Discuss:
In some sentences, a comma will completely change the meaning of the sentence.
Work together in pairs or small groups. Go through the pairs of sentences and find the difference in meaning.
It is time to eat John.
It is time to eat, John.Most of the time travellers worry about their luggage.
Most of the time, travellers worry about their luggage.A woman without her man is nothing.
A woman, without her, man is nothing.He wasn’t killed mercifully.
He wasn’t killed, mercifully.Writing clearly isn’t easy.
Writing, clearly, isn’t easy.My name is Andrew by the way but you can call me Andy.
My name is Andrew, by the way, but you can call me Andy.My heroes are my grandparents, Batman and Super Girl.
My heroes are my grandparents, Batman, and Super Girl.We are going to learn to cut and paste kids.
We are going to learn to cut and paste, kids.I’m sorry I love you.
I’m sorry, I love you.No smoking food or beverages are permitted in the office.
No smoking, food, or beverages are permitted in the office.The puppy I chose sadly had already been adopted.
The puppy I chose, sadly, had already been adopted.
Drag and Drop:
Drag commas into the correct places in the sentences.
Alternative to the interactive task:
Here are the same sentences as in the interactive task above, if you prefer to do them by hand.
Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface.
Mrs Jones was an attractive gracious lady.
The closet contained old clothes dirty shoes and a suitcase.
After surviving the accident he felt relieved.
William Shakespeare is I believe the greatest playwright ever.
31 January 1969 will never be forgotten
The British prime minister lives at 10 Downing Street London.
After a good shower he felt much better.
Disney World is in Orlando Florida.
He replied 'I have no idea what you are talking about.'
Answers:
Oil, which is lighter than water, rises to the surface.
Mrs Jones was an attractive, gracious lady.
The closet contained old clothes, dirty shoes, and a suitcase. OR The closet contained old clothes, dirty shoes and a suitcase.
After surviving the accident, he felt relieved.
William Shakespeare is, I believe, the greatest playwright ever.
31 January, 1969, will never be forgotten.
The British prime minister lives at 10 Downing Street, London.
After a good shower, he felt much better.
Disney World is in Orlando, Florida.
He replied, 'I have no idea what you are talking about.'
Write:
Some of the following sentences are already correct, while others are missing one or two commas.
Go through the sentences and add commas as needed. If in doubt, go back to the article and check the rules again.
The man wore an old leather jacket.
I need to buy kiwis coconuts and limes.
He left university last year and tried to get a job.
Vests which were once popular are now out of fashion.
I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite.
The mechanic claimed that the car had been fixed and that the work had been done properly.
While I was eating the cat scratched at the door.
The game was over but the crowd refused to leave.
Answers:
The man wore an old leather jacket. (No change).
I need to buy kiwis, coconuts, and limes. OR I need to buy kiwis, coconuts and limes.
He left university last year and tried to get a job. (No change).
Vests, which were once popular, are now out of fashion.
I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite. (No change).
The mechanic claimed that the car had been fixed and that the work had been done properly. (No change).
While I was eating, the cat scratched at the door.
The game was over, but the crowd refused to leave.
Add commas:
This excerpt is taken from a newspaper article. We have removed all the commas. Are you able to put them back in the correct place?
In a controversial new book Professor Jane Plant a chief scientific adviser to the government proposes a raft of unorthodox treatments for the millions of Britons who suffer from anxiety stress and depression.
Instead of just popping 'happy pills' such as Prozac to beat the blues Plant and her co-author Janet Stephenson advise sufferers to take steps such as avoiding dairy products sending fewer text messages eating porridge at night and playing card games. They say all their tips are based on hard scientific evidence gathered from studies around the world.
Moreover Plant and Stephenson argue that human contact face-to-face or over the telephone and the 'people skills' to both talk and listen meaningfully are useful. However, emailing and texting are individualistic and isolating processes which people should do less.
Solution
In a controversial new book, Professor Jane Plant, a chief scientific adviser to the government, proposes a raft of unorthodox treatments for the millions of Britons who suffer from anxiety, stress, and depression.*
Instead of just popping 'happy pills' such as Prozac to beat the blues, Plant and her co-author, Janet Stephenson, advise sufferers to take steps such as avoiding dairy products, sending fewer text messages, eating porridge at night, and playing card games.* They say all their tips are based on hard scientific evidence gathered from studies around the world.
Moreover, Plant and Stephenson argue that human contact, face-to-face or over the telephone, and the 'people skills' to both talk and listen meaningfully are useful. However, emailing and texting are individualistic and isolating processes which people should do less.
*In these sentences the comma in front of the word 'and' is optional. This is called an Oxford comma.
Source:
The excerpt in the last task is taken from:
Cambell, D (2008). 'Why smiles are better than Prozac.' The Guardian. From: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/27/mentalhealth.drugs