Commas with Adjectives and Lists
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Commas can be confusing for some beginning writers, so we recommend providing plenty of opportunities for children to write and proofread sentences. We also recommend reading together and stopping to point out commas in text. This movie will explore how to use commas to separate adjectives and set off items in a list.

Remind children that punctuation marks are used in writing to help us understand how to read sentences. Commas are punctuation marks used to separate words, numbers, or ideas. Review with children that commas are used to separate two or more adjectives that are right next to each other. Show the sentence, "The sneaky, quick mouse stole the cheese." In that sentence the adjectives "sneaky" and "quick" describe the mouse. The adjectives are right next to each other, so we use a comma to separate them to make the sentence clearer and easier to read. Analyze and write other sentences together. Then present a sentence such as, "The long and bumpy road leads to the forest." How can children rewrite that sentence using a comma? Explain that using a comma to separate adjectives can make sentences clearer and less wordy.

Review with children that we also use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Present the sentence, "I saw dogs, squirrels, and birds at the park." The commas set off the items to help make the sentence clearer. That sentence is much easier to read than "I saw dogs squirrels and birds at the park." Remind children that they should write a comma after each item but not after the word "and." The conjunction “and” already separates the last item of the list, so a comma is not necessary. Next, present a sentence such as, "I ate a sandwich and an apple and a banana." Explain that we use commas to make the sentence clearer and more concise: "I ate a sandwich, an apple, and a banana." Explain that a list may also include nouns and adjectives, such as "I saw a red robin, a brown sparrow, and a black crow." Guide children to use commas to separate items or events in a list, such as "I walked to the park, climbed a tree, and played soccer." The items in that list are tasks or events. Together with children, practice analyzing more sentences.

Understanding when to use commas and other punctuation marks takes time and practice. We recommend writing incorrect sentences on the board or on a piece of paper and having children fill in the commas or rewrite the sentences correctly. Help children become active readers and conscientious writers! Remind them to pay attention to punctuation as they read and to always proofread their work and check for punctuation after they write.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Commas with Adjectives and Lists Teacher Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Pasta Punctuation

On the board, write a list without using a comma, such as "I am nuts for peanuts walnuts and almonds." Then invite student volunteers to add commas to correct the sentence. Next, challenge the class by writing a sentence such as, "I ate carrots and celery and raisins." Have student volunteers rewrite the sentence using commas. Finally, have each student create his or own sentence and write it without any commas in large print on paper or a chart strip. Provide uncooked elbow macaroni for children to put on top of their papers in the places where commas belong. Have students switch papers and try to place the macaroni commas correctly in their friends’ sentences. After the activity, you may wish for children to glue the macaroni to their papers and display them as a reminder of correct comma placement.

Describe It!

Bring a fun item into class, such as a stuffed animal or other toy. Then have students describe the item using two or more adjectives, such as "The soft, fuzzy teddy bear is on the table." Record student responses on the board, have volunteers write their responses on chart paper, or have small groups write and check over each others' work. Who can create the most descriptive sentence? Challenge students to use precise vocabulary.

Commas with Adjectives and Lists Family Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Tasty Adjectives

Eat a healthy meal together and have your child describe what he or she eats. Encourage your child to think of the texture, color, and flavor of the food. Then have him or her describe the food in a sentence using two or more adjectives. Write the sentence down together and model using commas to separate the adjectives. You may wish to write sentences that contain incorrect comma use and have your child proofread your work. You might also repeat the activity prior to cooking a meal and have your child write a menu that describes what will be served. Decorate and display the menu on your refrigerator or table for other family members to read.

I Spy a List

Play "I Spy" with your child and have him or her "spy" three or more items. For example, you might say, "I spy with my eye a fork, a spoon, and a knife." Have your child locate the objects you were thinking of, then write the sentence together, paying special attention to the commas. Repeat the activity again with other items. Take turns writing the sentences, or write the sentence without commas and have your child add them in as a proofreading exercise.