Learn on PengiElements of Language, 5th CourseChapter 13: Punctuation: End Marks and Commas

Lesson 3: Commas with Introductory Elements, Interrupters, and in Conventional Situations

In this Grade 8 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 5th Course, students learn how to use commas correctly with introductory elements, including introductory words like well and yes, participial phrases, prepositional phrases, and adverb clauses. The lesson also covers using commas to set off interrupters such as nonessential appositives and appositive phrases. Part of Chapter 13 on punctuation, the lesson includes guided exercises where students identify and insert commas in sentences to reinforce each rule.

Section 1

Commas with Introductory Elements

Definition

Use a comma after certain introductory elements.

Explanation

Start your sentence with a little flair! Use a comma after introductory words like yes, no, well, and oh. Also, place a comma after an introductory participle (a verb form like laughing or tired) or a participial phrase that describes the subject of the sentence.

Examples

  • Why, I believe you are correct.
  • Frightened, the cat leaped from the counter. [The introductory participle Frightened is followed by a comma.]
  • Cheering for their team, the fans waved their banners. [The introductory participial phrase is followed by a comma.]

Section 2

Commas with Introductory Phrases and Clauses

Definition

Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases or after one long phrase.

Explanation

When you start a sentence with a long prepositional phrase or a string of two or more of them, place a comma after the final one. You should also use a comma after an introductory adverb clause, which often starts with words like since, when, although, or because.

Examples

  • On the top shelf of the pantry, you will find the cookies. [Two introductory prepositional phrases are followed by a comma.]
  • Before the big game on Saturday, the team had a final practice. [A long introductory prepositional phrase is followed by a comma.]
  • If you finish your chores, you can go to the park. [The introductory adverb clause is followed by a comma.]

Section 3

Essential and Nonessential Appositives

Definition

An appositive is a noun or pronoun that is placed beside another noun or pronoun to explain or describe it.

Explanation

Think of appositives as "extra information." If the information is just a bonus and isn't needed to understand the sentence, it's nonessential, and you should set it off with commas. If the information is essential to identify who or what you're talking about, do not use commas.

Examples

  • Nonessential: My friend, an excellent chef, is making dinner tonight. [The appositive phrase an excellent chef is not needed to understand the basic meaning, so it's set off by commas.]
  • Essential: The novel A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorites. [The appositive A Wrinkle in Time is essential to identify which novel is the favorite, so no commas are used.]

Section 4

Direct Address and Parenthetical Expressions

Definition

Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence.

Explanation

When you call someone by name in a sentence (direct address), you must separate their name with commas. You should also use commas to set off parenthetical expressions—those little side comments like of course, by the way, or however that interrupt the flow of the sentence.

Examples

  • It looks like, Sam, you forgot your jacket. [The name Sam is used in direct address and is set off by commas.]
  • We will, of course, be at the party. [The parenthetical expression of course interrupts the sentence and is set off by commas.]
  • Can you help me with this problem, Ms. Davis? [The name Ms. Davis is used in direct address at the end of the sentence and is set off by a comma.]

Section 5

Commas in Dates and Addresses

Definition

Use commas in certain conventional situations.

Explanation

Commas help organize dates and addresses. In a date, separate the day of the week from the month and the date from the year. In an address, separate the street from the city and the city from the state. Remember not to use a comma between a month and a year alone (e.g., July 2024) or between a state and ZIP code.

Examples

  • The event happened on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at the town hall. [Commas separate the day of the week, the date, the year, and the end of the date from the sentence.]
  • He moved to 789 Maple Drive, Springfield, IL 62704, last summer. [Commas separate the street from the city, the city from the state, and the address from the rest of the sentence.]
  • She started her new job in August 2022. [No comma is needed between the month and the year when the day is not given.]

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Chapter 13: Punctuation: End Marks and Commas

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: End Marks and Abbreviations

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Commas with Items in a Series, Independent Clauses, and Nonessential Clauses and Phrases

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Commas with Introductory Elements, Interrupters, and in Conventional Situations

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Commas with Introductory Elements

Definition

Use a comma after certain introductory elements.

Explanation

Start your sentence with a little flair! Use a comma after introductory words like yes, no, well, and oh. Also, place a comma after an introductory participle (a verb form like laughing or tired) or a participial phrase that describes the subject of the sentence.

Examples

  • Why, I believe you are correct.
  • Frightened, the cat leaped from the counter. [The introductory participle Frightened is followed by a comma.]
  • Cheering for their team, the fans waved their banners. [The introductory participial phrase is followed by a comma.]

Section 2

Commas with Introductory Phrases and Clauses

Definition

Use a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases or after one long phrase.

Explanation

When you start a sentence with a long prepositional phrase or a string of two or more of them, place a comma after the final one. You should also use a comma after an introductory adverb clause, which often starts with words like since, when, although, or because.

Examples

  • On the top shelf of the pantry, you will find the cookies. [Two introductory prepositional phrases are followed by a comma.]
  • Before the big game on Saturday, the team had a final practice. [A long introductory prepositional phrase is followed by a comma.]
  • If you finish your chores, you can go to the park. [The introductory adverb clause is followed by a comma.]

Section 3

Essential and Nonessential Appositives

Definition

An appositive is a noun or pronoun that is placed beside another noun or pronoun to explain or describe it.

Explanation

Think of appositives as "extra information." If the information is just a bonus and isn't needed to understand the sentence, it's nonessential, and you should set it off with commas. If the information is essential to identify who or what you're talking about, do not use commas.

Examples

  • Nonessential: My friend, an excellent chef, is making dinner tonight. [The appositive phrase an excellent chef is not needed to understand the basic meaning, so it's set off by commas.]
  • Essential: The novel A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorites. [The appositive A Wrinkle in Time is essential to identify which novel is the favorite, so no commas are used.]

Section 4

Direct Address and Parenthetical Expressions

Definition

Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence.

Explanation

When you call someone by name in a sentence (direct address), you must separate their name with commas. You should also use commas to set off parenthetical expressions—those little side comments like of course, by the way, or however that interrupt the flow of the sentence.

Examples

  • It looks like, Sam, you forgot your jacket. [The name Sam is used in direct address and is set off by commas.]
  • We will, of course, be at the party. [The parenthetical expression of course interrupts the sentence and is set off by commas.]
  • Can you help me with this problem, Ms. Davis? [The name Ms. Davis is used in direct address at the end of the sentence and is set off by a comma.]

Section 5

Commas in Dates and Addresses

Definition

Use commas in certain conventional situations.

Explanation

Commas help organize dates and addresses. In a date, separate the day of the week from the month and the date from the year. In an address, separate the street from the city and the city from the state. Remember not to use a comma between a month and a year alone (e.g., July 2024) or between a state and ZIP code.

Examples

  • The event happened on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at the town hall. [Commas separate the day of the week, the date, the year, and the end of the date from the sentence.]
  • He moved to 789 Maple Drive, Springfield, IL 62704, last summer. [Commas separate the street from the city, the city from the state, and the address from the rest of the sentence.]
  • She started her new job in August 2022. [No comma is needed between the month and the year when the day is not given.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 13: Punctuation: End Marks and Commas

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: End Marks and Abbreviations

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Commas with Items in a Series, Independent Clauses, and Nonessential Clauses and Phrases

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Commas with Introductory Elements, Interrupters, and in Conventional Situations

    LearnPractice