Comma Usage Reference Sheet

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: I bought apples bananas and oranges.

• I bought, apples, bananas, and oranges.

• I bought apples bananas, and oranges.

• I bought apples, bananas and oranges.

• I bought, apples bananas and oranges.

Answer explanation

Rule: Separate three or more items in a list with commas. There is no comma before ‘and’ preceding the final

item in the list.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: After the storm the skies cleared.

• After the storm, the skies cleared.

• After, the storm the skies cleared.

• After the storm the, skies cleared.

• After the storm the skies, cleared.

Answer explanation

Rule: Start with a preposition or prepositional phrase followed by a comma, then add the main clause /

clauses.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: Fortunately nobody was injured.

• Fortunately nobody was injured,

• Fortunately nobody, was injured.

• Fortunately nobody was, injured.

• Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Answer explanation

Rule: Start with an adverb/adverb group or adverb + adjective followed by a comma, then add the main clause / clauses.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: Walking through the crowd he spotted his friend.

• Walking through the crowd, he spotted his friend.

• Walking, through the crowd he spotted his friend.

• Walking through the crowd he, spotted his friend.

• Walking through the crowd he spotted, his friend.

Answer explanation

Rule: Start with a verb + ing or a dependent verb + ing clause followed by a comma, then add the main clause.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: She said "I'm leaving now."

• She said, "I'm leaving now."

• She, said "I'm leaving now."

• She said "I'm, leaving now."

• She said "I'm leaving, now."

Answer explanation

Rule: Separate direct speech from speaker with a comma.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence: Meanwhile we prepared the presentation.

• Meanwhile, we prepared the presentation.

• Meanwhile we, prepared the presentation.

• Meanwhile we prepared, the presentation.

• Meanwhile we prepared the, presentation.

Answer explanation

Rule: Place a comma after the transitional word (connective).

Insert the commas in the correct places in the following sentence: I moved to Brisbane Queensland in 2022.

• I moved to, Brisbane Queensland, in 2022.,

• I moved, to Brisbane Queensland in 2022.

• I moved to Brisbane, Queensland, in 2022.

• I moved to Brisbane, Queensland in 2022.

Answer explanation

Rule: Place a comma after the city and state or state and country in a sentence.

Insert the comma in the correct place in the following sentence:

• Today is December, 25, 2024.

• Today is December 25, 2024.

• Today is, December 25, 2024.

• Today is, December, 25, 2024.

Answer explanation

Rule: Place a comma between the day and the year or the month and the year.

Insert commas where necessary in the following sentence to demonstrate the use of nonessential information: My uncle a retired pilot lives in Florida.

• My uncle, a retired pilot lives in Sydney.

• My uncle, a retired pilot, lives in, Sydney.

• My uncle a retired pilot, lives in Sydney.

• My uncle, a retired pilot, lives in Sydney.

Answer explanation

Rule: Enclose the extra information

between commas, then continue the sentence.

Which comma rule is demonstrated in the following sentence? My dog Max, a golden retriever, loves to swim.

• Prepositional Start

• Explore the Subject

• Compound Sentences

• Complex Sentence