Comma Rules — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sentence uses ALL of its commas correctly?
A) Before the parade, the band members, put on their uniforms, and lined up.
B) Before the parade, the band members put on their uniforms and lined up.
C) Before the parade the band members put on their uniforms, and lined up.
D) Before, the parade the band members put on their uniforms and lined up.
This sentence correctly places a comma after the introductory phrase "Before the parade" and does not add unnecessary commas elsewhere, since the rest is a single independent clause.
2. How many commas does this sentence need? "Ms. Carter my art teacher who retired last year came to visit our class on Friday."
A) Two commas
B) Three commas
C) Four commas
D) Five commas
You need commas around the appositive "my art teacher" (2 commas) and around the nonessential clause "who retired last year" (2 commas), totaling four.
3. Which sentence has a comma splice error?
A) The storm passed, and the sun came out again.
B) After the storm passed, the sun came out again.
C) The storm passed, the sun came out again.
D) The storm passed. The sun came out again.
"The storm passed" and "the sun came out again" are both independent clauses joined only by a comma with no conjunction, which creates a comma splice error.
4. Where should commas go in this sentence? "Students please remember to bring your pencils notebooks and erasers tomorrow."
A) Students please remember to bring your pencils, notebooks, and erasers tomorrow.
B) Students, please remember to bring your pencils, notebooks, and erasers tomorrow.
C) Students, please remember to bring your pencils notebooks, and erasers tomorrow.
D) Students please remember, to bring your pencils, notebooks and erasers tomorrow.
"Students" is a direct address and needs a comma after it, and the three school supplies form a series that requires commas between each item, including the Oxford comma before "and."
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A comma splice happens when two complete sentences are joined by only a comma with no conjunction.
A comma splice incorrectly glues two complete sentences together with just a comma; you need either a conjunction after the comma or a semicolon instead.
2. In "Students, please sit down," the comma separates the direct address from the rest of the sentence.
"Students" names who the speaker is talking to, making it a direct address that needs a comma to separate it from the instruction that follows.
3. When a sentence has both an introductory clause and a series, you may need three or more commas.
One comma follows the introductory clause, and at least two more separate the items in the series, so three or more commas are needed altogether.
4. A nonessential clause gives extra information and must be set off by commas.
A nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause adds extra detail you could remove without changing the sentence's core meaning, which is why commas set it apart.
5. The word "although" often begins a dependent clause that needs a comma when it comes first.
"Although" is a subordinating conjunction that starts a dependent clause; when this clause opens the sentence, a comma must follow it before the independent clause.