Comma Kazi Lesson 4

Section 4.1 (25 pts.)

For these fifteen sentences, place commas where they are needed. Be sure to delete any unnecessary commas. Write “correct” if no commas are needed. Also state why/ which rule you are using to do so. There may be more than one applicable rule for each sentence and more than one needed comma change


1. When I win the lottery, I am going to buy a new car.

# 6. Introductory Clause Rule: The first part of the sentence introduces the second part.


2. Sam climbed into his truck, and I watched him drive away.

#1. Compound Sentence Rule:  Compound Sentence: Made up of at least two independent clauses and separated by a conjunction


3. The crazy old man started tap dancing, down the street.

#7. Adjective Rule: linked-adj. can’t be switched
&
#14. Adverbial Clauses Rule: is a subordinate/dependent clause that acts like an adverb, which is describing a verb. It is answering the question where he danced.


4. I, normally, like to eat a good breakfast, first.

12. Sentence Adverb Rule: the ly gave this one away (thanks to the good Tue. night session.)

(First sounds like an afterthought and I think it needs a comma before it.)


5. If, only, I had a book about snakes, I could see what kind that is, so we would know if it is poisonous.

#12. Sentence Adverb Rule: Only modifies the entire sentence, so is surrounded by commas.
&
#4. Non-essential/Non-restrictive Rule: The clause that, I could see what kind that is, is not critical to the meaning of the sentence is surrounded by commas.


6. My daughter, a normal two-year-old, loves to go outside and play.

#17. Appositives: restrictive/non-essential is surrounded by commas


7. Professor Smith opened the door and let the class into the room.

#17. Appositives: restrictive/essential no commas needed


8. I went to the store that was having a big sale and bought a new blanket, which matched my bedroom décor.

I went to the store that was having a big sale is the #3. Essential/Restrictive Rule: It has no comma it that part.
&
Add, and bought a new blanket makes it a #1. Compound Sentence Rule: compound verb sentence (learned from Tue. session ) which requires no comma.
&
#4. Non-essential/Non-restrictive clause or phrase:  which matched my bedroom décor, adds description but does is not critical to the meaning of the sentence and requires a comma before it.


9. Because I am not a nature lover, I don’t like to hike nor do I like to go camping.

#11. Interjections Rule:  Because I am not a nature lover disturbs the flow of the sentence and requires a comma.


10. The check-out clerk, who seemed to be having a bad day, groaned as she rang up my order.

#4. Non-essential/Non-Restrictive Rule: Who seemed to be having a bad day, is descriptive but not crucial to the meaning of the sentence and is surrounded with commas.
This is the way it would read without the phrase in the middle.
The check-out clerk groaned as she rang up my order.


11. After I get off work I am going to go home, eat dinner and take a long bath.

#5. Series rule: separate’s elements of a series


12. Sorry, I am not looking to buy a new car, today.

#11.Interjection rule: disturbs the flow of a sentence
Today sounds like an afterthought and I think it needs a comma.


13. “Sam, can you pick up your sister after school?” my mom asked as I headed out the door.

#10. Direct address rule:  Sam is being directly spoken to and receives a comma after it being at the first of the sentence.
&
#9. In attribution /Quotations Rule:  No comma needed with a question mark.


14. Setting the book on the desk I showed, the student, Sara the correct page.

#4. Non-essential/Non-restrictive Rule:
The student is descriptive but not critical to the meaning of the sentence and is surrounded by commas.
It reads:  Setting the book on the desk I showed Sara the correct page.


15. I stopped and gazed at the green, shiny car on the corner.

#7. Adjective rule: non-linked can be switched around to shiny green car and sounds okay.



Section 4.2 Writing Exercise: (50 pts.)
Find a piece in your portfolio and review a section of about 300 words for comma use. Try to make it something you wrote prior to taking this class.
First post the original selection “as is”; then show your comma changes.
If you do not have anything in your portfolio to re-do, let me know and I will find something from my port. Trust me, I have plenty of un-edited stories. 

Impulsive Proposal
1531113

Tap! Tap! Tap . . . Tap! . . . and . . . Tap tap!  Dance shoes lying on a black woolen carpet!  Da! Da! Da la! . . . and . . . Da la!  The musician metered away his latest number as he tapped his restless fingers softly against the top of his antique writing desk.  He gazed at the jar holding an ever growing collection of pencil shavings. The stubby relic in his grasp cries perfection.

Purrelli coiled loosely upon her cushioned seat, twitched an ear, ever listening even in sleep.  The ticking clock challenged Herbert to finish his concert piece.

Using only his initials Herbert etched his endorsement on the document that lay before him.  The music written by his contemporary artist, Jimmy Nacre, adequately met his required guidelines.  The master concerto expressed an attitude carefully designed to thrall the listener’s ear.

Herbert set his attention upon the completion of his own concerto in progress.  As musical prose gushed forword he willed his squat stylus to record the words.

More prone to distractions than usual, Herbert unduly investigated the cavity of his freshly pulled tooth.  Blood tainted saliva still seeped from the sore.  Herbert sighed his disgust to the fore as he wiped his sleeve across his brow.

Purrelli arched her back in a tall stretch before lowering herself gingerly to the cool slate floor in search of her master’s affection.  Making a nuisance of herself, she skillfully circled Herbert’s ankles, ably attracting his attention.  This won her a brisk belly rub.  Purrelli reacted with violent thrashing movements from paw to jaw, jetting for an attack.

Herbert, smiling and full of love for the kitten, grabbed Purrelli to his chest for an affectionate hug before sitting her down with a few small cat treats, and then resumed his pose, resembling concentration.

Comma changes

Tap! Tap! Tap . . . Tap! . . . and . . . Tap, tap! 

Dance shoes, lying on a black woolen carpet.


Da! Da! Da, la! . . . and . . . Da, la! 


The musician metered, away his latest number as he tapped, his restless fingers softly against the top of his antique writing desk. 


He gazed at the jar, holding an ever growing collection, of pencil shavings.


The stubby relic, in his grasp, cried perfection.



Purrelli, coiled loosely upon her cushioned seat, twitched an ear ever listening even in sleep. 


The ticking clock challenged Herbert to finish his concert piece.



Using, only, his initials Herbert etched his endorsement on the document that lay before him. 


The music, written by his contemporary artist Jimmy Nacre, adequately met his required guidelines. 


The master concerto expressed an attitude, carefully designed, to thrall the listener’s ear.



Herbert set his attention upon the completion of his own concerto in progress. 


As musical prose gushed for word, he willed his squat stylus to record the words.



More prone to distractions than usual, Herbert unduly investigated the cavity of his freshly pulled tooth. 



Blood tainted saliva still seeped from the sore.
Change this part to:  (Tainted saliva seeped from the sore.)


Herbert sighed his disgust, to the fore, as he wiped his sleeve across his brow.



Purrelli arched her back, in a tall stretch, before lowering herself gingerly to the cool slate floor in search of her master’s affections. 


Making a nuisance of herself, she skillfully circled Herbert’s ankles, ably, attracting his attention. 


This won her a brisk belly rub. 


Purrelli, reacted, with violent thrashing movements, from paw to jaw, jetting for an attack.



Herbert, smiling and full of love for the kitten, grabbed Purrelli to his chest, for an affectionate hug, before sitting her down with a few small cat treats, and then resumed his pose resembling concentration.