Comma Rules Lesson

Comma Rules!

COMMAS TO SEPARATE TIME WORDS:

● Use a comma between a day of the week and the month. (Friday, July 23)

● Use a comma between the day and the year.

(July 23, 2023)

• Use a comma to separate the year from the rest of the sentence when

  the year follows the month or the month and the day. (We spent

  May, 2022, with Mom. We spent July 23, 2022, with Dad.)

Multiple Choice

How should the following time words be punctuated?

Today is Thursday April 20.

• Today is Thursday, April 20.

• Today is Thursday April, 20.

• Today, is Thursday, April, 20.

Multiple Choice

How should the following time words be punctuated?

Uncle Josh was born on Tuesday May 17 1994.

• Uncle Josh was born, on Tuesday May 17, 1994

• Uncle Josh was born on Tuesday, May 17, 1994.

• Uncle Josh was born on, Tuesday, May 17, 1994

Multiple Choice

Which of the following time words are punctuated correctly?

Our next vacation will be in July 2024.

• Our next vacation, will be in July, 2024.

• Our next vacation will be in July, 2024.

• Our next vacation will be, in July 2024.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Grandma was born on Sunday April 3 1960 in Stanly County.

• Grandma was born on Sunday April 3, 1960 in Stanly County.

• Grandma was born on Sunday, April 3, 1960, in Stanly County.

• Grandma was born on Sunday, April 3, 1960 in Stanly County.

COMMAS TO SEPARATE PLACE WORDS:

● Use a comma to separate the city from the state or

country.(I will go to Dallas, Texas. She is from Paris,
France.) *Do NOT use a comma before a zip code.

(Albemarle, NC 28001)

● Use a comma to separate the state or country from

the rest of the sentence when the name of the state
or country follows the name of a city. (We flew to
Dallas, Texas, in June. We flew to Paris, France, in
July.) Use a comma to separate the street from the

city. (I live at 715 Shady Drive, Albemarle, NC 28001.)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Grandma was born on Sunday April 3 1960 in Albemarle North Carolina.

• Grandma was born on Sunday, April 3, 1960, in Albemarle, North Carolina.

• Grandma was born on Sunday, April 3, 1960, in Albemarle North, Carolina.

• Grandma was born on Sunday, April 3, 1960 in Albemarle North Carolina.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Hollie just returned from her vacation to Rome Italy.

• Hollie just returned, from her vacation to Rome, Italy.

• Hollie just returned from her vacation to, Rome, Italy.

• Hollie just returned from her vacation to Rome, Italy.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Our country's capital is Washington D.C. located near Virginia.

• Our country's capital is Washington, D.C., located near Virginia.

• Our country's capital is Washington D.C., located near Virginia.

• Our country's capital is Washington, D.C., located near, Virginia.

Multiple Select

Which words should commas follow (come after)? THERE IS MORE THAN ONE CORRECT ANSWER.

Caroline lives at 554 Arrow Road Spencer South Carolina 78120.

• Road

• Spencer

• Carolina

• at

COMMAS TO MAKE MEANINGS CLEAR:

● Use a comma to separate words or phrases in a series.

(We had soup, crackers, and milk.)

● Use commas to separate introductory words such as

Yes, Well, Oh, and No from the rest of a sentence. (Oh, I
didn’t know that.)

● Use commas to set off most appositives. An appositive

is a word, phrase, title, or degree used directly after
another word or name to explain it or to rename it. (Sue,
the girl next door, likes to draw.)

COMMAS TO MAKE MEANINGS CLEAR:

● One-word appositives can be written two different

ways: (1) My brother, Tim, is riding in the horse
show. (2) My brother Tim is riding in the horse
show.

● Use commas to separate a noun of direct address

(the name of a person directly spoken to) from the
rest of the sentence. (Mom, do I really have to
go? Do I really have to go, Mom?)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Yes I would like a chocolate chip cookie.

• Yes I would like a chocolate, chip cookie.

• Yes I, would like a chocolate, chip, cookie.

• Yes, I would like a chocolate chip cookie.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

My favorite colors are red yellow and purple.

• My favorite colors are, red, yellow, and purple. I

• My favorite colors, are red yellow, and purple.

• My favorite colors are red, yellow, and purple.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Our cat hissed at the man bit his hand and ran under the bed.

• Our cat hissed, at the man, bit his hand, and ran, under the bed.

• Our cat hissed at the man, bit his hand, and ran under the bed.

• Our cat, hissed, at the man, bit, his hand, and ran, under the bed.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

My brother Asher is going to London, England, this June.

• My brother, Asher, is going to London, England, this June.

• My brother, Asher is going to London, England this June.

• My brother Asher, is goin to London, England, this June.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

No Terri I don't like coconut sweet potatoes or sushi.

• No, Terri, I don't like coconut, sweet, potatoes, or sushi.

• No, Terri I don't like coconut sweet potatoes or sushi.

• No, Terri, I don't like coconut, sweet potatoes, or sushi.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

My sisters Julie and Amelia swept under the kitchen table down the hallway and over the bedroom floors.

• My sisters Julie and Amelia, swept under the kitchen table down the, hallway and, over the bedroom floors.

• My sisters Julie, and Amelia swept under the kitchen table, down the hallway, and over the bedroom floors.

• My sisters, Julie and Amelia, swept under the kitchen table, down the hallway, and over the bedroom floors.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

Well I don't know if I want pizza tacos or egg rolls for dinner.

• Well I don't know if I want pizza, tacos, or egg, rolls for dinner.

• Well, I don't know if I want pizza tacos or egg rolls for dinner.

• Well, I don't know if I want pizza, tacos, or egg rolls for dinner.

COMMAS IN LETTERS:

● Use a comma after the salutation (greeting)

of a friendly letter. (Dear Sam,)

● Use a comma after the closing of any letter.

(Yours truly,)

Drag and Drop

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Dear Aunt Jane,

Dear, Aunt Jane:

Dear, Aunt Jane,

Dear Aunt Jane

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

• Sincerely yours

• Sincerely yours,

• Sincerely yours:

• Sincerely, yours

Poll

Which language skill do you feel most confident using correctly?

• Writing essays

• Reading and comprehension

• Capitalization

• Commas and end marks

• Evaluating and labeling the parts of speech in a sentence

​Use commas after an adverb or a prepositional phrase that begins a sentence in inverted order.

​According to Aunt Catherine, we are having the party tomorrow.

Suddenly, the lightning struck the oak tree in our backyard.

After dinner, we will take a walk in the park.

Slowly, the snail slid across the walkway.

​Use commas to separate independent clauses (sentences).

​RULE: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or, nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas - independent clauses.

David walked down the street, and he turned the corner.

You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone.

Multiple Choice

What is the best way to correct the following sentence?

Suddenly I heard a roaring sound, and my brother shouted, "It's a tornado!"

• Suddenly, I heard a roaring sound and my brother shouted, "It's a tornado!"

• Suddenly, I heard a roaring sound, and my brother shouted, "It's a tornado!"

Drag and Drop

What is the best way to complete this sentence?



I forgot to set my alarm _​

Placeholder

I was late for school this morning.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

, so

, but

,yet

, yet

Drag and Drop

What is the best way to complete this sentence?



I lost my math homework​

Placeholder

I was able to get it redone before class.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

, but

, yet

, or

,

Drag and Drop

What is the best way to complete this sentence?



I lost my math homework​

Placeholder

I was able to get it redone before class.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

, but

, yet

, or

,

Drag and Drop

What is the best way to complete this sentence?



During recess

Placeholder

I twisted my ankle.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

,

, yet

, or

;

. and

-

Drag and Drop

What is the best was to complete the following sentence?



Grandpa drove his truck over a nail​

Placeholder

a few hours later, he had a flat tire.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

, and

, but

, or

, yet

​Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

​RULE: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. A comma tells readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the main part of the sentence is about to begin.

1. When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

2. Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a gold mine.

Multiple Choice

Which word should a comma follow (come after) in the following sentence?

Because I didn't stretch out before the game I pulled a muscle in my calf.

• out

• game

• didn't

• muscle

​Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

​RULE: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. A comma tells readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the main part of the sentence is about to begin.

1. When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord.

2. Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a gold mine.

Multiple Choice

Which word should a comma follow (come after) in the following sentence?

Ms. Sams said "Please, get out your language notebooks, class."

• Sams

• said

• language

• out

Multiple Choice

Which word should a comma follow (come after) in the following sentence?

"Help me carry these books, Jon" his mother said.

• me

• Jon

• mother

• Help

Use commas to separate a short aside or afterthought in a sentence that is grammatically complete without that extra information.

​ 1. The oysters, I'm sure you remember, were not quite fresh last time we

tried them.

2. That shirt, by the way, has a hole at the right armpit.

3. That meal could have used ketchup, to say it kindly.

4. These pants are too tight, to be honest.

Multiple Select

Which words should commas follow (come after) in the following sentence? THERE IS MORE THAN ONE CORRECT ANSWER.

My answer to be honest was just a guess.

• answer

• be

• honest

• was

Poll

Do you think using commas correctly is easy?

• Yes!

• No!

• I don't know yet.