10 sentences
Commas
What are commas?
Commas (,) are punctuation marks that separate words and word groups to help readers understand a sentence. Commas are used
- to separate three or more items in a series:
I am wearing a hat, gloves, and a scarf.
- to separate a compound sentence: two sentences joined by and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet:
I am tired every morning, but coffee wakes me up.
- to set off introductory words:
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to go to your party.
If I am correct, we won’t arrive until 7.
- to set off appositives and interrupters:
An appositive is a phrase that renames a noun.
Marta Lopez, the president of our company, will speak at the meeting. [The underlined words rename Marta Lopez.]
An interrupter is a word or word group that interrupts a sentence but does not affect the meaning of the sentence.
Tim, by the way, isn’t my husband. [The underlined words interrupt the sentence.]
- to set off adjective clauses that can be taken out of a sentence without completely changing the meaning. (Adjective clauses begin with who, which, or that.)
The Lius, who used to live in that house, moved to New Jersey.
Do not use commas to set off adjective clauses essential to the meaning of a sentence.
Children who see their parents read are more likely to want to read themselves.
- to set off quoted words from the rest of a sentence:
“I know what the thief looked like,” the victim said.
The police officer replied, “Please tell me.”
- to separate the parts of an address:
They live at 254 Cherry Circle, Tyler, PA 15208.
- to set off the name of someone addressed directly:
Tom, can you please come here?
- to set off yes or no when these words are a response to a question:
Yes, I like apple pie.
No, I don’t like melon.
1. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) Pete, when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea, and coffee filters.
B) Pete, when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea and coffee filters.
C) Pete when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea, and coffee filters.
D) none of the above
1. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) Pete, when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea, and coffee filters.
B) Pete, when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea and coffee filters.
C) Pete when you go to the store, please buy carrots, tea, and coffee filters.
D) none of the above
2. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) After school, Ann, an old friend, drove me home.
B) After school Ann, an old friend, drove me home.
C) After school, Ann an old friend drove me home.
D) none of the above
2. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) After school, Ann, an old friend, drove me home.
B) After school Ann, an old friend, drove me home.
C) After school, Ann an old friend drove me home.
D) none of the above
3. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) At the club the band played rock pop, hip-hop and salsa.
B) At the club the band played rock, pop hip-hop and salsa.
C) At the club, the band played rock, pop, hip-hop, and salsa.
D) none of the above
3. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) At the club the band played rock pop, hip-hop and salsa.
B) At the club the band played rock, pop hip-hop and salsa.
C) At the club, the band played rock, pop, hip-hop, and salsa.
D) none of the above
4. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) I asked Bob if he would baby sit, but he frowned and said, “I’m busy that night.”
B) I asked Bob if he would baby sit but he frowned and said “I’m busy that night.”
C) I asked Bob, if he would baby sit, but he frowned, and said “I’m busy that night.”
D) none of the above
4. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) I asked Bob if he would baby sit, but he frowned and said, “I’m busy that night.”
B) I asked Bob if he would baby sit but he frowned and said “I’m busy that night.”
C) I asked Bob, if he would baby sit, but he frowned, and said “I’m busy that night.”
D) none of the above
5. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) My birthday is September 25 1968 which is the same as Will Smith’s.
B) My birthday is September 25 1968, which is the same as Will Smith’s.
C) My birthday is September 25, 1968, which is the same as Will Smith’s.
D) none of the above
5. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) My birthday is September 25 1968 which is the same as Will Smith’s.
B) My birthday is September 25 1968, which is the same as Will Smith’s.
C) My birthday is September 25, 1968, which is the same as Will Smith’s.
D) none of the above
6. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) According to Steve an expert on the North Pole there is no Santa Claus.
B) According to Steve, an expert on the North Pole, there is no Santa Claus.
C) According to Steve, an expert on the North Pole there is no Santa Claus.
D) none of the above
6. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) According to Steve an expert on the North Pole there is no Santa Claus.
B) According to Steve, an expert on the North Pole, there is no Santa Claus.
C) According to Steve, an expert on the North Pole there is no Santa Claus.
D) none of the above
7. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) Often, people, who get little sleep, make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
B) Often, people who get little sleep, make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
C) Often, people who get little sleep make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
D) none of the above
7. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) Often, people, who get little sleep, make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
B) Often, people who get little sleep, make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
C) Often, people who get little sleep make mistakes, have accidents, and have low energy.
D) none of the above
8. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) Those who drive recklessly increase their risks of tickets arrests and accidents.
B) Those, who drive recklessly, increase their risks of tickets arrests and accidents.
C) Those who drive recklessly increase, their risks of tickets, arrests, and accidents.
D) none of the above
8. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) Those who drive recklessly increase their risks of tickets arrests and accidents.
B) Those, who drive recklessly, increase their risks of tickets arrests and accidents.
C) Those who drive recklessly increase, their risks of tickets, arrests, and accidents.
D) none of the above; the revision should be Those who drive recklessly increase their risks of tickets, arrests, and accidents.
9. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) “I’m sorry,” I said to the man at my front door, “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
B) “I’m sorry” I said to the man at my front door “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
C) “I’m sorry” I said to the man, at my front door “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
D) none of the above
9. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) “I’m sorry,” I said to the man at my front door, “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
B) “I’m sorry” I said to the man at my front door “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
C) “I’m sorry” I said to the man, at my front door “Elaine doesn’t live here anymore.”
D) none of the above
10. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) These clothes, which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart, Tom.
B) These clothes, which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart Tom.
C) These clothes which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart, Tom.
D) none of the above
10. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) These clothes, which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart, Tom.
B) These clothes, which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart Tom.
C) These clothes which I bought yesterday, are already falling apart, Tom.
D) none of the above
11. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) Officer, have you found the person, who stole my wallet?
B) Officer have you found the person who stole my wallet?
C) Officer, have you found the person who stole my wallet?
D) none of the above
11. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) Officer, have you found the person, who stole my wallet?
B) Officer have you found the person who stole my wallet?
C) Officer, have you found the person who stole my wallet?
D) none of the above
12. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) Yes we have pizzas, subs, and calzones but we don’t make deliveries.
B) Yes, we have pizzas, subs, and calzones, but we don’t make deliveries.
C) Yes, we have pizzas, subs, and calzones, but, we don’t make deliveries.
D) none of the above
12. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) Yes we have pizzas, subs, and calzones but we don’t make deliveries.
B) Yes, we have pizzas, subs, and calzones, but we don’t make deliveries.
C) Yes, we have pizzas, subs, and calzones, but, we don’t make deliveries.
D) none of the above
13. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) The deadline, by the way, is December 15, 2015.
B) The deadline by the way is December, 15, 2015.
C) The deadline, by the way, is December 15 2015.
D) none of the above
13. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) The deadline, by the way, is December 15, 2015.
B) The deadline by the way is December, 15, 2015.
C) The deadline, by the way, is December 15 2015.
D) none of the above
14. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) “This is my first visit to Dallas, Texas,” said Rita who was born in Boise, Idaho.
B) “This is my first visit to Dallas Texas” said Rita who was born in Boise Idaho.
C) “This is my first visit to Dallas, Texas,” said Rita, who was born in Boise, Idaho.
D) none of the above
14. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) “This is my first visit to Dallas, Texas,” said Rita who was born in Boise, Idaho.
B) “This is my first visit to Dallas Texas” said Rita who was born in Boise Idaho.
C) “This is my first visit to Dallas, Texas,” said Rita, who was born in Boise, Idaho.
D) none of the above
15. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
A) I love cookies ice cream and cake, but they all make me gain weight.
B) I love cookies, ice cream, and cake, but they all make me gain weight.
C) I love cookies, ice cream, and cake but they all make me gain weight.
D) none of the above
15. Choose the sentence that has no comma errors.
ANSWER:
A) I love cookies ice cream and cake, but they all make me gain weight.
B) I love cookies, ice cream, and cake, but they all make me gain weight.
C) I love cookies, ice cream, and cake but they all make me gain weight.
D) none of the above