Comma Rules
Which punctuation mark indicates a pause between parts of a sentence?
A comma
Select the complex sentence that is correctly punctuated:
A. When I grow up I want to be an astronaut.
B. When, I grow up I want to be an astronaut.
C. When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut.
C
Add any missing commas:
Wednesday which is a popular new show is on Netflix.
Wednesday, which is a popular new show, is on Netflix.
Which punctuation indicates that someone is speaking?
Quotation marks
Add any missing commas:
Miranda included tomatoes corn potatoes and basil on her shopping list.
Miranda included tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and basil on her shopping list.
What does it mean when a clause is non-essential?
It is not needed for the meaning of the sentence.
In a compound-complex sentence, there are two commas when the ________ clause comes first.
Dependent
Which word can sometimes be a clue that a clause is non-essential?
Relative pronouns (answers may vary)
Add any missing commas:
Sue declared "I'm getting married soon."
Sue declared, "I'm getting married soon."
Add any missing commas:
Before I leave for school I have to tie my shoes make my bed and eat breakfast.
Before I leave for school I have to tie my shoes, make my bed, and eat breakfast.
Where should you put a comma in a quotation?
Between the dialogue tag and a quotation (answers may vary).
In a compound-complex sentence, there is one comma when the ________ clause comes first.
Add any missing commas:
The car which was hit by a crazy person is being sent to the junkyard.
The car, which was hit by a crazy person, is being sent to the junkyard.
Add any missing commas:
"If I only had a heart" said the Tin Man.
"I don't have a heart," said the Tin Man.
Where does the comma go when directly addressing a person?
Next to the person's name
What is direct address?
When you are directly speaking to a person
Enter any missing commas:
Because he got to the theater early he got a good seat and he had a great view of the show.
Because he got to the theater early, he got a good seat, and he had a great view of the show.
Enter any missing commas:
John who spent the last three days fishing is back at his job again.
John, who spent the last three days fishing, is back at his job again.
Enter any missing commas:
"I am very tired" said Charles "because I didn't sleep last night."
"I am very tired," said Charles, "because I didn't sleep last night."
Add any missing commas:
Tuesday January 31 2023
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
What is a series and how do you use commas with one?
A list; separate each item in the series using a comma.
Enter any missing commas:
Joshua ran as fast as he could but he was not able to win the race because his opponent was faster.
Joshua ran as fast as he could, but he was not able to win the race because his opponent was faster.
Enter any missing commas:
My friend Jonah who I met in Boy Scouts is having a birthday party with a bounce house.
My friend Jonah, who I met in Boy Scouts, is having a birthday party with a bounce house.
Add any missing commas:
"We're having pizza for dinner!" exclaimed Dad.
"We're having pizza for dinner!" exclaimed Dad.
Enter any missing commas:
Darling will you take out the trash before you leave?
Darling, will you take out the trash before you leave?