Find seven different sentences that correctly use a comma in seven different ways. Following each sentence, write the comma rule that is demonstrated.
1. It's very likely, particularly if your child is named Isabella, Jacob, or even Maci. (Commas between items in a series)
2. But if your little one is named after Elvis, for the first time in more than a half-century, he probably won't encounter another similarly named friend. (Comma around appositive)
3. With its release of the most popular baby names of 2010, the Social Security Administration reveals that names that have topped the list consistently for several years are joined by some new and surprisingly trendy choices, such as reality TV star names. (Commas in compound sentences)
4. "The chances of meeting a baby named Sophia this year versus last year -- you'll see them everywhere," saysLaura Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby". (Comma with quotation marks)
5. Joshua, however, didn't fare as well, sliding down the list from number six to 11. (Comma around interrupters)
6. The Social Security Administration says that even though the name peaked only at number 312 in 1957 and made a bit of a comeback 20 years later when the rock icon died, it has consistently held a place in the top 1,000.(Commas with numbers)
7. Although Elvis' hits topped charts, the name never secured a top spot. (Introductory word groups)
Correct: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7.
The commas in 2 and 3 are used correctly, but you haven't named the reasons correctly. Study this webpage:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
1. It's very likely, particularly if your child is named Isabella, Jacob, or even Maci. (Commas between items in a series)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use commas to separate items in a series (list).
2. But if your little one is named after Elvis, for the first time in more than a half-century, he probably won't encounter another similarly named friend. (Comma around appositive)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use commas to set off an appositive, which is a word or phrase that renames or identifies the noun or pronoun beside it.
3. With its release of the most popular baby names of 2010, the Social Security Administration reveals that names that have topped the list consistently for several years are joined by some new and surprisingly trendy choices, such as reality TV star names. (Commas in compound sentences)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," or "or") to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.
4. "The chances of meeting a baby named Sophia this year versus last year -- you'll see them everywhere," says Laura Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby". (Comma with quotation marks)
Comma rule demonstrated: Place commas inside quotation marks when using them to set off a direct quotation.
5. Joshua, however, didn't fare as well, sliding down the list from number six to 11. (Comma around interrupters)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use commas to set off interrupters, which are words or phrases that interrupt the flow of a sentence but are non-essential to its meaning.
6. The Social Security Administration says that even though the name peaked only at number 312 in 1957 and made a bit of a comeback 20 years later when the rock icon died, it has consistently held a place in the top 1,000. (Commas with numbers)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use commas to separate numbers in the thousands, hundreds, or tens from the remaining numbers.
7. Although Elvis' hits topped charts, the name never secured a top spot. (Introductory word groups)
Comma rule demonstrated: Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause to separate it from the main part of the sentence.