English Language Arts
Grade 2
15 min
Commas with coordinate adjectives
Commas with coordinate adjectives
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify an adjective in a sentence.
Identify a noun in a sentence.
Find two adjectives describing the same noun.
Use the 'and' test to see if a comma is needed.
Use the 'switch' test to see if a comma is needed.
Correctly place a comma between two coordinate adjectives.
Have you ever seen a big, fluffy dog? πΆ Let's learn about that little comma!
We will learn about special describing words. We will find out when to use a comma. This makes our writing super clear!
Real-World Applications
Describing your favorite toy π§Έ
Writing about a yummy, sweet snack π
Telling a story about a funny, silly cat π
Making a birthday card for a kind, caring friend π
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Noun π§ΈA noun is a person, place, or thing.The 'dog', 'school', and 'ball' are all nouns.
Adjective π¨An adjective is a word that describes a noun.In 'the red ball', the word 'red' is an adjective.
Comma ,A comma is a little mark that tells us to pause.We use it to separate words in a list, like 'red, white, and blue'.
Coordinate Adjectives π€These are two describing words that work together.In 'the happy, playful puppy', 'happy' and 'playful' are partners.
Sentence πA sentence is a complete thought.'The cat sat on the mat.' is a sentence.
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The 'And' Trick π
Adjective + and + Adjective
If you can put 'and' between two adjectives and it sounds right, you need a comma.
The Flip-Flop Test π
Adjective 2 + Adjective 1
If you can switch the order of the adjectives and it still sounds right, you need a comma.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
Look at this sentence: 'The magician did a surprising, amazing trick.' Why is there a comma?
A.Because the trick was good.
B.Because you can also say 'an amazing, surprising trick'.
C.Because the sentence is long.
D.Because 'amazing' ends with the letter 'g'.
Challenging
In the sentence 'I have a little brown dog,' why is there NO comma?
A.Because you wouldn't say 'I have a brown little dog.'
B.Because 'dog' is a short word.
C.Because the sentence is about an animal.
D.Because you should never use commas with colors.
Challenging
Which pair of words would need a comma between them if they came before the word 'kitten'?
A.young black
B.my little
C.tiny, cute
D.one fluffy
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