Punctuation Essentials
Types of Sentences
Editing and Identifying Comma Rules
Editing Sentences (commas, semi-colons, conjunctions)
Parts of Speech
100
The purpose of the apostrophe
To show possession or to represent the missing letters in a contraction.
100

Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.

compound

100

Please correct this sentence and identify the comma rule that you need to know.

Running around the house the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence.
Running around the house, the dog was abruptly stopped by a fence. Rule: Separates introductory clauses (or at the back of the sentence)
100

Please correct this sentence: 

I love this band, they aren't really my style but they really connect with there audience.

I love this band; they aren't really my style, but they really connect with their audience.

100

a word that is the name of something (such as a person, animal, place, thing, quality, idea, or action) and is typically used in a sentence as subject or object of a verb or as object of a preposition

 noun

200

The purpose of the semicolon

To separate two sentences (or independent clauses) that are similar in content or build off of one another.

200

Joe waited for the train.

 simple

200

Please correct this sentence and identify the comma rule that you need to know.The player was determined to fight run and play hard to win the game.

The player was determined to fight, run, and play hard to win the game. Rule: Separates a series/list
200

Please correct this sentence:

While listening to the band I have difficulty hearing the musicians.

While listening to the band, I have difficulty hearing the musicians.

200

a word (such as I, he, she, you, it, we, or they) that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase

pronoun

300
The purpose of the colon
To introduce a list
300

Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.

complex

300

Please correct this sentence and identify the comma rule that you need to know.John and Larry my two coworkers always do more work than their supervisors.

John and Larry, my two coworkers, always do more work than their supervisors. Rule: Separates non-essential information
300

Please correct this sentence:

To protect our resources we must recycle.

To protect our resources, we must recycle.

300

a word (such as jump, think, happen, or exist) that is usually one of the main parts of a sentence and that expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being

verb

400
The colon introduces these
words, phrases, sentences, quotes, or lists
400

I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.

complex

400

Please correct this sentence and identify the comma rule that you need to know.

Molly Amy Clark and Justin the four smartest kids in school found a cure for a worldwide disease.

Molly, Amy, Clark, and Justin, the four smartest kids in school, found a cure for a worldwide disease. Rule: 2) Separates a series/list AND Separates non-essential information
400

Please correct this sentence:

If the opposition should win our candidate would never have any political future.

If the opposition should win, our candidate would never have any political future.

400

a word that describes a noun or a pronoun

adjective

500
The purpose(s) of the comma (name at least 2)
1) Separates a series/list 2) Separates non-essential information (nonrestrictive adjective clauses)  3) Separates a dependent clause when it comes at the beginning of the sentence  4) Separates two sentences with a conjunction (sentence, conjuncton, sentence) 5) separates two equally important adjectives 
500

We won the game, but my uniform was muddy because it rained the entire time.

 compound-complex

500

Please correct this sentence and identify the comma rule that you need to know.

It was undeniable that Jordans ring a shiny huge diamond was the most expensive piece of jewelry that she owns.

It was undeniable that Jordan's ring, a shiny, huge, diamond, was the most expensive piece of jewelry that she owns. Rule: Separates a series/list AND Separates non-essential information
500

Please correct this sentence:

While I eat I like listening to the soft background music it is very relaxing.

While I eat, I like listening to the soft background music; it is very relaxing.

500

a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree

adverb

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