Students complete nine sentences covering all four comma rules — introductory elements, series, appositives, and compound sentences. The matching activity pairs four sentences with their comma rules: series, compound sentence, introductory phrase, and appositive, each from a different context.
Matching sentences to their specific comma rule builds the metacognitive habit of naming why a comma belongs rather than placing it by feel.
Style:
Comma Rules
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A comma is used after an introductory word, phrase, or clause at the start of a sentence.
2. The sentence "I like soccer, basketball, and tennis" uses commas in a series.
3. In the sentence "My brother, who is ten, plays the drums," the phrase "who is ten" is an appositive.
4. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two complete sentences.
5. The words For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So are called coordinating conjunctions.
6. An appositive is a word or phrase that renames or identifies a nearby noun.
7. In "Well, I think we should leave now," the word "Well" is an introductory element.
8. A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
9. The Oxford comma appears before the last item in a list of three or more.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
"We need glue, scissors, and tape for the project."
→ Commas separating items in a series
Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
"She wanted to go hiking, but the trail was closed."
→ Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
Commas around an appositive that renames a noun
"During the storm, the lights flickered on and off."
→ Comma after an introductory phrase
Commas separating items in a series
"Our principal, Mr. Daniels, announced the field trip."
→ Commas around an appositive that renames a noun
Comma after an introductory phrase
Comma Rules
★ Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1) A comma is used after an introductory word, phrase, or clause at the start of a sentence.
2) The sentence "I like soccer, basketball, and tennis" uses commas in a series.
3) In the sentence "My brother, who is ten, plays the drums," the phrase "who is ten" is an appositive.
4) Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two complete sentences.
5) The words For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So are called coordinating conjunctions.
6) An appositive is a word or phrase that renames or identifies a nearby noun.
7) In "Well, I think we should leave now," the word "Well" is an introductory element.
8) A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
9) The Oxford comma appears before the last item in a list of three or more.
★ Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1) Match each item to its correct answer.
"We need glue, scissors, and tape for the project."
→ Commas separating items in a series
Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
"She wanted to go hiking, but the trail was closed."
→ Comma before conjunction in a compound sentence
Commas around an appositive that renames a noun
"During the storm, the lights flickered on and off."
→ Comma after an introductory phrase
Commas separating items in a series
"Our principal, Mr. Daniels, announced the field trip."
→ Commas around an appositive that renames a noun
Comma after an introductory phrase
Ready to Practice?
Complete each section carefully.
10 Questions
10-15 minutes
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