Hello, class. Welcome to today's lesson.
The comma is the most useful and most common punctuation mark in the English language. It's also one of the most frequently misused.
1. Separating independent clauses.
An independent clause is a part of a sentence that has a subject and a predicate. (A predicate is the verb and anything after it.) "Tammy took her kids to the park." In that sentence, "Tammy" is the subject and "took her kids to the park" is the predicate. When you have two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction, they must be separated by a comma. The basic coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for, so and yet.
The car is blue, and the house is green.
I enjoy playing basketball, but Alex enjoys playing soccer.
You do not need a comma if the sentence is a combination of an independent clause and a dependent clause. In a dependent clause, the subject is never stated but usually implied.
Tammy took her kids to the park and bought them ice cream.
The spider rolled the bug in silk but put it aside to eat later.
If you need a visual example, follow this test. Put your hands out in front of you with your pinky and thumb extended and your other fingers curled. Place your two thumbs so they are touching. Imagine that this is your sentence. You have successfully broken your sentence up with the conjunction being where your thumbs meet and the spread of your fingers the two clauses. Now, are both clauses independent clauses, or is the second one a dependent clause? If they're both independent clauses, you need a comma.
2. Separating introductory clauses from the main sentence
Introductory clauses include:
For example, ...
According to ... ,
Rather than ... ,
To find out if you have an introductory clause in your sentence, ask yourself "Where is the main part of this sentence? Where is the subject and the verb?". There MUST be a comma after the introductory clause.
According to Davidson's report, our company lost $50 million last year. -- In this sentence, "According to Davidson's report," is the introductory clause. Without it, "Our company lost $50 million last year." is still a complete sentence.
Because Andrea messed up the paperwork, she will be written up.
Many sources say that if the introductory clause is short, you don't need one, but you can put it if you want. These are called stylistic commas. It's up to the writer to decide. I happen to like them. Examples of short introductory clauses are:
Today we went to the park. Or with a comma: Today, we went to the park.
This evening we are going to a movie. Or with a comma: This evening, we are going to a movie.
But be careful. Sometimes, the comma after an introductory clause is necessary to avoid confusion
Soon after starting the car began making funny noises. -- If you read through that quickly, your mind may try to insert a pause after car, when the correct spot for the comma is after starting.
3. Conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs include: therefore, however, consequently, on the other hand. When used at the beginning of the sentence, there must be a comma AFTER a conjunctive adverb. When used in the middle of the sentence there must be a comma BEFORE and AFTER a conjucntive adverb.
4. Series
You should always use a comma to separate a list of three or more things.
Our company offers health benefits, discounts and the possiblity of advancement.
The primary colors are red, yellow and blue.
I like running, biking and hiking.
There is a debate about what is called "the serial comma." The serial comma comes before the "and" in a list. In the three examples above, the serial comma is missing just because I prefer not to use it. It is another example of the stylistic comma, and it is up to the writer on whether or not to include it. Some writers, however, drop the serial comma, especially in fields such as journalism and business.
5. Coordinate adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that are loosely connected to describe an item. You have to have commas in between each one, but you can mix them up and not lose any meaning
A rusty, dented, broken-down car was left behind. vs A dented, broken-down, rusty car was left behind.
6. Nonessential elements
Use a comma to set off nonessential elements. A nonessential element provides a bit more information, but it's not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically correct.
Many other illnesses, like the common cold and back strain, are self-limiting and will improve in time.
Whether at the beginning, end or middle of a sentence, the nonessential element should be offset by commas.
7. Using Commas in Dialogue
This is a big one that I notice a lot of people have trouble with. Writing dialogue can be difficult enough. Toss in having to remember how to punctuate it, and it can be down right intimidating. The key is to write so much dialogue that the punctuation becomes second nature. Even if your dialogue doesn't go into any story, if you practice, you will succeed. This can be difficult to teach over a computer screen so bear with me.
1. "I don't like it," Adam said. Please note the construction of this first sentence. Open quote. Sentence. COMMA. End quote. Character action. "Sentence," Character said. The comma goes after the sentence but INSIDE the end quote.
2. "What's not to like?" Joe asked. In this sentence, no comma is needed because it's a question. The question mark goes on the INSIDE of the end quote. "Question?" Character asked. This same construction is used for dialogue ending in an exclamation point.
3. "It just seems too easy." This doesn't have a dialogue tag, because it doesn't need one, but that's a different lesson.
4. "That's the point." Joe smiled. Please note that there isn't a comma at all. That's because Joe smiled isn't a dialogue tag. Dialogue tags should only be words to describe speaking. You can't smile a phrase. You can smile while saying it. "That's the point," Joe said, smiling. Other common missued dialogue tags are shrugged, nodded and grinned.
5. Shaking his head, Adam said, "You do it. I'm out." This last example, as well as the smiling example above, illustrate my next point. Whenever you have the character doing something while talking, it must be offset by a comma. In this sentence, Adam is shaking his head while he says something, so the shaking his head is offset with a comma. Far too often people either leave the comma out, use a period, or put the dialogue into a whole new paragraph.
Also, it doesn't matter whether you put the dialogue tag before or after the dialogue, you still need to use a comma.
"Stop teasing me," he whined.
Jason asked, "What next?"
Claudia said, "I totally don't get this at all."
Like I said, dialogue is tricky and difficult to teach. These are the basics. The best thing you can do is practice, practice and practice some more.
8. Markers of direct address
This is one that I end up fighting with people about. You should ALWAYS put commas around words that indicate that you're talking directly to someone.
Yes, the stock market sucks right now. No, I don't think it's going to be any better next year.
Jake, do you think you could not be a jerk every now and then?
Well, no. I happen to like being a jerk, Cathy.
These direct address words usually come at the beginning and end of a sentence, but if you do use one in the middle of the sentence, you have to put commas around it.
Do you really think, Grace, that Professor Wilson will postpone the test?
Frequent direct address words and phrases are yes, no, of course, well, don't you agree? and oh. Also, ANY time you refer to someone using a name or title, it has to be set off by a comma.
"Eric, I love you."
"Really, Katy? Funny thing. You remember Jessica?"
"What are you saying, you jerk?"
In the last sentence, you jerk is separated by a comma because it's a title replacing the name.
---
(All of this information is from The New Century Handbook by Christine A. Hult and Thomas N. Huckin. Fabulous book. Everyone should buy one.)
