ACT ReviewGRAMMAR REVIEW

Commas

Punctuation Rules - Commas

Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction to separate independent clauses with a sentence.

FANBOYS

Punctuation Rules - Commas There are seven basic coordinating conjunctions in English:

Zoey sings in the choir, and she plays the guitar in a rock band.

Jessica enjoys her job, but she is looking forward to her vacation.

I will either study mathematics, or I will study chemistry.His mother doesn’t eat meat, nor does she eat dairy products.Kolton will be playing football this year, for he made the

team.Blake earned a promotion, so we decided to celebrate.I just completed my workout, yet I'm not tired.

Practice: Choose the best revision for the underlined portion. If the sentence is best as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

Garrett is an experienced outdoorsmen, and he works part-time at Tractor Supply in Arab.

A. NO CHANGE

B. outdoorsmen and, he

C. outdoorsmen and he,

D. outdoorsmen and he

Punctuation Rules - Commas

Use a comma to separate elements that introduce and modify a sentence.

Yesterday, I painted the entire garage.Before deciding on a major at college, Josh

discussed his options with his parents.

Practice: Choose the best revision for the underlined portion. If the sentence is best as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

Throughout his childhood, in Africa in the 1970s Jamal was convinced that he was destined for greatness.

A. NO CHANGE

B. childhood in Africa in the 1970s,

C. childhood, in Africa in the 1970s,

D. childhood in Africa, in the 1970s

Punctuation Rules - CommasUse commas before and after a parenthetical

expression.A parenthetical expression is a phrase that is

inserted into the writer’s train of thought. Parenthetical expressions are most often set off using commas.Melody’s decision, in my opinion, was not in her

best interest.The new park, of course, is a popular tourist

destination.

Practice: Choose the best revision for the underlined portion. If the sentence is best as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

The following night, using twigs, for kindling she started a small blaze in the fire pit.

A. NO CHANGE

B. night, using twigs for kindling,

C. night, using twigs for kindling;

D. night using twigs, for kindling,

Punctuation Rules - Commas

Use commas to separate an appositive from a clause.

My brother, a well-respected scientist, made an important discovery.

Mr. Trotter, an Algebra teacher, is a favorite among the students.

Practice: Choose the best revision for the underlined portion. If the sentence is best as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

Seabirds often use thermals columns of hot air to help them travel long distances with very little effort.

A. NO CHANGE

B. thermals; columns of hot air,

C. thermals, columns of hot air,

D. thermals columns of hot air,

Use commas to set off interjections.

1.Well, it’s about time that you got here.

2.Say did you pass your history test?

Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives.

If two adjectives modify a noun in the same way, they are called coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives can also be joined with the coordinating conjunction and instead of a comma.

1. We walked the long, dusty road to the abandoned farm.

Or: we walked the long and dusty road to the abandon farm.

2. Cows are gentle friendly creatures.

Or: Cows are gentle _____ friendly creatures.

Use commas to set off nonrestrictive phrases and clauses.Nonrestrictive phrase can be omitted from a clause

without changing the meaning of the clause. Nonrestrictive clauses are useful because they can modify the nouns that they follow.

1. My sister’s dog, a brown and white terrier, barks at me whenever I visit.

2. Katie celebrated her birthday which was in June with a party and a chocolate cake.

Use a comma to separate elements in a list or series.

1. Jill decided to purchase a leash, a collar, and a water dish for her dog.

2. Skippy packed his suitcase put on his jacket and left the house.

3. Please bring the following items to camp: pillow blanket toothbrush and other personal hygiene products.

Use commas in dates, addresses, place names, numbers, and quotations.1. Mary is leaving for Jamaica on Monday, February

21, 2011.

2. The Library of Congress is located at 101 Independence Avenue, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

3. Forecasted annual earnings are currently $42,521,000.

4. “My sister is a nurse,” Becky said proudly.

5. John replied, “So where are we exactly?”

6. “You’ll soon regret this,” Luc cautioned under his breath, “for things are not as they seem.”

Use commas in dates, addresses, place names, numbers, and quotations.Practice:

1. On Friday July 8, 1983 Grandma retired.

2. The building at 597 Fifth Avenue New York New York may be declared a National Historic Site.

3. Carol Hartman LL.D. will give the second speech.

4. 2687 3489620

5. “Our next contestant” said the emcee “is a banker.”

6. We visited Phoenix Arizona on our vacation.

Do not use a comma:

to separate a subject form a verb.My cousin Mary walked down to the corner.

NOT – My cousin Mary, walked down to the corner.to separate an adjective form the word it

modifies.The pretty girl sat in front of me on the bus.

NOT – The pretty, girl sat in front of me on the bus.

Do not use a comma:

before a coordinate conjunction that is NOT joining independent clauses.

Before he goes to bed, Jeff likes to relax on his couch and listen to music.

Not – Before he goes to bed, Jeff likes to relax on his couch, and listen to music.

In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction and is joining the verb phrases “relax on his couch” and “listen to music.” These are not independent clauses because they lack a subject.

Do not use a comma:to separate two independent clauses; this is

known as comma-splice.

I plan to attend a liberal arts college. My parents want me to get a well-rounded education.

NOT – I plan to attend a liberal arts college, my parents want me to get a well-rounded education.

This sentence could be fixes by adding a conjunction, for example: “I plan to attend a liberal arts college, as my parents want me to get well-rounded education.” A semicolon would also be appropriate in place of the period in the first sentence.