Commas and essential sentence parts - St. Edwards University

Commas and Essential Sentence PartsRemember that the reason we went over sentence patterns and sentence parts was to help you withsome basic punctuation rules. For now, this is the one I want you to pay particular attention to:A single comma or other internal punctuation should not separate any essentialsentence elements.So a single comma should not separate Subject from Verb or Verb from Object.Sometimes writers have particular problems following this rule when a sentence has compoundelements: compound subjects, compound predicates, compound objects. But the rule is the same:A single comma should not separate the second element in a compound fromanother essential sentence element.So a single comma should not separate a second subject from the first or a second verb phrase fromthe first, a second object from the preposition in a prepositional phrase.Following this rule, remove any incorrect comma in #1-6 below and be ready to explain in classwhy it is incorrect:1. Tom’s second cousin from Texas, and his sister from Oregon are coming to the ceremony.2. In the back of the auditorium, the tall man who has been staring at me since we arrived, leftabruptly.3. The marketing representative from Dallas asked several questions after the lecture, and offeredto take everyone to lunch.4. Before the next meeting, each of us needs to complete the online survey, or turn in a paperform.5. Someone has to be in the store until the last customer leaves, and the lights are turned out.6. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictably treacherous, and very dangerous to inexpertdrivers.

Eliminating unnecessary (and potentially confusing) commasDelete commas where necessary in the following sentences. Add commas only if absolutely necessary.If a sentence is correct, mark C next to it in the left margin.1. Being prepared for the worst, is one way to escape disappointment.2. Please telephone me if you cannot send the information promptly, or if you have any questions.3. The Marx Brothers made delightful, hilarious, movies.4. I quickly accepted that I was, literally, in third-class quarters.5. As a child growing up in Jamaica, I often daydreamed about life in the United States.6. He wore a thick, black, wool coat over army fatigues.7. Often public figures, (Michael Jackson is a good example) go to great lengths to guard their privatelives.8. The speaker wanted everyone to sit up front, because the microphone wasn’t working.9. On Pam’s wrist, was a tattoo of a dragon chasing a tiger.10. Mesquite the hardest of the softwoods, grows primarily in the Southwest.11. Male supremacy was assumed by my father, and accepted by my mother.12. The lieutenant reported to his captain, that all of his men were present.13. The streets that three hours later would be bumper to bumper with commuters, were quiet andempty except for a few prowling cats.14. The children were restless, and seemed anxious to go.15. The classroom bully, who, despite his arrogance, craved affection, did not know how to ask for it.16. Buying so many of these books, has made us preferred customers.17. He wanted to see all of Europe, and to visit Asia as well.18. She loved early spring flowers such as, crocuses, daffodils, forsythia, and irises.19. He loved many foods for example, pastries and pasta.