The Writer's Palette

COMMA OVERVIEW (,)

HOW TO USE:

1. FANBOYS
– Conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
– Put a comma before the FANBOYS.
– Put it in between two independent clauses.
– What is an independent clause? A sentence with a subject and a verb which makes it a complete thought.

Example:

I ate the apple, so I was full.

Independent clause 1: I ate the apple
Independent clause 2: I was full
FANBOYS: so

2. MISSING FANBOYS
– A sentence with two independent clauses pero walang FANBOYS.

Example:

I love to eat, I ate all the foods in the refrigerator.

– Warning: Considered as wrong ito kaya mas better kung lalagyan ng comma and FANBOYS, or use period, or semicolon.

Examples:

I love to eat, so I ate all the foods in the refrigerator.

I love to eat. I ate all the foods in the refrigerator.

I love to eat; I ate all the foods in the refrigerator.

3. LIST
– Use comma kung may list of items ang sentence mo.
– Pwedeng lagyan or huwag lagyan ng comma before and & or.
– Always put comma before and & or kung mahaba naman ang words/phrases sa list.

Examples:

You can take the burger, fries, and soda.

You can take the burger, fries and soda.

You can take the burger, fries, or soda.

You can take the burger, fries or soda.

I love to play with my cat, talk to my friends, and listen to music.

4. COMMENTS
– If lalagyan mo ng comment sa kalagitnaan ng speech, use comma before and after the comment.
– Pwedeng nasa hulihan din ang comment.
– To check kung tama ang grammar, try to read the sentence WITHOUT the comment at kung understandable pa rin ba.

Examples:

With comment: I was eating my burger, which was so good, when I saw the cute cat on the tree.
Without comment: I was eating my burger when I saw the cute cat on the tree.

With comment: Lily, my sister, is having a pool party.
Without comment: Lily is having a pool party. 

With comment: Cats are the cutest animals, not dogs.
Without comment: Cats are the cutest animals.

4. ADJECTIVES
– Describing words without conjunction. By the way, it's best if you learn the order of adjectives.

Example:

It was a cute, lazy, smart cat.

5. INTRODUCTION COMMA
– One, two, three, four, or more words at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

Yes, I know.

Nope, she is the one who did that.

Therefore, I want to sleep with him.

I think, she hates you.

As far as I know, he ran away.

6. QUOTING
– Like sa dialogue na pinag-usapan natin sa previous chapters.

Example:

"I love you," he said.

7. TIME
– If may nag-iindicate ng time sa beginning ng sentence, place the comma after it.
– Understandable kahit walang time indicator na nakasulat.

Example:

With time indicator: After six months, I started talking to her.
Without time indicator: I started talking to her.

8. DEPENDENT CLAUSE
– A sentence that has a dependent clause + independent clause.
– Without any conjunctions.
– Put comma BETWEEN the two clauses.
– There's no comma if the independent clause comes first.

Example:

When you're here, I can see my universe.

Dependent clause: When you're here
Independent clause: I can see my universe

Correct: I can see my universe when you're here.
Wrong: I can see my universe, when you're here.

9. QUESTION TAGS
– Lagyan ng comma before the question tags.

Examples:

He's your friend, right?

Tama ako, 'di ba?

So what, hmm?

10. TOO
– If it means also/as well, place a comma before the word too (optional only).

Example:

I love you, too.

I love you too. (also correct)

11. INTERJECTIONS
– Words with feelings like oh, well, wow, ugh, hey.
– Use a comma after the interjections kung nasa beginning.
– Use a comma before and after if nasa gitna.
– Use a comma before if nasa dulo.
– Rule: Gamitin ang comma if you want to express it mildly lang. If strong ang emotions na gusto mong ipahayag, use exclamation point instead.

Examples:

Ugh, that's true.

That's, ugh, true.

That's true, ugh.

Oh, that's true. (mild)

Oh that's true! (strong)

12. NAMES
– Use when your renaming, addressing, and listing.

Example:

Your friend, Mary, is beautiful. (renaming)

Grace, I hate you. (addressing)

Did you eat the chocolate, apple, and pasta, John? (listing)

13. LIKE
– Serves as an interruption.

Example:

With: I have to, like, go to the mall.
Without: I have to go to the mall.

With: She always says, like, stupid stuff or whatever.
Without: She always says stupid stuff or whatever.

With: Like, I hate her more!
Without: I hate her more!

With: She's crazy, like, you know what I mean?
Without: She's crazy, you know what I mean?