Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory
elements.
Mild exclamations such as well,
oh, or hey
Hey, that’s an unusual pet you’re
walking.
Introductory words such as yes
and no
Yes, it’s my pet iguana.
Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory
elements.
Introductory participial phrases
Switching on the flashlight, the ranger led the
way to the caves.
Two or more introductory prepositional
phrases or one long one.
By
the time
get
home Ifrom
At home
andIat
school,
enjoyschool,
readingI am
ready
for books.
a snack.
different
Introductory Elements
• To make sure you
have an introductory
element, see if you
can delete it.
• If what remains is a
complete sentence,
what you have deleted
is an introductory
element.
• While I was taking
my morning walk,
a car almost hit
me.
• While I was taking
my morning walk,
a car almost hit
me.
Introductory elements
A participial phrase is used as an adjective and
consists of a participle and any complements or
modifiers the participle has.
participial phrase
participle
Switching on
Switching
Disappointed
Disappointed
on
onthe
by
the
the
bythe
by
flashlight,
the
the
flashlight,
flashlight,
high
high
high
prices,
prices,
the
prices,
the
the
ranger
we
ranger
we
ranger
made
we
made
led
made
ledled
the
up
the
upa
the
up
a
way
new
a
new
to
gift
gift
the
list.
list.
caves.
The
The participial
participial phrase
phrase Disappointed
Switching on by
thethe
flashlight
high prices
modifies
modifies
the wordthe
ranger.
word we.
Introductory elements
A prepositional phrase includes a preposition,
the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of
that object.
object of
the prep.
prep.
At
Natural
Museum
At the
the Natural
Natural Science
Science
Science
Museum
Museum
prep.
object of
the prep.
prepositional phrase.
Near the
Near
the door
door
door to
to
to the
the
the garage
garage
garage
Introductory elements
Use a comma to set off certain introductory
elements.
Introductory adverb clauses
After he sang, the audience applauded.
Introductory elements
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that
modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
Adverb clauses generally answer the questions
how, when, where, why, how, how much, to what
extent, or under what circumstances the action of
the verb takes place.
After he sang, the audience applauded.
After he sang tells when the audience applauded.
Introductory elements
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) does
not express a complete thought and cannot stand
by itself as a sentence.
when you arrive at the airport in Dallas
What happens when you arrive?
which grow only locally
What grows?
Introductory elements
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
1. In Mexico a favorite dish is a corn tortilla
with beans.
2. If you’d like more variety in your diet you
could add more whole grains to your meals.
3. Because the soybean is high in protein it has
been a principal crop in Asian countries for
more than five thousand years.
Introductory elements
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
1. In Mexico a favorite dish is a corn tortilla
with beans.
C
Introductory elements
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
2. If you’d like more variety in your diet ,you
could add more whole grains to your meals.
M
Introductory elements
Identify whether the following items are
missing commas (M) or are correct as is (C). For items
missing commas, add the comma where needed.
3. Because the soybean is high in protein,it has
been a principal crop in Asian countries for
more than five thousand years.
M
Introductory elements
On Your Own
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. Built ten years ago the bridge needs some repairs.
2. Why that yellow paint is really bright, isn’t it?
3. After one day at summer camp the boys knew
that they would have a good time.
[End of Section]
Introductory elements
Answers
Add commas where needed in the following
sentences.
1. Built ten years ago,the bridge needs some repairs.
2. Why, that yellow paint is really bright, isn’t it?
3. After one day at summer camp,the boys knew
that they would have a good time.