Commas Matter

Language Activity

Grammar Unit Guide

Created by Kelly Congrove

For All Day ELA Productions

©2016 All Day ELA. All rights reserved.

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©2016 All Day ELA Productions

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Commas Matter









Name:______________________________________________ Date:______________ Period:____________

Commas Matter - level one -

Let’s Get Real
Commas are tricky - like sneak into the graduation party just for the food, eat and leave
tricky – but their reign of terror is over. THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE.
Commas are meant to prevent confusion and misunderstanding. A
I Constantly
common mistake people make is that they think a pause signals a comma -
THIS IS NOT THE CASE! A pause of breath does not always signal a comma.
feel out of
place.
QUICK RULE #1: The pause that signals a comma usually includes a change of
pitch- give it a try!
Example #1: Let’s eat, Grandma! (aw, how nice! You have your grandma
over for dinner!)
Example #2: Let’s eat Grandma! (...... I’ll pass, thanks [please don’t eat me.])

Note: THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS: The ‘said’ clause – A pause that
indicates a comma is when the direct object is a direct quotation following a verb.
Example: He said, “I love you.” (no pitch change)

Remember:
- Use a comma between words or groups of words that are in a series.
- EXAMPLE: Corn, green beans, and tomatoes are staples in every home garden.
-  Use a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence.
- EXAMPLE: The farmers planted in the spring, and they will work long hours in the fall to
harvest.
- Use a comma after a subordinate clause when it begins in a sentence.
- EXAMPLE: After we went to a movie, we went out to eat.

Directions: Add commas where needed in the sentence below.

1. Alec Leann and Madison are planning a welcome home party for their friend.

2. It is their friend’s first time home all summer and they want to make it special.

3. They have invited the people that live in his neighborhood his family that lives close by and his
friends from school.

4. Even though he doesn’t get home until tonight this will be hard to plan it in his own house.

5. Trey is involved friendly and active in many things.

6. For their surprise to work everyone will have to stay off of social media all day so he doesn’t
see what they are doing.

7. This is especially hard for Madison but she will have to deal with it for one day.

8. Since every Friday his family has a big dinner it was no surprise to Trey that there were a lot of
cars in his driveway.

©2016 All Day ELA Productions

-2-



Commas Matter









 Key
Name:______________________________________________ Date:______________ Period:____________

Commas Matter - level one -

Let’s Get Real
Commas are tricky - like sneak into the graduation party just for the food, eat and leave
tricky – but their reign of terror is over. THEY NEED TO BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE.
Commas are meant to prevent confusion and misunderstanding. A
I Constantly
common mistake people make is that they think a pause signals a comma -
THIS IS NOT THE CASE! A pause of breath does not always signal a comma.
feel out of
place.
QUICK RULE #1: The pause that signals a comma usually includes a change of
pitch- give it a try!
Example #1: Let’s eat, Grandma! (aw, how nice! You have your grandma
over for dinner!)
Example #2: Let’s eat Grandma! (...... I’ll pass, thanks [please don’t eat me.])

Note: THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS: The ‘said’ clause – A pause that
indicates a comma is when the direct object is a direct quotation following a verb.
Example: He said, “I love you.” (no pitch change)

Remember:
- Use a comma between words or groups of words that are in a series.
- EXAMPLE: Corn, green beans, and tomatoes are staples in every home garden.
-  Use a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence.
- EXAMPLE: The farmers planted in the spring, and they will work long hours in the fall to
harvest.
- Use a comma after a subordinate clause when it begins in a sentence.
- EXAMPLE: After we went to a movie, we went out to eat.

Directions: Add commas where needed in the sentence below.

1. Alec, Leann, and Madison are planning a welcome home party for their friend.

2. It is their friend’s first time home all summer, and they want to make it special.

3. They have invited the people that live in his neighborhood, his family that lives close by, and
his friends from school.

4. Even though he doesn’t get home until tonight, this will be hard to plan it in his own house.

5. Trey is involved, friendly, and active in many things.

6. For their surprise to work, everyone will have to stay off of social media all day so he doesn’t
see what they are doing.

7. This is especially hard for Madison, but she will have to deal with it for one day.

8. Since every Friday his family has a big dinner, it was no surprise to Trey that there were a lot of
cars in his driveway.

©2016 All Day ELA Productions

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Commas Matter









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©2016 All Day ELA Productions

Commas Matter