Commas Review

Fix any punctuation or capitalization errors below.

Because George accidentally left the door open; the cat got out of the house and ran around the yard.

• Because, George accidentally left the door open, the cat got out of the house and ran around the yard.

• No comma needed

• Because George accidentally left the door open, the cat got out of the house and ran around the yard.

• Because, George accidentally left the door open the cat got out of the house and ran around the yard.

Answer explanation

This is a SWABIs question--If the SWABI is at the BEGINNING of the sentence, a comma is needed AFTER the dependent clause.

What type of quote is this? I wonder whether Simba will believe me when I tell him that "all the neighborhood cats are following us down the street."

• Flow

• Colon

• Dialogue

• Appositive

Answer explanation

Flow quotes capture part of what was said. They are often preceded by words like 'that.' No additional capitalization or punctuation is needed.

Fix any punctuation or capitalization errors: Minerva McGonagall knew she could win the spelling bee if, she memorized all the words in the official booklet.

• No changes needed

• Minerva McGonagall, knew she could win, the spelling bee if, she memorized all the words in the official booklet.

• Minerva McGonagall knew she could win the spelling bee if she memorized all the words in the official booklet.

• Minerva McGonagall knew she could win the spelling bee, if, she memorized all the words in the official booklet.

Answer explanation

This is a SWABIs question. If the SWABI is in the middle of the sentence, NO comma is needed.

Add or remove commas, if necessary, until the sentence has correct punctuation: Timon, dare I say it, may be the best badminton player I've ever seen.

• Timon, dare I say it may be the best badminton player I've ever seen.

• Timon dare I say it may be, the best badminton player, I've ever seen.

• Timon dare I say it may be the best badminton player I've ever seen.

• Correct as is

Answer explanation

This is an interrupter. 'Dare I say it' interrupts the sentence and needs commas to surround it.

Add or remove commas, if necessary, until the sentence has correct punctuation: Hermione Granger told us that her sneakers had sparkly shoelaces and lit up in the dark.

• Hermione Granger, told us that her sneakers had sparkly shoelaces and lit up in the dark.

• No change needed

• Hermione Granger told us that her sneakers had sparkly shoelaces, and lit up in the dark.

• Hermione Granger, told us that her sneakers had sparkly, shoelaces and lit up in the dark.

Add or remove commas, if necessary, until the sentence has correct punctuation: Either the pirate the parrot or Luna Lovegood knows where the treasure is buried.

• Either the pirate, the parrot, or Luna Lovegood knows where the treasure is buried.

• No changes needed

• Either the pirate, the, parrot or Luna Lovegood, knows where the treasure is buried.

• Either the pirate the parrot or Luna Lovegood, knows where the treasure is buried.

Answer explanation

This sentence is listing items in a series (enumeration)

Fix any punctuation or capitalization errors below: Moaning Myrtle wanted a flock of backyard chickens but, there was no good place in her yard for them to live.

• Moaning Myrtle wanted a flock of backyard chickens but there was no good place in her yard for them to live.

• No changes needed

• Moaning Myrtle wanted a flock of backyard chickens, but there was no good place in her yard for them to live.

• Moaning Myrtle, wanted a flock of backyard chickens, but, there was no good place in her yard for them to live.

Answer explanation

This is a FANBOYS question. When you are combining two complete thoughts using FANBOYS a comma goes BEFORE the FANBOYS

Fix any punctuation or capitalization errors below: Lord Voldemort's hair stylist made a bold recommendation; "you should try a mohawk."

• Lord Voldemort's hair stylist made a bold recommendation "you should try a mohawk."

• Lord Voldemort's hair stylist made a bold recommendation: "You should try a mohawk."

• Lord Voldemort's hair stylist made a bold recommendation, "You should try a mohawk."

• Lord Voldemort's hair stylist made a bold recommendation you should try a mohawk.

Answer explanation

This is a colon quote. When a complete thought introduces what someone says, you use a colon (:) then capitalize the first letter of the first word of what is said.

If necessary, add or remove commas from the sentence: The bear cubs fuzzy creatures with bright eyes played in Mrs. Alderman's backyard.

• The bear cubs, fuzzy creatures with bright eyes played in Mrs. Alderman's backyard.

• The bear, cubs fuzzy creatures, with bright eyes played in Mrs. Alderman's backyard.

• The bear cubs, fuzzy creatures with bright eyes, played in Mrs. Alderman's backyard.

• No change needed

Answer explanation

This is an appositives question. 'Fuzzy little creatures with bright eyes' refers to 'The bear cubs.'

Mr. Overby wants to make a great model rocket for the contest, because the winner gets a free trip to NASA.

• Correct as is

• Mr. Overby wants to make a great model rocket for the contest because the winner gets a free trip to NASA.

• Mr. Overby, wants to make a great model rocket for the contest, because the winner gets a free trip to NASA.

• Mr. Overby wants to make a great model rocket, for the contest, because the winner gets a free trip to NASA.

Answer explanation

This is a SWABIs question. When the SWABI is in the MIDDLE of the sentence, NO comma is needed.