One of my favorite little books on the importance of correct grammar is titled, “Eats, shoots, and leaves”, and the cover has a sketch of a Giant Panda shooting somebody before he heads for the exit.
For those who may be puzzled by this reference, the author of that book found a reference to the diet of Giant Pandas that stated, “Eats, shoots, and leaves”, instead of, “Eats shoots and leaves”.
So–yes–proper punctuation, as well as correct grammar, can drastically affect the meaning of a sentence.
I’m still wondering about that one, myself. I was absent for a couple of days during 6th grade when the teacher covered gerunds and participles, and I have never quite figured out those elements of language, even though–I think–I can write in a credible manner.