Page 146 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Activities 3.16, 3.19
Lesson: Commas with Nonessential Elements Learning Target
• Use commas correctly to set off nonessential elements.
Commas are used to set off certain nonessential grammatical elements, such as nonrestrictive appositives, interrupting elements, and introductory elements.
Nonrestrictive Appositives and Appositive Phrases
If an appositive or appositive phrase is nonrestrictive (that is, not essential to the basic meaning of the sentence), it is set off with commas. If leaving out the appositive or appositive phrase would change the meaning of the sentence, it is not set off.
The American author Madeleine L’Engle wrote A Wrinkle in Time. [The appositive Madeleine L’Engle is essential to the basic meaning of the sentence. It restricts the meaning of author. Without the appositive, the reader does not know which American author is meant.]
Madeleine L’Engle, an American author, wrote A Wrinkle in Time. [The appositive an American author adds extra information; it is nonessential.]
Interrupting Elements Nouns of direct address are set off:
Isabelle, have you read A Swiftly Tilting Planet? Have you read A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Isabelle?
Parenthetical expressions are usually set off:
By the way, that’s my favorite book.
The books, as I recall, include interesting ideas about time travel.
Introductory Elements
When yes, no, well, or a mild interjection begins a sentence, it is set off with a comma:
Yes, I have read that book. Boy, did I love it!
When a long prepositional phrase or a series of two or more short prepositional phrases begins a sentence, it is
set off with a comma:
Of all the books that you have read this year, which is your favorite?
In the library at our school, there is a book that I have read at least five times. When an adverb clause begins a sentence, it is set off with a comma:
When I read, it is as if I am visiting another world.
Because the library is closed on Thursday, we plan to go on Friday.
Grammar Activities • Unit 3 5
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