Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS):
7.20.B
recognize and use punctuation marks, including:
commas after introductory words, phrases, and clauses; and
semicolons, colons, and hyphens.
Georgia Math and ELA Standards:
7.L.GC.1.49
Mechanics: Use commas, parentheses, and dashes to set off nonessential words, phrases, or clauses. (Master)
Georgia Math and ELA Standards:
7.L.GC.1.51
Mechanics: Use hyphens with appropriate affixes and compound words. (Continue)
Georgia Math and ELA Standards:
7.L.GC.1.52
Mechanics: Use semicolons, with or without a conjunctive adverb, to form compound and compound-complex sentences. (Continue)
Georgia Math and ELA Standards:
7.L.GC.1.56
Mechanics: Use colons to introduce lists, examples, and explanations. (Introduce)
7th Grade Writing - Punctuation Lesson
COMMAS AFTER INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS
Commas should be used after introductory words, phrases, and clauses.
Introductory Words
Interjections are usually one or two words that come at the beginning of a sentence. They are used to express an emotion of some sort. Interjections that show strong emotions are usually punctuated with an exclamation point. Other interjections have a comma after them instead.
Some examples of interjections are oh,well, yeah, thanks, and hello.
Example:
INTERJECTIONS
Oh, I'm not sure if the gym can accommodate more than 200 people at once.
Hello, are you here to pick up the catering order?
Conjunctive adverbs are adverbs that are used to connect clauses and show relationships. When a conjunctive adverb introduces a clause, then a comma should be used after it.
Some examples of conjunctive adverbs are also, consequently, indeed, however, and therefore.
Example:
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
Anyway, the next bus won't be arriving for another hour, so you can wait inside instead of out here.
Next, the caterpillar forms itself a chrysalis where it will undergo metamorphosis.
Nouns of direct address are used to refer to a person directly by name or title. When it comes at the beginning of a sentence, a comma should be used after it.
Example:
NOUNS OF DIRECT ADDRESS
Doctor, should I eat before I take my antibiotics or after?
Rosa, do you want to join us for an impromptu karaoke party?
Introductory Phrases
A prepositional phrase that is more than five words or two or more prepositional phrases that build on one another usually have a comma after them when they introduce a sentence.
Example:
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Over the long Memorial Day weekend, Simon ate two whole watermelons.
In the classroom at the end of the hall, there was an iguana that slept in a glass enclosure.
An infinitive phrase consists of the word "to" + a base verb and any modifiers. When an infinitive phrase introduces a sentence, a comma should be used after the infinitive phrase.
Example:
INFINITIVE PHRASES
To initiate the new members, the club held a welcoming ceremony and party.
To ensure that they wouldn't run out of supplies, there was a strict limit on what could be used.
A participle phrase is usually made up of an "-ing" or "-ed" verb and any modifying or descriptive words. Participle phrases act as adjectives. When a participle phrase introduces a sentence, it should have a comma after it.
Example:
PARTICIPLE PHRASES
Haggling with the seller, Mara was able to buy the iridescent scarf at a discount.
Choked with overwhelming emotion, Greg cried joyous tears at his son's graduation.
Introductory clauses
When a dependent clause is used to introduce a sentence, a comma should be used after the clause.
Example:
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Because she had a terrible time waking up in the mornings, Casey used five different alarms to help her get up.
When the ferocious storm finally ended, the streets were flooded with water and debris.
Semicolons
Semicolons can be used to connect two closely related independent clauses together.
Example:
TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Lois was undaunted by any obstacles in her way; she usually just plowed right through them with great enthusiasm.
The small town flourished after the great meteor shower; tourists came from all over to see the leftover rocks.
When two independent clauses are connected by a conjunctive adverb, a semicolon should be used between the two clauses.
Example:
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
Joey forgot to set his alarm last night;consequently, he was late to school.
Saul assumed that his favorite ice cream was sold out;however, a cashier had set aside a pint for him.
If a series of items already contains commas or other internal punctuation, then semicolons should be used to separate the items.
Example:
SERIES OF ITEMS
The traveler visited London, Arkansas; London, Kentucky; and London, Ohio.
Haley brought Apple, her iguana; Cherry, her guinea pig; and Cucumber, her cat, to the family reunion.
Colons
Colons should only be used after complete sentences. They are often used to introduce a list or short example.
Example:
LISTS/EXAMPLES
Pick up these groceries from the store: green grapes, broccoli, cilantro, and white bread.
Kristin's new dress was two of her favorite colors:
blue and pink.
Colons can also be used to connect two independent clauses when the second clause explains or illustrates the first clause in some way.
Example:
EXPLANATIONS/ILLUSTRATIONS
My dog Scooby is more than a pet to me: he is a crucial part of my family.
No one can beat Wilma at running: she's held the fastest time for months now.
Hyphens
Hyphens are often used in compound words
Certain compound nouns, such as "mother-in-law" or "sign-off," are hyphenated. It's best to check with a dictionary to be sure whether a compound noun should be hyphenated.
Compound adjectives are made up of a noun + an adjective, noun + a participle, or an adjective + a participle. When compound adjectives come right before a noun, they should be hyphenated.
Example:
COMPOUND WORDS
The editor-in-chief at the newspaper has to approve all stories before they can be published.
The ice-cold coffee belongs to that good-looking man over there.
Mrs. Horner's ten-year-old daughter is in my sister's fifth grade class.
Certain prefixes should always use a hyphen when combined with a base word.
The prefixes, self-, ex-, all-, and great-, should always be hyphenated.
When a prefix is combined with a proper noun, it should always be hyphenated.
Example:
PREFIXES
Tessa, the self-appointed leader, spoke to the teacher on behalf of all the other students.
Harold's great-grandmother invented the first portable ice cream maker.
Hyphens should be used when the numbers twenty-one through ninety-nine are written out.
Example:
NUMBERS
After counting again, Trevor realized he only had forty-nine dollars, not fifty.
There's still twenty-one mini apple pies left for sale at the bakery.
7th Grade Writing - Punctuation Lesson