s ZATS, SHeOnSs & LEAVES WHY, COMMAS REALLY 90 MAKE A DIFFERENCE! by NEW YORK TIMES Best-selling author illustrated by BGLTS O55 BONNIE TIMMONS)A panda walks iatto the Library. He eats @ sandwich, then draws iis bow and shoots two arrows shy dia you do that2” asks the Librarian as the panda walks toward the exit. The panda shows her a hadly punctuates he says. “That’s what it says we do.” ‘The Librarian looks at the page: .d hook. “I’m a panda,”INTRODUCTION Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, or stop. Of all the punctuation marks, the comma is the most used and misused. Commas can create havoc when they are left out or are put in the wrong spot, and the results of misuse can be hilarious. This Little dot with a tail has the power to change the meaning of a sentence by connecting things that shouldn't he connected or breaking apart things that should stay together. So enjoy laughing at some of the ways commas can change everything! Auer Lynne TrussSlow children crossing.A Every day, Anthony turns, slides, and swings.Every day, Anthony turns slides and swings.After we left Grandma, Mommy and I skipped about in the park.After we left, Grandma, Mommy, and I skipped about in the park.Becky teased the hoy with the fluffy duck.Becky teased the boy, with the fluffy duck.“ho | ceeEat here and get gas.Becky walked on, her head a little higher than usual.Becky walked on her head, a little higher than usual.Look at that huge hot dog!= = ~ 2 a = = 2 | nH a s ® s 3 3 3The kids, who got ice cream, were very happy.The kids who got ice cream were very happy.merry ih mat 2. The student, said the teacher, is crazy.HOMEWORK. The student said the teacher is crazy.I’ve finally decided to cheer up, everyhody!What is this thing called, honey?What is this thing called honey?WHY THESE COMMAS REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Slow, children eressing. The comma separates the two independent phrases Slow and chien eosing. Slow children erossing. Without the comma, sow is an adjective that modities chin, Go, get hin doctors! The comma separates the to independent clauses Go and get hin doctor. Go get him, doctors! ‘This comma makes Go get hima command directed {atthe doctors ‘Every day, Anthony turns, slides, and swings. The ist comma sets of the inrodctory phrase Every dy. The ater commas separate the thee vers inthe ist ‘very day, Anthony turns slides and swings. Without a comma ater tums, the words lies and swings change from verbs to nouns, After we left, Grandea, Mommy and 1 skipped about in the park. The fst comma separates the introductory caute After we ft. The second connec Grande ina ist with Mommy and After we Lett Grandua, Mowny and T skipped about in the park. “Te comma separates the inttodutory clause ‘Mtr we lft Gravina, Berky teased the hoy, with the fluffy duek. With a comme separating the wo phases, with the fuy duck escribes Sey’ action. ecky teased the hoy with the fluffy duck. ‘Without a comma, with the fly duck medifis the boy. Eat here, and get gas. ‘The comma separates the two independent causes at here and and get gos, Eat here and get gas. \With no comma, this sentence implies one ation causes the other.Becky valked on, her head a little higher than usual. The comma makes her head a litle ger than sua) modify Becky ook at the huge het dog! Without a comma, huge modifies hotdog ‘The Kids, who got ice cream, were very happy. ‘The commas sett information that snot essential tothe mesning ofthe sentence, ‘The student, said the teacher, is crazy. ‘The commas sets off the degendent clase sald the teacher No pushing, please. The comma separates the two independent phrases 'Nopshng and please D've finally decided to cheer up, everybody! ‘The comma separates the independent clause ve faaly eclded to cheer p tom everybody, which notes who the sentence is addressing What is this thing called, honey? The comma separates the independent clause What this ‘thing called ro the person being adaressea, honey. Becky walked onher head a Little higher than usual. With the comma after head, the phrase o litle higher than usual modifies the independent clause Becky walked on her head. 0k at the huge, hot dog? ‘Adin the comma makes huge and hot coordinating acjectves that both modity dog ‘The kids who got ice crean were very happy. Without commas, who got ier etam applies to only certain is ‘The student said the teacher is erazy. ‘without commas, the students the one making the statement No pushing please. With no comma, pees becomes a noun D've finally decided to cheer up everybody! With no comma, everybody becomes the cbect of chee up What is this thing called honey? Without a comma, honey isthe objet of ald