ACT Preparation / Unit 2 ACT 0107 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Essential Names
Captions available
The idea
A name that tells which person is meant is essential and takes no commas; a name that renames someone already identified takes commas.
In practice
"The drummer Lena Ortiz played first." "Her only brother, Sam, drove."
Where people slip
Ask whether, without the name, the sentence could mean someone else. If so, the name is essential.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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