Comma Use
Commas are something we start to use in 4th grade. We know a period goes at the end of a sentence and tells the reader the thought has ending. A comma tells the reader there is a break or pause in a sentence. We will learn to use a comma three ways this year.
Commas separate a list - a comma separates a list of three or more items. For example: "I had meat, rice, and beans on my plate." The commas separated the list of food - meat, beans, and rice.
Use a comma to separate independent clauses (complete thoughts) when they are joined by these transition words: FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. For example: "I planned to go to school, but a snow storm changed my plans." FANBOYS are used to link two complete ideas in a sentence. The comma ALWAYS comes before the FANBOYS.
Use commas to separate complete thoughts in a sentence from the word or words that introduce them. For example: "If I knew the last answer, I would have gotten them all correct." The comma here is used to separate a complete thought and a phrase that tells more about it.
Commas separate a list - a comma separates a list of three or more items. For example: "I had meat, rice, and beans on my plate." The commas separated the list of food - meat, beans, and rice.
Use a comma to separate independent clauses (complete thoughts) when they are joined by these transition words: FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. For example: "I planned to go to school, but a snow storm changed my plans." FANBOYS are used to link two complete ideas in a sentence. The comma ALWAYS comes before the FANBOYS.
Use commas to separate complete thoughts in a sentence from the word or words that introduce them. For example: "If I knew the last answer, I would have gotten them all correct." The comma here is used to separate a complete thought and a phrase that tells more about it.