Using Commas

Comma games online: 
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/grammar/punctuation.htm
-- Select Comma Chameleon

Quiz: http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/language_arts/punctuation_comma/quiz2140.html

or http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/using_commas/quiz1004.html

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/6_8/grammar/gr6/launcher.html?qid=0605

Here is the packet we did:  COMMA RULES.docx
And the answer key: COMMA RULES Answer Key.docx 

Here are the rules:

p Rule #1. Use a comma after every item in a series except the last one.  The series, a group of three or more, may be made of words, phrases, or clauses.

p Rule #2. Use commas after first, second, third, etc., when these words introduce a series.

p Rule #3.  When there are two or more coordinate adjectives, use commas between them.  .  If you can test the adjectives by putting “and” between them, they are coordinate.  If you cannot use “and” between them, they are probably not coordinate and will not require a comma.  

             Another test you can use is to switch the adjectives, and if you can switch them, and they

             still sound right, they are probably coordinate.
        

Example: He is a strong, healthy man. We could also say healthy, strong man. Example: We stayed at an expensive summer resort. We would not say summer expensive resort, so no comma.   From http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

p Rule # 4. Use commas to separate introductory words, long phrases, and clauses from the rest of the sentence.

Examples:  Actually, he was invited to the party.                         Consequently, Sue wasn’t able to move to New York.                         Unfortunately, Grandmother had to spend several weeks                               in the hospital.             When considering rules 4 and 5, when in doubt use the comma.

p Rule #5. When there are little pauses (after a short introductory word or phrase), the comma may be left out.

p Rule #6.  Use commas to separate words, phrases, or clauses that interrupt the train of thought in a sentence.  This includes interjections and weak exclamations.

p Rule #7.  Set off nouns of direct address with commas.

p Rule #8. Use commas to set off most appositives.  An appositive is a word or phrase that identifies or renames a noun or pronoun.  However, when an appositive is a single name, it is not usually set off with commas.

p Rule #9.  Use commas to set off explanatory words in a direct quote. 

p Rule #10. Commas are not used to set off an indirect quote from the rest of the sentence.

p Rule #11. COMPOUND SENTENCES: When joining two complete sentences (independent clauses) with a coordinating conjunction, use a comma before the conjunction. 

p Rule #12. Commas in dates should separate the day of the month and the year and the date itself from the rest of the sentence.  Commas are not used to separate the month and the day or the month and the year.

p Rule #13.  Commas should separate cities from states and countries.  These items should, as with dates, be separated from the sentence as well.

p Rule #14. When an address is used in the context of a sentence, separate items with commas in the same way they would be separated on an envelope.  Do not, however, separate the state from the ZIP code.

p Rule #15.  Use a comma following the greeting in a friendly letter.  Use a comma after the closing of all letters.