All About Commas

Commas, Dashes, and Parenthesis

Commas

Learn how to use commas in dates, series, for introductory phrases/clauses, and FANBOYS

Commas In Dates

• When a full date is written out, there should be a comma between the day and the year if the sentence continues.

• Example: I was born March 11, 2021.

• Example: I was for March 11, 2021, and it was at night.

Multiple Choice

Which date is written correctly?

• Sunday, April 19, 2013
• Sunday, April 19 2013
• Sunday, April, 19, 2013

Multiple Choice

Which date is written correctly?

• September 18, 1976
• September, 18, 1976
• September 18 1976

Multiple Choice

Which date is written correctly?

• Tuesday, May, 10, 2007
• Tuesday, May 10, 2007
• Tuesday May 10 2007

Commas In A Series

• Three or more items in a list should be separated by commas.

• Example: I play basketball, football, and baseball at school.

• I have to clean my room, do my homework, and walk the dog today.

Multiple Choice

Jennifer saw skunks, and muskrats during the nature hike. What change needs to be made to this sentence?

• Remove the comma after skunks
• Add a comma after and
• Add a comma after muskrats
• No change needed

Multiple Choice

Either blueberries, grapes or plums stained the front of the new jacket. What change needs to be made to this sentence?

• Remove the comma after blueberries
• Add a comma after grapes
• Add a comma after plums
• No change needed

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• Sally is sweet, pretty, and nice.
• Sally is sweet, pretty, and, nice,.
• Sally is sweet pretty and nice.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• I wanted to buy cookies chips and, candy.
• I wanted to buy cookies chips and candy.
• I wanted to buy cookies, chips, and candy.

Commas for introductory phrases and clauses

• An introductory phrase does not have a subject or a verb. They tell the reader where, when, why, or how.

• An introductory clause tells background information for the main part of the sentence and begins with an adverb.

• To stay in shape for competition, athletes must exercise everyday.

• If we want to beat that team, we have to practice better everyday.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the comma in the correct place?

• Now don't get angry because, my cape is better than yours!

• Now, don't get angry because my cape is better than yours!

• Now don't get angry because my cape, is better than yours!

• Now, don't get angry because, my cape is better than yours

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the comma in the correct place?

• Bravely, I jumped over the canyon to catch the thief.

• Bravely, I jumped over the canyon to catch the thief

• Bravely I jumped, over the canyon to catch the thief.

• Bravely I jumped over the canyon to catch, the thief.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the correct placement of the comma?

• Even though I forgot to take out the trash my mom, let me go to the party.
• Even though, I forgot to take out the trash my mom let me go to the party.
• Even though I forgot, to take out the trash my mom let me go to the party.
• Even though I forgot to take out the trash, my mom let me go to the party.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the correct placement of the comma?

• All, of a sudden the lights turned out.
• All of a sudden, the lights turned out.
• All of a sudden the lights, turned out.
• All of, a sudden the lights turned out.

Use a comma between coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) to join two complete sentences.

• For

• And

• Nor

• But

• Or

• Yet

• So

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses commas for FANBOYS correctly?

• My dog loves to, play so I take him to the dog park everyday.

• My dog loves to play, so I take him to the dog park everyday.

• My dog loves to play so I take him to the, dog park everyday.

• My dog loves to play so, I take him to the dog park everyday.