Mastering Commas and Grammar

What is the primary function of a comma in a sentence?

• To emphasize a word in a sentence.

• To indicate a pause or separate elements in a sentence.

• To replace periods in a sentence.

• To indicate the end of a sentence.

Identify the correct use of a comma in the following sentence: 'I bought apples oranges and bananas.'

• I bought apples oranges, and bananas.

• I bought, apples, oranges and bananas.

• I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

• I bought apples, oranges and bananas.

Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly? A) 'My brother, who lives in New York is visiting.' B) 'My brother who lives in New York, is visiting.' C) 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

• My brother, who lives in New York, visiting.

• My brother who lives in New York, is visiting.

• My brother who lives in New York is visiting.

• C) 'My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.'

In a list of three or more items, where should the commas be placed?

• Do not use any punctuation in the list.

• Place commas between items and before the conjunction in a list of three or more items.

• Use semicolons instead of commas in the list.

• Place commas only at the end of the list.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas: A) 'After dinner we went for a walk.' B) 'After dinner, we went for a walk.' C) 'After, dinner we went for a walk.'

• B) 'After dinner, we went for a walk.'

• After dinner we went, for a walk.

• After, dinner, we went for a walk.

• After dinner we, went for a walk.

What part of speech is typically set off by commas in a sentence?

• adjective

• verb

• interjection

• noun

How do commas affect the meaning of a sentence? Provide an example.

• For example, 'Let's eat, Grandma!' implies inviting Grandma to eat, while 'Let's eat Grandma!' suggests eating Grandma.

• Commas are only used for lists and not for clarity.

• Commas can be replaced with periods without changing meaning.

• Commas have no effect on sentence meaning.

Identify the error in this sentence: 'The dog, barked loudly at the stranger.'

• Add a period after 'stranger'

• Change 'barked' to 'bark'

• Remove 'at the stranger'

• Remove the comma after 'The dog'

When should you use a comma before a conjunction? Give an example.

• I wanted to go for a walk; but it started to rain.

• For example: 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'

• I wanted to go for a walk, and it started to rain.

• I wanted to go for a walk but it started to rain.

What is the rule for using commas with introductory phrases?

• Use a comma after an introductory phrase.

• Use a comma only if the introductory phrase is longer than five words.

• Never use a comma with introductory phrases.

• Always use a comma before an introductory phrase.