English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Commas with coordinate adjectives
Commas with coordinate adjectives
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'adjective' and 'coordinate adjective'.
Identify coordinate adjectives in a sentence.
Apply the 'and' test to determine if adjectives are coordinate.
Apply the 'reversal' test to determine if adjectives are coordinate.
Correctly place commas between coordinate adjectives.
Distinguish between coordinate and non-coordinate adjectives.
Explain the purpose of commas when used with coordinate adjectives.
Ever wonder why some lists of describing words have commas, and others don't? 🤔 It's not just random!
In this lesson, you'll learn the secrets to correctly using commas when multiple adjectives describe the same noun. Mastering this skill will make your writing clearer, more precise, and more pr...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
AdjectiveA word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjectives tell us more about a person, place, thing, or idea.The *red* ball bounced. (*Red* describes the noun *ball*.)
NounA word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.The *student* read a *book* in the *library*. (*Student*, *book*, *library* are nouns.)
Coordinate AdjectivesTwo or more adjectives that equally describe the same noun. They are independent of each other and could be separated by 'and' or have their order reversed without changing the meaning.The *bright*, *sunny* day was perfect. (*Bright* and *sunny* both describe *day* equally.)
Non-coordinate AdjectivesAdjectives that do not equally describe a noun. One adjective might modify the noun, and the other adjective modifies th...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule 1: Identifying Coordinate Adjectives (The 'And' & Reversal Tests)
Adjectives are coordinate if you can place the word 'and' between them AND you can reverse their order without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Use both the 'and' test and the 'reversal' test to confirm if adjectives are coordinate. If both tests work, the adjectives are coordinate and need a comma between them.
Rule 2: Using Commas with Coordinate Adjectives
Place a comma between two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun.
Once you've confirmed adjectives are coordinate using the tests, insert a comma in the space where 'and' would go. Do NOT put a comma before the noun.
Rule 3: No Comma for Non-coordinate Adjectives...
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Challenging
Read the following argument: 'In the sentence The chef made a delicious spicy tomato soup, a comma is needed between delicious and spicy.' Which piece of evidence from the tutorial best refutes this claim?
A.The reversal test shows that 'a spicy, delicious tomato soup' sounds natural, proving 'delicious' and 'spicy' are coordinate.
B.The word 'tomato' is a noun, so it cannot be modified by an adjective.
C.The 'and' test fails because 'delicious and spicy' is repetitive.
D.Adjectives of taste, like 'delicious' and 'spicy', can never be coordinate.
Challenging
A classmate punctuates a sentence as 'She wore a bright, yellow raincoat.' You argue that the comma is incorrect. What is the strongest justification for your argument, using the concepts from the tutorial?
A.The comma is wrong because 'bright' is an opinion and 'yellow' is a color, and they can't be mixed.
B.The comma is wrong because the adjectives are non-coordinate. The reversal test fails, as 'a yellow, bright raincoat' sounds less natural than the original.
C.The comma is correct because 'bright and yellow raincoat' makes sense.
D.The comma is wrong because you should never put a comma after the word 'bright'.
Challenging
Read the paragraph: '(1) The team explored a deep dark cave. (2) They found an ancient, mysterious map. (3) The map led them to a hidden stone chest. (4) Inside was a pile of shiny, valuable, gold coins.' Which sentence contains a punctuation error related to coordinate or non-coordinate adjectives?
A.Sentence 1
B.Sentence 2
C.Sentence 3
D.Sentence 4
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