Commas
Sonja packed her backpack full of notebooks, folders, and packs of gum.
Why are there commas after "notebooks" and "folders?"
To list items in a series.
Allie's necklace was a gift from her grandma.
Why is there an apostrophe in "Allie's?"
To show possession.
My teacher is presenting a lesson about grammar today.
What part of speech is the word "teacher" in this sentence?
Noun
Before the race begins, I make sure my shoes are tied.
Why is "I" capitalized?
We always capitalize the pronoun "I" in a sentence.
They rode their mountain bikes over rough terrain, the rocky land nearly destroying their tires.
What does the word "terrain" mean in this sentence?
Land
Billy was the kicker on the football team, and he was the point guard on the basketball team.
Why is there a comma after "team?"
To combine two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
Trevor wasn't ready to wake up after staying up too late the night before.
Why is there an apostrophe in "wasn't?"
To show missing letters in contractions.
She is teaching us how to use commas.
What part of speech is the word "she" in this sentence?
Pronoun.
My birthday is on June 30th.
Why is "June" capitalized?
We always capitalize the names of months.
His condition didn't deteriorate; instead, it improved.
What does "deteriorate" mean in this sentence.
To get worse.
Additionally, the doctor cleared Sarah to go running again.
Why is there a comma after "additionally?"
To separate an introductory word or phrase from the rest of the sentence.
Krista's band was well-known in her hometown.
What is the punctuation in "well-known" called? What is its purpose?
Hyphen. It joins two words together into one word.
She read a book to her little sister.
What part of speech is the word "read" in this sentence?
Verb
When Dad makes cinnamon rolls in the morning, the entire house smells delicious.
Why is "Dad" capitalized in this sentence?
We capitalize family members names when they can be replaced with a real name.
Sally was very gregarious. She always smiled and talked to everyone. No wonder she was so popular.
What does "gregarious" mean in this sentence?
Outgoing
Wisconsin, the state well known for its cheese, is a beautiful place to visit during the summer.
Why are there commas after "Wisconsin" and "cheese?"
To insert additional or interrupting information in the middle or at the end of the sentence.
Dr. Craig is very intelligent.
What is the punctuation after "Dr." called? What is its purpose?
Period. It is used at the end of an abbreviation.
The dark clouds indicated that a thunderstorm was approaching.
What part of speech is the word "dark" in this sentence?
I can't wait to visit New York City next month.
Why is "New York City" capitalized?
It's a proper noun that names a specific place.
The thought of eating bugs is appalling to most people. They think it would be gross.
What does "appalling" mean in this sentence?
Disgusting
The horse's silky, soft mane was fun to brush.
Why is there a comma after "silky?"
To separate two coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.
There are many predators--coyotes, bobcats, and bears--living in the woods.
What is the punctuation before and after "coyotes, bobcats, and bears" called? What is its purpose?
Dash. It is used before and after extra information within a sentence.
The boy ran steadily throughout the race.
What part of speech is the word "steadily" in this sentence?
Adverb
She was going to get an ice cream cone.
Why is "She" capitalized in this sentence?
We always capitalize the first letter in a sentence.
The long hike was too arduous. I had to stop and catch my breath before going on.
What does "arduous" mean in this sentence?
Difficult