Commas

1
Commas

• How to use them

2
Commas - ,

• A comma is a punctuation mark
• It tells us to take a brief pause when we are
  reading not as long as a full stop.
• It is the most common punctuation mark but has to
  be used carefully.

3
Commas

• Commas can change the meaning of a sentence
• For example
• Eats shoots and leaves.
• Eats, shoots and leaves.

4
Changing meaning 2

• The old lady collected all sorts of things
  silver, paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths.
• The old lady collected all sorts of things
  silver paper, hats, clocks and tablecloths.
• The old lady collected all sorts of things
  silver, paper hats, clocks and tablecloths.

5
Lists

• When there is a list of words in a sentence
• We will need hammers, nails and a saw.
• She stopped, stared and ran.
• Mr Cherry was a warm, hospitable man.
• Sam frightened the cat, teased the dog and
  annoyed the neighbours.

6
Pause and tone

• Commas are used to break up longer sentences into
  smaller parts to pause and change tone of voice.
• For example
• When he saw the pirate ship on the horizon, the
  captain gave the alarm.
• She called as loudly as she could, but no-one
  could hear her.

7
Extra information

• Commas are used to separate any extra information
  that is added.
• The words enclosed by the commas could be left
  out without changing the general meaning of the
  sentence.

8
Extra information

• Paul Mann, our star player, broke his leg in the
  match on Saturday.
• Paul Mann broke his leg in the match on Saturday.
• The man, who was wearing a blue hat, slid
  silently into the room.
• The man slid silently into the room.

9
Other Uses

• To break up groups of numbers into thousands.
• 1,999,999
• Inside speech marks.
• We are leaving tomorrow, said Fred.

10
PracticeAdding in extra information
, the plumber, , Jennifer, , the typist, , my
hairdresser, , our teacher,
is good at looking after children. blow dries my
hair every week. has a son called Sam. fixed a
leak in our pipes last week. works in a large
office.
Sally Jones Peter Lim Lucy White My friend Jim
Smith
11
Turning sentences around for impact

• He could not find his car when he reached the car
  park.
• He had to go to work although he was very tired.
• She did not get the handbag in the sale despite
  queuing for hours.

12
Practice

• When he reached the car park,
• he could not find his car.
• Although he was very tired,
• he had to go to work.
• Despite queuing for hours,
• she did not get the handbag in the sale.

13
Summary - Commas

• Can change meaning
• Show a brief pause within a sentence
• Separate items in a list
• Separate extra information
• Break up numbers into thousands
• Inside speech marks
• Reversing phrases in sentences for impact