General Questions
What is the main rule for placing commas in a list or series?
Place commas after each item in a series (except for the last one if it ends the sentence). Ex) The campers packed sleeping bags, flashlights, and extra batteries for the trip.
Let’s eat Grandma!
Bonus: Name the grammar rule or reasoning why there needs to be a comma.
Let’s eat, Grandma!
Rule: Direct Address. Speaking to a person
Which sentence is correct?
A) I bought apples, oranges and bananas.
B) I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
B — commas separate items in a series.
True or False: You don't need comma before the word “and” in every list.
True. There are some lists that you don't need a comma, including a pair and in cases of the Oxford comma.
Identify the conjunctive adverb:
She was nervous; nevertheless, she spoke with confidence.
Nevertheless
What is the difference between an independent and a dependent clause?
An independent clause is a complete thought and can stand on its own. A dependent clause is the opposite, it depends on the independent clause to make sense.
Ex) The rain poured down, but we had umbrellas.
Ind: The rain poured down
Dep: but we had umbrellas
Yes I agree with you completely Catelyn said.
"Yes, I agree with you completely," Catelyn said.
Name the conjunctions that can join two independent clauses.
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FANBOYS).
True or False: When a quotation ends with a question mark, you should still add a comma after it before continuing the sentence.
False
➡️ Rule: Never add a comma after a question mark or exclamation point inside a quotation.
Identify the correct sentence and explain why.
A) He washed the dishes, and cleaned the counters.
B) He washed the dishes and cleaned the counters.
B — cleaned the counters isn’t a full sentence. It's an phrase in a list of two.
What are parenthetical expressions? How should parenthetical expressions be punctuated in a sentence?
They provide additional information and are loosely connected to the sentence’s content. Use comma after and before if it doesn’t start a sentence. If it does start a sentence, add a comma after it. Ex)on the other hand,
I wanted to go but because it was raining I stayed home.
I wanted to go, but because it was raining, I stayed home.
Why no commas here?
The student who studies hardest usually succeeds.
“Who studies hardest” is essential to identify which student.
True or False: You need commas between adjectives when they describe size and color.
False — if the adjectives form one idea (like “large red balloon”), no comma.
Identify the errors.
Peanut butter and jelly ham and eggs and macaroni and cheese are classic combos.
Missing commas between the pairs: “Peanut butter and jelly, ham and eggs, and macaroni and cheese…”
What's an appositive and how do you punctuate it?
A noun or pronoun that is placed beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it. It’s an additional word or group of words used to tell more about who or what that noun or pronoun is. Always put commas before and after an appositive.
My cousin on the other hand prefers fiction.
My cousin, on the other hand, prefers fiction.
Write your own sentence using a parenthetical phrase correctly.
Answers vary.
True or False: If both clauses share the same subject, you must use a comma before “and.”
False — if the second clause isn’t independent, no comma needed.
Identify the dependent clause:
Although he was tired, he finished the project.
“Although he was tired”
When can you omit a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence?
You can omit a comma before a conjunction in a compound sentence only when the clauses are short, closely connected, and the meaning is clear without it.
Ex) She laughed and he smiled.
Both are independent clauses, but short and clearly linked, so the comma isn’t necessary.
A comma is necessary if the ideas contrast (but, yet)
Fix the sentence and describe why it's wrong.
I opened the window, and saw a bird fly in.
“Saw a bird fly in” isn’t an independent clause; no comma needed. It's also very short.
Create your own sentence with two adjectives that need a comma and two that don’t.
Answers vary. Ex) “He bought a shiny, new car.” / “She carried a big blue bag.”
True or False: You always need a comma after a 1-2 word adverb like “Today” or "Any time"
False — Only if it adds clarity or emphasis.
Identify the meaning and the correct sentence if the speaker has only 1 sister.
A) My sister, Emily, is coming.
B) My sister Emily is coming.
(A) You have one sister (Emily = nonessential info).
(B) You have more than one sister, and Emily specifies which one.
A is correct.