Comma Rules
This seven-letter word is one of the coordinating conjunctions that requires a comma before it when joining two independent clause.
What is "and," "but," "for," "nor," "yet," or "so"?
This type of phrase contains a noun, a participle, and modifiers, and it modifies an entire sentence rather than a single word.
What is an absolute phrase?
In the sentence "Her and I plan on traveling to China," identify and correct the pronoun error.
What is: Change "Her" to "She" (correct: "She and I plan on traveling to China")?
This is the past tense form of the modal verb "can."
What is "could"?
Identify the error: "Hours of driving laid ahead of us."
What is: Change "laid" to "lay" (lay is intransitive; laid requires an object)?
When this type of clause comes at the beginning of a sentence—starting with words like "while," "because," or "although"—you must place a comma after it.
What is an introductory (dependent/subordinate) clause?
Complete this absolute phrase: "_____ racing, the soccer team anxiously waited for the referee's decision." (hint: needs 2 words or 1 word, grammar counts!)
What is "Their hearts"? (or "Hearts")
When a pronoun comes before a gerund (an -ing verb form used as a noun), it should be in this case: subjective or objective?
What is objective (him, her, them, me, us)?
Choose the correct verb: "The book (lay/laid) open at page 77."
What is "lay"?
In subject-verb agreement, when expressing weights, measurements, or money as a single unit, do you use a singular or plural verb?
What is singular? (Example: "Sixty minutes is a long time")
Identify the comma error in this sentence: "The game was over, because her alarm clock was broken."
What is: The comma should be removed (no comma before "because" when the dependent clause follows the main clause)?
This type of phrase renames or identifies a noun and is usually set off by commas when the information is non-essential.
What is an appositive phrase?
Correct this sentence: "I appreciate he helping me with my homework."
What is: "I appreciate him helping me with my homework"?
Correct this sentence: "By the time we get to the picnic area, the rain will stop."
What is: "By the time we get to the picnic area, the rain will have stopped"?
Correct this sentence: "I wish I read the chapter before I tried to answer the questions."
What is: "I wish I had read the chapter before I tried to answer the questions"?
This type of information can be removed from a sentence without changing its essential meaning and must be set off with commas.
What is non-essential (or nonessential/non-restrictive) information?
Identify whether this appositive needs commas: "My cat Harold enjoys chasing squirrels." Explain why or why not.
What is: No commas are needed because "Harold" is essential information (the speaker has multiple cats, so the name is necessary to identify which one)?
Choose the correct pronoun: "There's no way that you are smarter than (I/me)." Explain your choice.
What is "I"? (The verb "to be" creates equivalence, making "I" the subject complement: "you are smarter than I [am]")
Correct this sentence and explain the error: "If I would have known about the test, I would have studied harder."
What is: "If I had known about the test, I would have studied harder"? (In conditional sentences, use "had + past participle" in the if-clause, not "would have")
Words like "some," "any," "all," and "most" can be singular or plural depending on what factor?
What is: Whether the noun they refer to is countable or non-countable (non-countable takes singular, countable takes plural)?
In the sentence "That Tuesday which happens to be my birthday is the only day when I am available," explain where commas should go and why.
What is: Commas should go before "which" and after "birthday" because "which happens to be my birthday" is a non-essential clause that can be removed without losing the sentence's core meaning?
Convert this sentence into one using an absolute phrase: "Hyde's appearance is troglodytic. It is as if he is atavistic and primal."
What is: "Hyde's appearance being troglodytic, it is as if he is atavistic and primal" (or similar construction with the absolute phrase)?
Explain the difference between "who" and "whom" and use each correctly in a sentence about a baby's birthday celebration.
What is: "Who" is subjective (subject of clause), "whom" is objective (object of clause). Example: "This is a new baby, who was born into a content family" OR "This is a new baby with whom we celebrate their first birthday"?
Explain the meaning difference between "I would have helped you" and "I could have helped you," then use each in context.
What is: "Would have" expresses past willingness (I was willing but circumstances prevented it), while "could have" expresses past ability (I had the capacity but didn't). Example: "If I could have helped you, I would have helped you" (I had the ability and the willingness)?
Identify and correct ALL errors in this sentence: "If Judy would not have missed the deadline, her and me would of finished the project on time."
What is: "If Judy had not missed the deadline, she and I would have finished the project on time" (corrections: "had not missed" instead of "would not have missed"; "she and I" instead of "her and me"; "would have" instead of "would of")?