Introduction to commas

David and Paige, KA's resident grammarians, introduce the three ways to end a sentence: the period, the exclamation point, and the question mark. 

Three ways to end a sentence

David and Paige introduce you to the comma! The comma is a punctuation mark that separates sentence elements, such as lists, dates, and clauses. It's the superhero of punctuation, but it has one weakness: commas can't go at the end of sentences.

Meet the comma

Learn how to use commas to punctuate a written list of people, things, actions, or events. 

Punctuating lists

Commas in space and time

David and Paige, KA’s resident grammarians, talk about how to address and sign off on letters using commas! 

Salutations and valedictions

Learn how to use commas when writing addresses (in space) and dates (in time).

In English, you use commas to separate introductory elements from the rest of a sentence. Find out how with David and Paige! 

Commas and introductory elements

More ways to use commas

David and Paige, KA’s resident grammarians, discuss tag questions, yes and no statements, and direct address -- all situations where the comma is super useful. 

More uses for commas

“Today we’re going to talk about using commas in dialogue,” said David and Paige, KA’s resident grammarians. 

Commas in dialogue

David and Paige explain appositives, noun phrases that clarify or redefine another noun, and how to use commas to set them off in sentences. "My favorite snack, the cookie cat, is back in stock!" is a sentence that uses an appositive.

Appositives

David and Paige tackle the great comma debate of our time: Oxford comma or no Oxford comma? 

BONUS VIDEO – The Oxford comma

Apostrophes and contractions

David and Paige, KA’s resident grammarians, introduce a new piece of punctuation: the apostrophe! 

Introduction to the apostrophe

Apostrophes are great at standing in for missing letters, allowing us to shorten words. Paige and David discuss contractions and the Principle of Least Effort. 

Introduction to contractions

There is *one* extremely rare case in which we use apostrophes to make things plural. David and Paige, KA's resident grammarians, discuss this unusual case.

Apostrophes and plurals

Introduction to the possessive

Apostrophes can help show when something belongs to someone. Paige and David explain how! 

Do words that end in "s" still need _'s_ to show possession? David and Paige explain!  

Possession for words ending in “s”

Paige and David talk about using apostrophes to show that something belongs to multiple people.

Advanced (plural) possession

"Its" versus "it's"

David and Paige explain the meaning of two English words that look and sound very similar but act very different: _its_ and _it's_. 

Choosing between its and it’s

The apostrophe has a bizarre history, including being the name for something that's not really related to grammar at all. David, Paige, and special guest Jake explain.

BONUS VIDEO – History of the apostrophe

David, Paige, and Jake cover the fascinating history of the possessive apostrophe. Stay tuned for this bonus video!

關於我們

相關連結

支持我們