Comma Practice

Front

What is the purpose of a comma in a sentence?

Back

A comma is used to indicate a pause between parts of a sentence, to separate items in a list, or to clarify meaning.

Front

Where should a comma be placed in the sentence: 'Even though the story was written long ago it remains popular with fans of horror.'?

Back

The comma should be placed after 'ago': 'Even though the story was written long ago, it remains popular with fans of horror.'

Front

When should you use a comma between two adjectives?

Back

Use a comma between two adjectives that can be reversed in order, such as 'big, red ball' or 'red, big ball.'

Front

Where do the commas go in the sentence: 'Bob my dad's favorite gardener mows and edges the lawn much better than I do.'?

Back

The commas should be placed after 'Bob' and 'gardener': 'Bob, my dad's favorite gardener, mows and edges the lawn much better than I do.'

Front

How do you punctuate dialogue correctly?

Back

In dialogue, use a comma before the closing quotation mark when attributing speech, e.g., "Dad," said my sister, "can we go out for ice cream?"

Front

What is the rule for using commas in compound sentences?

Back

Use a comma before the conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when connecting two independent clauses.

Front

Where does the comma go in the sentence: 'It was cold outside but I had forgotten my sweater.'?

Back

The comma should be placed before 'but': 'It was cold outside, but I had forgotten my sweater.'

Front

What is a list comma?

Back

A list comma is used to separate items in a series, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

What is the Oxford comma?

Back

The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of three or more items, placed before 'and' or 'or', e.g., 'I like apples, oranges, and bananas.'

Front

When is a comma not necessary?

Back

A comma is not necessary when the sentence is short and clear, or when it separates a subject from its verb.