Comma Rules 1-4

In a Series

100

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. We got the ingredients to bake the cake such as chocolate flour oil eggs and everything else we need to bake a cake.

We got the ingredients to bake the cake such as chocolate [,] flour[,] oil[,] eggs[,] and everything else we need to bake a cake.

200

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. I like hot chocolate hot coffee or hot tea on winter evenings.

I like hot chocolate [,] hot coffee [,] or hot tea on winter evenings.

300

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Jerry will only eat apple pies from McDonalds or milk shakes from Burger King or french fries from Wendys.

Jerry will only eat apple pies from McDonalds or milk shakes from Burger King or and french fries from Wendys. No Comma

400

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. You can go with us Bob or Charlie.

You can go with us [,] Bob [,] or Charlie.

500

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. To make her special homemade soup, she needed beef onions garlic potatoes and salt and pepper.

To make her special homemade soup, she needed beef [,] onions [,] garlic [,] potatoes [,] and salt and pepper.

With Adjectives

100

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. These smelly moldy books were stored in the damp cellar.

These smelly [,] moldy books were stored in the damp cellar.

200

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Beth longed to have a cold refreshing ice cream cone.

Beth longed to have a cold [,] refreshing ice cream cone.

300

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. No one can resist her delicious cinnamon rolls.

No one can resist her delicious cinnamon rolls. No Comma

400

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Her hours of patient careful tedious work in the laboratory were rewarded when she discovered the new virus.

Her hours of patient [,] careful [,] tedious work in the laboratory were rewarded when she discovered the new virus.

500

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. The serious dedicated students resented the class clown who often distracted the elderly history professor.

The serious dedicated [,] students resented the class clown who often distracted the elderly history professor.

With FANBOYS

100

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Scientists have been studying the human face and they have been able to identify five thousand distinct facial features.

Scientists have been studying the human face [,] and they have been able to identify five thousand distinct facial features.

200

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco have identified and numbered every action of the human face.

Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco have identified and numbered every action of the human face. No Comma

300

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Winking is action number forty-six and we do it with the facial muscle that surrounds the eye.

Winking is action number forty-six [,] and we do it with the facial muscle that surrounds the eye.

400

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. These facial expressions are universally understood but different societies have different rules about showing their emotions.

These facial expressions are universally understood [,] but different societies have different rules about showing their emotions.

500

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. A smile also wins the long-distance record for facial expressions for it can be seen from as far away as several hundred feet.

A smile also wins the long-distance record for facial expressions [,] for it can be seen from as far away as several hundred feet.

With Introductory Elements

100

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. To reach the airport in time the French ambassador had to secure a police escort.

To reach the airport in time [,] the French ambassador had to secure a police escort.

200

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Located in Paris the Eiffel tower is a popular tourist attraction.

Located in Paris [,] the Eiffel tower is a popular tourist attraction.

300

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Waving wildly Carly flagged down a passing motorist.

Waving wildly [,] Carly flagged down a passing motorist.

400

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Studying for the comma quiz helped Jasmine improve her class grade.

Studying for the comma quiz helped Jasmine improve her class grade. No Comma

500

Place commas where needed. If no comma is needed, write NC. Eating correctly can mean the difference between life and death.

Eating correctly can mean the difference between life and death. No Comma

The Rules

100

True or False: A comma always goes between two adjectives.

False: A comma goes between two consecutive adjectives but does not go between two cumulative adjectives.

200

Fill in the blank: When speaking of using commas in a series, a series must have ___________ or more items joined by _______ conjunction.

When speaking of using commas in a series, a series must have [three] or more items joined by [1] conjunction.

300

What does FANBOYS stand for and what part of speech are they?

For And Nor But Or Yet So Conjunctions

400

If you have a comma used with an introductory element, after the comma you have what?

A full sentence.

500

In order to use a comma with a FANBOYS, the FANBOYS must be joining what?

Two independent clauses (a.k.a two full sentences)