independent modifiers: Use a comma.

Use a comma between two adjectives before a noun when they are independent modifiers (one adjective doesn't modify the other adjective).

Example 1: I saw abig,angry dog on my way here this morning.

(In this case,big andangry both equally modify dog.)

Example 2: The woman was looking for aninteresting,intelligent man.

(Interesting doesn't modifyintelligent, so a comma is used.)

EXCEPTION: If you wanted to compare an interestingintelligent man to aboringintelligent man, a comma would not be necessary.

Susie: If you want to meet an intelligent man, I'll introduce you to Matt. He's intelligent, but he's rather boring.

Sally: I don't want to meet aboringintelligent man, I want to meet aninterestingintelligent man!　

A way to test whether the modifiers are independent is to put an AND between them. If it sounds OK, they are probably independent.

I saw abig andangry dog on my way here this morning. (Sounds OK, doesn't it?)

dependent modifiers: No comma is necessary.

When one adjective modifies the other adjective together with the noun, no comma is necessary.

I saw asmallblack cat at the pet store.

This is like saying, " I saw ablack cat that wassmall." (The modifiers are not equal: small modifies all ofblackcat.)

A usedMacintoshcomputer usually keeps its value.

Macintosh is a modifier, but it is hard to separate it fromcomputer — Macintoshcomputer can easily be considered one idea.

　

Exercises

1) Click the "Original" button and make any necessary changes to the sentence. (Type or remove the punctuation marks in the box.)

[Original]のボタンをクリックすると下のスペースに文章がでてきます。 まちがっていると思う箇所を訂正しましょう。（コンマなどの句読点マークを入れたり、削ったりして下さい。）

2) Click "Check!" to check your answer.

[Check]のボタンをクリックし答をチェックしてみましょう。

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Write your own sentence in the box below. Where is your favorite place? Why? (Try to use several adjectives!)