Commas Bellwork. Commas#1: Introductory Phrases

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1 /80 Name: Period: Commas Bellwork Commas#1: Introductory Phrases Use a comma after an introductory word or phrase. Ex. Feeling hot, the boy ran to the refrigerator for a drink. Having done my best, I sat down to see the results. After the long and exhausting trip, we finally arrived at our destination. 1. After you hear about Sarah Winchester you will probably agree that she was an eccentric woman. 2. Following a short and romantic courtship Sarah Pardee married William Winchester of Winchester rifles. 3. Upon her husband s death Sarah inherited twenty million dollars from his estate. 4. Fearing the ghosts of people killed by Winchester guns she felt she must build continuously to keep them from haunting her. 5. With a great deal of determination she bought an eighteen-room house and hired sixteen workmen to add rooms to it. 6. To keep the ghosts confused she had doors open into brick walls and stairs lead up into the ceiling. 7. Even though they thought she was strange the workmen kept building for thirty-eight years because she paid well. 8. Testing their loyalty to her Mrs. Winchester occasionally had the gardeners plant her orange trees upside down. 9. When she died it took six moving vans and six weeks to empty the house. 10. Within her 160 room mansion carpenters had installed 2,000 doors and 10,000 windows.

2 Commas #2: Compound Sentences Part 1 You must use a comma before a conjunction that joins two complete sentences together. Follow these steps: Skim your sentence, looking only for the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Stop at each of these words to see whether there is a complete sentence on both sides of it. If so, place a comma BEFORE the coordinating conjunction. Ex. She wanted to buy a new car, but she didn't have enough money. 1. I send funny Valentine cards to my friends every year but I have never placed my name on them. 2. Valentine s day is celebrated by most Americans yet few people know the story of how the holiday first began. 3. The holiday originated in ancient Rome but the actual date of its origin is about A.D According to legend Emperor Claudius II would not allow the troops of the Roman army to marry for he felt that married men made poor soldiers. 5. A priest called Valentinus took pity on two young lovers and he secretly married them against Emperor Claudius s orders. 6. Valentinus was arrested and thrown in jail and Claudius had him beheaded several months later. 7. It was from this Roman jail that the first Valentine card was sent for Valentinus supposedly sent the jailer s daughter a note signed From Your Valentine. 8. You can believe this legend or you may feel that this is just a romantic tale that was concocted to explain the origin of Valentine s Day. 9. The first valentines in America were not covered with sweet verses nor were they elaborate and lacy works of art. 10. Boys and girls of the late 1850s loved to send Penny Dreadfuls on Valentine s Day and they looked forward to receiving them from their friends in turn.

3 Commas #3: Compound Sentences Part 2 You must use a comma before a conjunction (FANBOYS) that joins two complete sentences. NEVER use a comma before the word because. Ex. The fish were eaten because they did not swim fast enough. You do NOT need a comma when you join a complete sentence to an incomplete one. Ex. Simon will call you tonight and speak to you about the dance. 1. Many families in developing countries produce their own food because they cannot afford to buy it. 2. The food industry takes food from the place where it is grown and distributes it to where it is needed. 3. Food is shipped to processing plants and it is then prepared and packaged for the market. 4. Shipping companies transport the food from producers to consumers in refrigerated trucks because fresh food spoils quickly. 5. Fruits and vegetables are washed and sorted before they are sent to market. 6. Much food is put through a process called irradiation because it kills the bacteria in the food. 7. The finished food product can be sold in a variety of locations but in the United States the most common place is a supermarket or grocery store. 8. There are usually two or three shops per street and they sell basic items. 9. Private fishermen and large commercial fleets gather huge quantities of fish and shellfish. 10. My mother enjoys shopping trips only if they are short and productive.

4 Commas #4: If/Then Sentences Place a comma after an if/then statement. Ex. If I were queen, then I could have you thrown in the dungeon. The then in an if/then statement doesn t always have to be there. Ex. If he had said that to me, I would have run away. 1. If it's raining now then your laundry is getting wet. 2. If it snows tomorrow there will not be any mushrooms to pick next week. 3. If it rains this afternoon then yesterday's weather forecast was wrong. 4. If she took that flight yesterday we'll see her tomorrow. 5. If it rains this afternoon everybody will stay home. 6. If she were at work today she would know how to deal with this client. 7. If I won the lottery I would buy a car. 8. If you leave now you can still catch your train. 9. If you had done your job properly then we wouldn't be in this mess now. 10. If you had called me I would have come.

5 Commas #5: Comma Review 1 /20 Instructions: Place commas where they are needed. 1. Needing help I dialed She always walked to the store and he always ran. 3. He wanted to go to the party but no one would give him a ride. 4. If I am hungry then I will go to Denny s. 5. Having seen the final act I started to cry. 6. I went to New York by train but I returned by plane. 7. I knew President Nixon would resign that morning because my sister worked for him. 8. If you pay me $2 today I will gladly give you $3 tomorrow. 9. Thinking back on her life the woman was very thankful. 10. I neither like you nor will I assist you in your request. 11. Frank planned to read his speech but lost his notes. 12. If I can t play poker I will cry. 13. Having done his very best the boy stood tall and happy. 14. He will have to help or the project will not be completed. 15. We needed a tour guide because we couldn t find our way back to our hotel. 16. If it rains then the picnic will be cancelled. 17. Desiring to be accepted Larry did some unusual things. 18. The boss will be here tomorrow and we will ask for a raise. 19. The crash awoke father and he jumped out of bed. 20. If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius it boils.

6 Commas #6: Comma Review 2 /20 Instructions: Place commas where they are needed. 1. When my luggage arrives I will give you your present. 2. Harry will leave on the next flight but you will join him in a week. 3. He didn t have a new book to read so he read a book that he had read before. 4. If you don't eat for a long time then you become hungry. 5. After the game was over both the team and the fans celebrated. 6. The wind blew fiercely and the rain poured down. 7. Joe wanted to attend the game but decided to do his report instead. 8. If the sea is stormy the waves are high. 9. If you do not believe me ask the rest of those present. 10. Jim studied for his chemistry quiz in the library but it was hard to concentrate because of the noise. 11. I will take the train or drive to work. 12. If it's raining here now then it was raining on the West Coast this morning. 13. Although I am afraid I will lead you through the woods. 14. Livestock farmers raise animals for beef yet not all of our meat comes from this type of farming. 15. You will do what I asked or you will not get your allowance. 16. If she took that flight yesterday she is somewhere in town today. 17. Where the troops are we are going. 18. I try to save money but I always end up overspending. 19. Did you order lasagna again because you don t want to try something new? 20. If I become President I'll lower taxes.