Punctuation Practice

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it, and it gets wrapped in commas.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• The author of the story, Arthur C. Clarke, is famous for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

• The author of the story Arthur C. Clarke is famous for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

• The author of the story Arthur C. Clarke, is famous for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

• The author of the story, Arthur C. Clarke is famous for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

You may begin a complex sentence with a dependent clause, but be sure to put a comma after it. If the dependent clause follows an independent one, no comma is needed.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

• Because Laika barked, frantically the narrator knew something was wrong.

• Because Laika barked frantically, the narrator knew something was wrong.

• Because Laika barked, frantically, the narrator knew something was wrong.

• Because Laika barked frantically the narrator knew, something was wrong.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

A compound sentence is two sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction. Both must be present to avoid a run-on sentence.

Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?

• The Van Allen radiation belts were active so the narrator's takeoff was rerouted through the North Polar Gap.

• The Van Allen radiation belts were active, so the narrator's takeoff was rerouted through the North Polar Gap.

• The Van Allen radiation belts were active, the narrator's takeoff was rerouted through the North Polar Gap.

• The Van Allen radiation belts were active the narrator's takeoff was rerouted through the North Polar Gap.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

You can beef up your sentences even more by combining complex and compound sentences to form a compound-complex sentence. It doesn't matter what clause comes first.

What type of sentence is this?

Because Laika started barking in his dream, the narrator was able to wake himself up, but not everyone was so fortunate.

• Compound-Complex

• Simple

• Compound-compound

• Why are you doing this to us?!

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

When describing something using multiple adjectives, put a comma between them only if rearranging their order makes no difference to the sentence.

Which of the following sentences is correct?

• At the beginning, some readers may be put off by the cold, callous, uncaring attitude the narrator has.

• At the beginning, some readers may be put off by the cold callous uncaring attitude the narrator has.

• At the beginning, some readers may be put off by the cold, callous uncaring attitude the narrator has.

• At the beginning, some readers may be put off by the cold, callous, uncaring, attitude the narrator has.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Is the sentence below correct? Why or why not?

"I'm too excited to sleep." said Andrew.

• Yes, because it contains dialogue with quotation marks around it.

• Yes, because Andrew's name is capitalized.

• No, because there should be a comma after sleep instead of a period

• No, because "too" should be spelled "to"

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.5.2D

Select the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.

• The garden contained; vegetables they will harvest them in fall.

• The garden contained vegetables; they will harvest them in fall.

• The garden contained vegetables they will; harvest them in fall.

• The garden contained vegetables, they will harvest them in fall.

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

Select the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.

• He's taking algebra, which he's good at, biology, his least favorite subject, and drama, for fun.

• He's taking algebra, which he's good at; biology, his least favorite subject; and drama, for fun.

• He's taking algebra; which he's good at; biology; his least favorite subject; and drama; for fun.

• He's taking algebra; which he's good at, biology; his least favorite subject, and drama; for fun.

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

Select the sentence that uses the semicolon correctly.

• We practiced every day after school and all Saturday; however we lost the game.

• We practiced every day after school and all Saturday, however, we lost the game.

• We practiced every day after school and all Saturday; however, we lost the game.

• We practiced every day after school and all Saturday; however; we lost the game.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• No, I can't play today because my mom told me to clean my room. 
• No, I can't play today, because my mom told me to clean my room.
• No I can't play today, because my mom told me to clean my room.
• No I can't play today because my mom, told me to clean my room.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A