.
If your sentence begins with a dependent clause, separate it with a comma.
What are the comma rules with dates?
When writing a date with two parts (e.g. day of week, month & day, year), use a comma after each part, unless it comes at the very end of a sentence.
The iPhone debuted on June 11, 2007.
In August of 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, giving women the right to vote. -no comma needed
When the month omits the day and is followed by a year, do not use a comma after each part.
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk was born in May 1968. -no comma needed
What are the comma rules in a list?
Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series (a.k.a. a list). Yes, even put a comma with the coordinating conjunction at the end of the list.
Coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Persuasive, summary, research, and response to literature are all different types of essays.
What are the comma rules with adjectives?
Use commas to separate adjectives that are equal in rank or power. NOTE: If you can switch their order and the sentence still reads fine, then they’re equal.
We enjoyed a President with a balanced, empathetic personality.
My second tasty, affordable ice cream sundae of the day was delicious. -no comma needed after second
Do not use commas to separate adjectives that must stay in a specific order. NOTE: These must stay in order: articles, possessives, number placement, superlatives.
My parents didn’t have any reason to distrust me because this was my 172nd reliable promise I’d made and kept. -no commas needed
What are the comma rules with appositives?
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed after another noun or pronoun that renames the preceding word. Separate it with commas before and after. NOTE: it can be a bunch of words.
My coach, a tough and caring person, is pretty young for how expert she is.
The school year and the scholarship opportunity was winding down to this one final grade, the big test.
I have the best friends, four dudes that I can goof around with and who always have each others’ backs.
Appositives that are necessary in order to understand the full meaning of a sentence should not be separated with commas. NOTE: Usually, they are really short.
My brother Dominique earned a scholarship for volleyball. -no commas needed
What are the comma rules with compounds?
First, label all the subjects and verbs. Then, put a comma before a conjunction that separates two independent clauses in a compound sentence.
S+V ,FANBOYS S+V
FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Every teen owned a smartphone, and most regularly used many screens throughout their day.
Students love streaming videos online but don’t like watching commercials. -no commas needed
What are the comma rules with addresses?
When writing an address in a sentence, put a comma after every part of the address except between the state and zip code.
What are the comma rules with letters and emails?
When composing a letter or email, put a comma after the greeting and the goodbye.
What are the comma rules with numbers?
With numbers of more than three digits, put a comma every three digits, starting from the right side at the decimal point.
