Comma Rules — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. In "Class, please open your books," the word "Class" is an example of direct address.
The speaker is talking directly to the class, so "Class" is a noun of direct address and needs a comma after it to separate it from the command.
2. When you speak to someone by name at the beginning of a sentence, place a comma after the name.
When a name opens the sentence as direct address (e.g., "Sam, pass the salt"), a comma follows the name to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
3. In a series of four items you need three commas to separate them.
A series always needs one fewer comma than items: four items need three commas to create clear breaks between each one.
4. A compound sentence has two independent clauses connected by a conjunction.
A compound sentence links exactly two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction, letting both ideas share one sentence.
5. In "Mom, can I go to the park?" the comma sets off the word used in direct address.
"Mom" is a direct address because the speaker is talking to Mom, so a comma separates that name from the question that follows.
6. The FANBOYS conjunction "nor" means "and not" when connecting two negative ideas.
"Nor" combines "and" with "not" to add a second negative idea, as in "She did not sing, nor did she dance."
7. If a name used in direct address appears in the middle of a sentence, it needs commas on both sides.
A name in the middle of a sentence interrupts the flow, so it needs commas on both sides, like "I think, Maria, that you are right."
8. Leaving out the Oxford comma in a list can cause confusion about which items belong together.
Without the Oxford comma, readers may misread which items go together -- for example, "I love my parents, Batman and Wonder Woman" looks like your parents are superheroes.
9. In "I hope, dear students, that you studied," the phrase "dear students" is a direct address in the middle of the sentence.
"Dear students" is a direct address phrase placed in the middle of the sentence, so it needs commas on both sides to set it apart from the speaker's statement.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
"Sam, could you pass the salt?"
→ Comma in direct address at the start
Commas separating items in a series
"She plays piano, guitar, and drums."
→ Commas separating items in a series
Comma in direct address at the start
"I wanted to stay, but my ride was leaving."
→ Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
Commas around direct address in the middle
"Tell me, Doctor, what happened next."
→ Commas around direct address in the middle
Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
Correct matches: "Sam, could you pass the salt?" → Comma in direct address at the start; "She plays piano, guitar, and drums." → Commas separating items in a series; "I wanted to stay, but my ride was leaving." → Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence; "Tell me, Doctor, what happened next." → Commas around direct address in the middle.