Commas

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 3 to 6 · English

Commas: I can use commas in lists, after openers and to make meaning clear, and spot a comma splice.

1. Here are apples, bananas and carrots.

   Three kinds of thing, one after another. That is a list.

   Picture: Apples: 2 apples, bananas: 3 bananas and carrots: 4 carrots.

2. Mum bought apples, bananas and carrots.

   A comma goes between the things in the list.

   The last two things are joined by and, so no comma goes there.

   Picture: The sentence "Mum bought apples, bananas and carrots.", with the comma and "and" underlined.

3. Your turn: Which sentence uses commas in its list correctly?

   Choose one:

   • Sam packed a hat a towel and a book.
   • Sam packed a hat, a towel and a book.
   • Sam packed a hat, a towel and, a book.

   Answer

   The answer: Sam packed a hat, a towel and a book.

   Sam packed a hat, a towel and a book. A comma goes between the things, and and joins the last two.

Words to know

comma:

A small mark that separates parts of a sentence.

list:

Three or more things written one after another.

fronted adverbial:

An opener that tells us when, where or how, with a comma after it.

clause:

A group of words with a verb in it.

comma splice:

Two whole sentences joined with only a comma. A mistake to avoid!