Punctuation

Video Lesson

PUNCTUATION VIDEO LESSON

Goals for Lesson:

1. Understand the four main uses for commas
2. Master which punctuation goes between two complete sentences
3. Master which punctuation goes between a complete and incomplete sentence
4. Identify run-on sentences and incomplete sentences

Topic One: Commas

1. Natural pause – commas are used to create a natural pause in a sentence. Just be careful to
use them when they’re needed and not to randomly stick commas when they’re not needed
a. My friends and I, walked to the store this morning.
b. My friends and I walked to the store, trembling from the cold morning.
2. Serial comma in a list – a comma must always come before the “and” in a list of 3 or more
items if the items are distinct. Otherwise, the reader might make an incorrect assumption.
a. I would like to thank my parents, Oprah and Michael Jackson.
b. I would like to thank my parents, Oprah, and Michael Jackson.
c. The tall, handsome man…OR the tall, handsome, and kind man…
3. Comma phrase – commas can create separate phrases in the middle of a sentence that
are purely descriptive *can also use a dash (-) for this function
Note: “appositive” phrases are a special type of comma phrase when the information inside
the commas is a noun phrase. For example: “Clifford, a big dog, is cute.”
a. My teacher, who lives down the street, is my favorite at school.
b. My teacher, whom I really like, lives down the street.
c. My friends love to run on the beach. I, however, prefer to run inside.
d. Surrounding the city’s strongholds, he thought, would lead to a surrender.
4. Comma splices – a comma is NEVER allowed by itself between two complete sentences
a. I went to school, my grades increased.
b. I went to school, and my grades increased.
c. I walked down the street with my friends, they are all really kind to me.
d. I walked down the street with my friends; they are all really kind to me.

Comma Practice Questions

1. Raymond, being too big to carry__ had to walk gingerly home on his own.
2. Kyle’s grandfather__ however__ is very excited for the play tonight.
3. After the publication of the novel, now more people can hear Mike’s voice__ and the voices of
his friends – share stories about growing up in Detroit, Michigan.
4. The idea of silly__ and the word silly tend to make people laugh.
5. Yoga__ admittedly seems a topic of important discussion for exercise enthusiasts.
6. Chapter 2__ for example__ details the story of the Spanish explorers in the Americas.
7. I consider the leader to be intelligent, well-spoken__ and kind.
8. The confident__ intelligent__ woman deserved to be nominated President of the company.

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Video Lesson

2 complete sentences 1 complete + 1 incomplete sentence

Topic Two Topic Three
Period (.) Comma (,)
Semi-colon (;) Dash (-)
Colon (:) Colon (:)
, and
, but
, so
, while

Topic Two: Punctuation for two complete sentences

1. Between two complete sentences (also called independent clauses) you are allowed a very
specific set of choices of punctuation
a. Period: I enjoyed the movie. Did you?
b. Semi-Colon: I went to the store after work; however, she had already bought eggs and
milk.
c. Colon: The team won the championship two years in a row: they won in 2002 and in
2003.
d. , conjunction: I really like you, and I want to take you to prom.
e. , conjunction: I would have gone there, but it was too far away.
f. , conjunction: I think I will win, so I will play.
g. , conjunction: The price of gas is decreasing, while the price of food is increasing.
2. Remember that a comma by itself (i.e., not with a conjunction) is NOT allowed between two
complete sentences

Topic Three: Punctuation between a complete and incomplete sentence

1. Between a complete and incomplete sentence, you have fewer – but equally important – choices
a. Comma: When I work hard, I achieve great success!
b. Dash: There is one thing – actually several things – I need to talk to you about.
c. Colon: The team won the championship two years in a row: in 2002 and in 2003.
2. Also note special rules for colons:
a. They’re allowed either between two complete sentences or between a complete and
incomplete sentence
b. They join phrases that have similar context or meaning
c. They are NEVER allowed after a verb
d. You need: pencils, paper, and a calculator.
e. You need pencils, paper, and a calculator.
f. You need the following items for class: pencils, paper, and a calculator.

Note: ; however,  goes between two complete sentences

, however,  functions as an appositive phrase in the middle of a sentence

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Punctuation Choice Practice Questions: Choose which version of each sentence is correct
OPTION A
It took some work to get everything set up, but
when the pump was turned on and the water
was dosed with bacteria, the tank transformed
into a colorful wonderland.
It didn’t take long though, for the female
panda to give birth.
They grew quickly, and soon more were born.
The customer paid me ten dollars and said he
would pay double if I carried a different brand.
When P&M and Smithhouse merged. The
Board of Directors took charge.
The villagers have many skills. Weaving
baskets, hunting, and harvesting vegetables.
Tammy was, of course chosen to run the non-
profit.
The monomers of DNA and RNA, called
nucleotides, are organic molecules.
Amanda’s only surviving writings are her
collection of poetry and her travel brochures.
Some chemicals produce blue, for example,
others produce red.
Many people seeking adventure like to kayak in
white water, the tumultuous rapids of rivers.
Bill sought start-up funding for his charity
being a farm that teaches children how to
harvest vegetables.
People often complain about the long, hard,
hours they work each week.
The cool, crisp air, felt sharp in my lungs as I
took a deep inhale.
The collection, entitled Contemporary
Nutrition, features the facts, myths, and
science of exercise and nutrition.
I prefer to walk my dog at 5pm before the sun
sets, occasionally, I will walk her after 7pm.
Now having lived in San Diego where it rains
fewer than 12 inches per year.
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Punctuation
Video Lesson
OPTION B
It took some work to get everything set up, but
when the pump was turned on and the water
was dosed with bacteria. The tank transformed
into a colorful wonderland.
It didn’t take long, though, for the female
panda to give birth.
They grew quickly, soon more were born.
The customer paid me ten dollars and said, he
would pay double if I carried a different brand.
When P&M and Smithhouse merged, the
Board of Directors took charge.
The villagers have many skills: weaving
baskets, hunting, and harvesting vegetables.
Tammy was, of course, chosen to run the non-
profit.
The monomers of DNA and RNA called
nucleotides, are organic molecules.
Amanda’s only surviving writings are her
collection of poetry, and her travel brochures.
Some chemicals produce blue, for example,
while others produce red.
Many people seeking adventure like to kayak in
white water the tumultuous rapids of rivers.
Bill sought start-up funding for his charity, a
farm that teaches children how to harvest
vegetables.
People often complain about the long, hard
hours they work each week.
The cool, crisp air felt sharp in my lungs as I
took a deep inhale.
The collection, entitled Contemporary
Nutrition, features: the facts, myths, and
science of exercise and nutrition.
I prefer to walk my dog at 5pm before the sun
sets; occasionally, I will walk her after 7pm.
Now I live in San Diego where it rains fewer
than 12 inches per year.
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Video Lesson

Topic Four: Run-ons and incomplete sentences

1. Run-ons
a. Definition: A run-on combines two independent clauses without needed punctuation.
b. Example: Run on sentences are not good because they go on and on and should really
have punctuation they should be separated but they are not.

2. Incomplete Sentences
a. Definition: Incomplete sentences do not have a subject and a verb. Complete sentences
have both!
b. Example: Went to the store
c. Example: The incredible artist from San Francisco
d. Example: While walking down the street

Run-ons and Incomplete Sentences Practice Questions Choose which version of each sentence is correct.

OPTION A
My uncle Kenny, the fifth child in a family of
eight.
Wilson contributed to the field of
bioengineering through his discoveries.
He has a great personality and fun sense of
humor make him irresistible to women.
I never imagined that the work would lead to
moments of self-actualization and happiness.
Many now consider his song a second national
anthem.
Finally, the dog guided the small group of
sheep into a pen.
When my children, who were both medical
surgeons, gave me an exam, I was quite
nervous.
To speak of the platypus.
Tradition has it that the first fireworks were
created in the eleventh century. When the
Chinese wanted to scare off evil spirits.
Then, grumbling angrily, he walked home.
Jade is hard; making it difficult to chip.
OPTION B
My uncle Kenny is the fifth child in a family of
eight.
Wilson’s contribution to the field of
bioengineering through his discoveries.
His great personality and fun sense of humor
make him irresistible to women.
Never imagining that the work would lead to
moments of self-actualization and happiness.
Many now considering his song a second
national anthem.
Finally, guiding the small group of sheep into
a pen.
When my children were both medical
surgeons, gave me an exam, I was quite
nervous.
I am speaking of the platypus.
Tradition has it that the first fireworks were
created in the eleventh century when the
Chinese wanted to scare off evil spirits.
Then, grumbling angrily, walking home.
Jade is hard, making it difficult to chip.