Comma Rules

Comma Rules

​Comma Rule #1

​Use a comma between the day and year in a date:

​

​Today is October 4, 2021.

​She was born on August 14, 2009.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly written sentence:

• He was born in Texas on, May 1, 1970.

• He was born in Texas on May, 1, 1970

• He was born in Texas on May 1 1970.

• He was born in Texas on May 1, 1970.

Multiple Choice

The last time my closet was clean was September 1, 2021.

• Correct

• Incorrect

​Comma Rule #2

​Use a comma after the opening and closing of a FRIENDLY letter:

​

​Dear Mom,

​

​Love,

​ Finn

​Comma Rule #3

​Use a comma between the city and the state:

​

​She lives in Houston, Texas.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• Hunter sang a concert in Denver, Colorado.

• Suki left her laptop in Tyler Texas.

• Heidi was born in, New Orleans, Louisiana.

• S

​Comma Rule #4

​Use a comma in a series of words, phrases, or clauses:

​

​Do not run in the halls, throw food, or yell.

​

​I love Twix, Reese's, and Skor.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• Bella has red hair, green eyes and a nose ring.

• My favorite foods are crab, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate chip cookies.

• My son can play the, trumpet, piano, and trombone.

Multiple Choice

The blanket was woven from blue, white, grey, and green threads.

• Correct

• Incorrect

​Comma Rule #5

​Use a comma after an introductory word or phrase:

​​​*** The rule with prepositional phrases is with 3 or less words at the beginning of a sentence it's optional, but 4 or more words in a prepositional phrase it's mandatory.

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​Suddenly, I jerked awake.

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​Out of all the places in the whole world, Italy is my favorite place to travel.

​

​

Multiple Select

Choose ALL the correctly punctuated sentences:

• Hey, put that down!

• However, both men were likely suspects.

• Once I ate a goldfish.

• Early in the morning, I went fishing.

Multiple Choice

With all of these new comma rules, I am getting confused.

• Correct

• Incorrect

​Comma rule #6

​Use a comma to set off a direct address:

​

​

​Mom, have you seen my jacket?

​

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• Judy, answer the phones while I'm gone.

• Dad where are we going, Saturday?

• All students in the back row stop throwing things!

​Comma Rule #7

​Place a comma to set apart direct quotations:

​

​Mrs. Stringer said, "Study for your Word Nerd test tomorrow!"

​

​"You may turn it in when finished," Mr. Ross said.

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​Exception: Exclamation marks and question marks - Do NOT use a comma when a question mark or exclamation mark comes in dialogue in the middle of the sentence:

"Straighten up the line!" Mrs. Mock yelled at the cheerleaders.

​"Where are you going this weekend?" asked Trevor.

Multiple Select

Choose ALL the correctly punctuated sentences:

• "What time is it?," asked Emma.

• "Thanks for inviting me," Barrett replied.

• "Get out of here!" the old woman screamed.

• The president asked "Isn't it time for us to all get along?"

​Comma Rule #8

​Use a comma when joining two independent clauses with a FANBOY conjunction in a compound sentence:

​

​I love the beach, so I planned a vacation to Florida.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• Scout is a 70 pound doberman and Lulu is an 8 pound Malshi.

• I hate bananas, but, my mom makes me eat them anyway.

• I want to go to California, but my friend wants to travel to France.

• I do not like bananas nor, do I like pears.

​Comma Rule #9

​Set off non-essential appositives with commas. Appositives rename or give more information about a noun or pronoun:

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​My preacher, Mr. Smith, gave a good sermon this Sunday.

​

​Dr. Pepper, my favorite soda, was unavailable.

​

​I turned in my paper to Mrs. Porter, my English teacher.

Multiple Select

Choose ALL the correctly punctuated sentences:

• Grace, a quiet student, studied by herself.

• Greg, my cousin came in for the weekend.

• I bought a ticket from, Frontier a budget airline.

• I got a birthday present from Beth, my favorite aunt.

Multiple Choice

I find appositives, words or phrases that rename a noun or pronoun, to be quite easy to understand.

• Correct

• Incorrect

​Comma Rule #10

​Use a comma in a complex sentence when the dependent clause comes first.

​*** Hint: use a comma when you start a complex sentence with an AWUBIS:

​

​When I went to the store, I bought some candy.

​

​Because I want a good grade, I made sure to turn in my project on time.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• Since, going to bed with my project unfinished wasn't an option I stayed up really late.

• I mowed the lawn, while John pulled weeds.

• When Billie Eilish tickets went on sale, I didn't care.

Multiple Select

Choose ALL the correctly punctuated sentences:

• When I went to the mall with Sam, my best friend, my mom ran some errands.

• Before you can become a teacher, you must get a bachelor's degree.

• Addison prefers Blooket, while Miller prefers Quizizz.

​Comma Rule #11

​Use a comma to separate coordinate/equal adjectives. Coordinate adjectives appear in sequence with one another to modify the same noun:

​

​She hid in the small, dark closet.

​

​He threw a long, beautiful pass.

Multiple Choice

The alien invasion was a confusing, scary time.

• Correct

• Incorrect