Commas and gerunds Übung PDF

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Quick Guide to Commas 1. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. 2. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause. 3. Use a pair of commas in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. 4. Do not use commas to set off essential elements of the sentence, such as clauses beginning with that (relative clauses). That clauses after nouns are always essential. That clauses following a verb expressing mental action are always essential. 5. Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. 6. Use commas to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Be sure never to add an extra comma between the final adjective and the noun itself or to use commas with non-coordinate adjectives. 7. Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift. 8. Use commas to set off phrases at the end of the sentence that refer back to the beginning or middle of the sentence. Such phrases are free modifiers that can be placed anywhere in the sentence without causing confusion. 9. Use commas to set off all geographical names, items in dates (except the month and day), addresses (except the street number and name), and titles in names. 10. Use a comma to shift between the main discourse and a quotation. 11. Use commas wherever necessary to prevent possible confusion or misreading.

Info and exercises from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Comma Practice – General 1. We went to Bar Harbor but did not take the ferry to Nova Scotia. 2. The ginkgo tree whose leaves turn bright yellow in the fall came to this country from Asia. 3. The address for the governor's mansion is 391 West Ferry Road Atlanta Georgia. 4. The villagers enjoyed fairs festivals and good conversation. 5. When the intermission was over the members of the audience moved back to their seats. 6. Andy took the elevator to the third floor rushed into the office and asked to see his father. 7. When he stumbled over your feet William was clumsy not rude. 8. She listened to her favorite record with close careful attention. 9. Jillian who had worked in the dress shop all summer hoped to work there again during the Christmas holidays. 10. Go to the first traffic light turn left and then look for a yellow brick building on the north side of the street. 11. After eating the dog's dinner Frisbee ate his own. 12. "Oh no" Max exclaimed "I think that Dr. Holmes was referring to Eliot the novelist not Eliot the poet." 13. Below the fields stretched out in a hundred shades of green. 14. To understand the purpose of the course the student needs to read the syllabus. 15. All students are eligible to receive tickets but must go to the athletic office to pick them up. 16. Thomas Paine's pamphlet appeared in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on January 9 1776. Using Commas with Nonessential Elements 1. The girl who teaches swimming at the neighborhood pool has a great deal of patience. 2. The girl who enjoyed teaching swimming decided to major in physical education at college. 3. The high school course that was most valuable to me was typing. 4. Maria wearing an original dress of her own design was the center of attention. 5. Dogsled mushing which has been his favorite sport for years requires a lot of effort. 6. Dauphin Island located off the coast of Alabama is a favorite spot for fishermen. 7. He saw his favorite movie Star Wars eight times. 8. Two of her friends Kate and Beth are planning to share an apartment with her next summer. 9. Citizen Kane considered by many critics to be the greatest American film ever made won only one Academy Award. 10. The officer who made the arrest had been investigated previously for excessive use of force.

Gerunds A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. The term verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition. Gerund as subject:  

Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (Traveling is the gerund.) The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (The gerund has been removed.)

Gerund as direct object:  

They do not appreciate my singing. (The gerund is singing.) They do not appreciate my assistance. (The gerund has been removed)

Gerund as subject complement:  

My cat's favorite activity is sleeping. (The gerund is sleeping.) My cat's favorite food is salmon. (The gerund has been removed.)

Gerund as object of preposition:  

The police arrested him for speeding. (The gerund is speeding.) The police arrested him for criminal activity. (The gerund has been removed.)

A Gerund Phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the gerund, such as: The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence. Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do. Finding (gerund) a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund) in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb) The gerund phrase functions as the direct object of the verb appreciate. I hope that you appreciate my offering you this opportunity. my (possessive pronoun adjective form, modifying the gerund) offering (gerund) you (indirect object of action expressed in gerund) this opportunity (direct object of action expressed in gerund) The gerund phrase functions as the subject complement. Tom's favorite tactic has been expressing concern to his constituents. expressing concern to (gerund) his constituents (direct object of action expressed in gerund)

The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition for. You might get in trouble for faking an illness to avoid work. faking (gerund) an illness (direct object of action expressed in gerund) to avoid work (infinitive phrase as adverb) The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence. Being the boss made Jeff feel uneasy. Being (gerund) the boss (subject complement for Jeff, via state of being expressed in gerund) Punctuation A gerund virtually never requires any punctuation with it. Points to remember: 1. 2.

A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).

3.

Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.

Info from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Exercise: Gerund or infinitive? Fill in the blank with the appropriate gerund or infinitive form of the verb given in parenthesis. 1. We decided _________ (buy) a new car. 2. They’ve got some _________ (work) to do. 3. Peter gave up _________ (smoke). 4. He’d like _________ (fly) an aeroplane. 5. I enjoy _________ (write) picture postcards. 6. Do you know what _________ (do) if there is a fire in the shop? 7. Avoid _________ (make) silly mistakes. 8. My parents wanted me _________ (be) home by 10 o’clock. 9. I dream about _________ (build) a big house. 10. I’m hoping _________ (see) Lisa. Exercise from http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/...