Description
Every unit is all ninja, all the time. Ninja jokes, ninja facts, ninja stories. Learners will have a riot of a time learning about commas. Of all things! Commas! So check out the best idea to ever hit the grammar world, a 46-page unit that includes all answer keys!!! (resources are .pdf or PowerPoint)
This grammar unit plan covers every major comma rule your students need to know. Commas separate parts of a sentence so the meaning is clear. Students learn how to use a comma to separate independent clauses, set off introductory words and phrases, and punctuate direct address. They also practice using commas with coordinate adjectives, nonrestrictive clauses, noun phrases, and direct quotations. Each lesson builds on the last so students develop real confidence with sentence structure and comma placement. Bonus, they enjoy eyerolling fun the whole time!
What Other Teachers Are Saying About This Grammar Unit
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♥ My seventh grade students have a renewed enthusiasm for grammar. I think the practice sentences are humorous and so do my students. We usually have a discussion about which one they think is the best.
♥ Love how the instruction is broken down! This is a resource that I will use year after year!
♥ Great! My middle schoolers couldn’t stop laughing at the pretest questions!
♥ Amazing! My students literally beg for Ninja Wednesdays. Thank you so much for sharing your hard work.
♥ My students were having a hard time understanding all the comma rules. This broke it down skill by skill and they were able to feel successful. Love the sentences and stories. Very creative.
♥ Wonderful! My boys really like this English. Thank You.
COMMON CORE: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2
“I hate grammar,” students too often say. “Why do we have to learn this stuff?” Now, for once, a grammar unit exists that will engage middle schoolers and high schoolers alike — THE GRAMMAR NINJA.
Assessment Tools
- Student Content Mastery Tracker
- Commas Pretest
- Commas Final Review Practice
- Commas Final Scantron Test
- Commas Final Write-in Test
Content Lessons
Each lesson focuses on a specific comma rule. Students learn when and how to use a comma in different sentence contexts. The structured approach moves from basic rules to more complex clauses and phrases.
- In a Series
- w/ Compound Sentences
- w/ Introductory Information
- w/ Appositives
- w/ Direct Address
- Between Adjectives
- w/ Geography
- w/ Dates
- w/ Quotations & Dialogue
- w/ Addresses
- w/ Written Letters
- w/ Numbers
What Students Will Learn
This unit covers the comma rules students encounter most often in their own writing and on standardized tests. Here is what your students will practice:
- Use commas to separate two independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). These are the seven coordinating conjunctions that connect words, phrases, and clauses. Each independent clause expresses a complete thought on its own. Place one comma before the conjunction. Without the comma, you risk running two sentences together.
- Use commas after introductory words, introductory phrases, and dependent clauses that come before the main clause. This includes infinitive phrases and absolute phrases at the beginning of a sentence.
- Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses and non essential information in the middle of a sentence. Many nonrestrictive clauses are relative clauses that add detail about a noun phrase. Use two commas to set off the clause. Students will learn how the meaning of a sentence changes when essential elements are removed.
- Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more words, phrases, or clauses written in a series. This includes understanding the serial comma (also called the oxford comma or listing comma) and why the final comma matters.
- Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Students will learn to test whether multiple adjectives need a comma by swapping their order. Do not place a comma after the final adjective before the noun.
- Use commas with direct address, direct quotations, quotation marks, geographical names, and dates. Students also learn how commas interact with other punctuation marks like the exclamation point and question mark.
- Identify and avoid common errors like the comma splice, which incorrectly joins two sentences with only a comma. Students learn not to place an extra comma between a compound subject, compound object, or compound predicate. They also learn why separating two verbs in a compound predicate with a comma is incorrect.
How to Use This Comma Unit in Your Classroom
Start with the pretest to see what your students already know. Then work through each lesson in order. Each lesson includes examples, practice sentences, and answer keys. Use the final review and final exam to measure growth. The complete unit gives you a clear beginning, middle, and end so you can teach every comma rule with confidence.
Students practice identifying where to use a comma in a complete sentence. They also learn when not to use commas. For example, students will see why you should not separate a subject from its verb with a comma. They will learn that clauses beginning with “that” are essential elements and should not be set off by commas. The pause they hear when a sentence is spoken aloud often signals where a comma belongs.
Students also explore how a verb expressing mental action (like “think” or “believe”) can introduce a clause that follows a comma. Throughout each lesson, students see how the writer intended meaning shifts based on where the comma is placed.
Bonus PowerPoints Included
NOTE: We’re slowly adding these bonus resources all in to save you time!
- Commas w/ Introductory Information
- in a Series (List)
- w/ Compounds
- Between Adjectives
- w/ Appositives
- w/ Direct Address
- w/ Geography
So enjoy! Or the ninjas will get you. Don’t look over your shoulder.
See Also
Commas Complete Unit – Lessons, Assessments, Answer Keys – Grammar Ninja
Commas Pre-test – Grammar Ninja
Commas in a Series (List) PowerPoint – Comma Rules – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ a Series (in a List) – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Compound Sentences – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Introductory Clauses & Phrases – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Introductory Information PowerPoint – Comma Rules – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Appositives – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Direct Address – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Adjectives – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Dates and Geography – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Quotations & Dialogue – Grammar Ninja
Commas w/ Addresses, Letters, & Numbers – Grammar Ninja
Commas Final Review – Grammar Ninja
Commas Final Exam (2 versions) – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech Complete Unit – Lessons, Assessments, Answers – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech Pre-test – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Nouns – Grammar Ninja
Nouns Parts of Speech PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Verbs – Grammar Ninja
Verbs Parts of Speech PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Pronouns – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Adjectives – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Adverbs – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Prepositions – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Conjunctions – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech with Interjections – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech Final Review – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech Final Exam (2 versions) – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs Complete Unit – Lessons, Assessments, Answer Keys – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs Pre-test – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Action, Linking, Helping, Infinitives – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Simple Subjects and Verbs – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Sentences and Complete Thoughts – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Agreement – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Compound Subjects and Verbs – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Tricky Subjects – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Irregular Verbs – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Irregular Verbs PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs w/ Lie vs. Lay – Irregular Verbs – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs Final Review – Grammar Ninja
Subjects Verbs Final Exam (2 versions) – Grammar Ninja
Clauses and Phrases – 4 Types of Sentences – Grammar Ninja
Clauses and Phrases – 4 Types of Sentences PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Clauses and Phrases – Independent vs. Subordinate PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Parts of Speech Review PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
Quotation Marks vs Italics and Underlining Organizer – Grammar Ninja
Quotation Marks vs Italics & Underlining PowerPoint – Grammar Ninja
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