Commas Kill!

1. Commas Kill! Now that you have looked at the pre-assessment, how important do you think commas are?

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3. Welcome to Comma Time! All you have ever wanted to know about commas…and more!

4. Rule #1 You are to use a comma before the conjunction that joins the two main clauses of a compound sentence. Example: The seventh grade students used to be untrained in writing, but now they are ready to earn free money.

5. Practice—You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech • Peeta and Gale are both part of Katniss’s life. • Katniss is being Peeta’s nurse and he is the patient. • The announcer allowed a change in the rules so they try to find each other. • Katniss got a sponsor gift but Peeta did not. • Katniss is my favorite character for she loves to hunt and be outside.

6. Rule #2 Use commas between two or more adjectives of equal rank that modify the same noun. The adjectives are of equal rank if you can substitute the word and for the comma. Example: Mrs. McIntosh is a well-trained, caring, wonderful, stylish teacher. (LOL!)

7. Practice—You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech • Katniss really needs to acquire weapons food and water. • They really like to put on a show for the audience and Capitol. • Truly, the story is of love survival hunger and war. • Glimmer was attacked by the tracker jackers and the stings made her face unrecognizable. • The tracker jacker is a deadly venomous giant mutation.

8. Rule #3 Use commas to separate a series of three or more words. Example: I dropped my pencil, papers, and books. (The comma before the conjunction and is optional, but I prefer using it.) Use no commas between two or more words usually thought of as being one item. Example: We ate hamburgers, pork and beans, and potato chips.

9. First, can you identify the sentences from Friday’s homework that go with this rule? Practice—You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech for the following. 1. The names in the novel have meanings beyond just names titles and labels. 2. Peeta’s name comes from his father’s lifetime relentless job. 3. I can’t wait to keep reading because the book is so interesting suspenseful intriguing and exciting!

10. Rule 4 Use a comma between the day and year. Use a comma between the city and state and also town and country. Example: January 6, 2011 Trussville, AL

11. Practice • I am from Houston TX. • Today on October 18 2011 you are learning about commas. • When I was 14, I lived in Ortona Italy.

12. Rule #5 Use a comma to separate introductory words (like yes and no) and mild interjections from the sentence including prepositional phrases. Examples: Oh, I heard that before. Yes, I will be here. In the book, the character is different.

13. Rule #6 • Use a comma or commas to set off words or phrases used as nouns of address (nominatives of address). • Examples: • Joe, get over here. • Get over here, Joe. • Young man, get over here. • You, Brandon, need to go to Hawaii.

14. Practice: You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech. 1. Did you Foxface see Thresh at the Cornucopia? 2. I will see you at the meeting place Rue. 3. After the explosion Katniss thought she was deaf for sure. 4. Oh you want to test me again. 5. Before she died Katniss sang Rue a song and then she covered her with flowers.

15. Rule #7 Use a comma after the greeting and the closing of a casual letter. Example: Dear Anna, Example: Love ,Tom

16. Practice • Dear Tom • Sincerely

17. RULE #8 • Use a comma to set off explanatory words with direct quotations. • Examples: Mrs. McIntosh said, “Take out a piece of paper.” • “Please,” she said, “help me with my homework.” • “You need to bring your book,” Mrs. McIntosh said.

18. Practice: You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech. • “What weapons does he have?” I ask. • “Not much that I could see. A spear” Rue said. • “Rue do you think we could capture the camp” I asked. • “Something isn’t quite right about that whole setup” I stated. • “Yes I know we could and you definitely could do it” she stated.

19. Rule #9 Use commas to set off one or more words that interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence and to separate independent and dependent clauses. EXAMPLE: Helping sick people, I believe, is a very worthy profession.

20. Practice: You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech. • Katnissreally wanted to tell Peeta she loves him I think. • I really believe that Katniss loves him deep down. • If the end really made you mad you must read the next one. • I can’t believe that you my friend didn’t like the ending! • In the final interview it was hilarious that they kissed for 10 minutes.

21. Rule #10 • Use commas to set off appositives (words that rename the noun), especially if the meaning of the sentence is clear without them. • EXAMPLE: One group, the American Nurses’ Association, admits only registered nurses.

22. Practice: You are to put in a comma if needed and then label the parts of speech. • Today we should be finishing the comma rules I think. • Collins began to gain fame when her novel The Hunger Games was published. • Commas can kill if you really think about it since they are so important. • Katniss and Gale star crossed lovers cause us to stay interested. • My son Cale is absolutely hilarious and is such a gift to me.