Comma Quiz

What is the purpose of using commas in a series?

• To separate items in a series

• To connect two independent clauses

• To introduce a list

• To add extra information that is not essential to the sentence

Which of the following examples correctly shows the use of commas in a series?

• Lucy, Zachary and I are going to the store.

• Lucy Zachary, and I are going to the store.

• Lucy, Zachary, and I are going to the store.

• Lucy Zachary and I are going to the store.

What type of words are 'barbecue, hammock, and canoe' in the example given?

• Verbs

• Adjectives

• Nouns

• Adverbs

What type of words are 'stop, look, and listen' in the example given?

• Verbs

• Adjectives

• Nouns

• Adverbs

What type of words are 'cold, gray, and calm' in the example given?

• Verbs

• Adjectives

• Nouns

• Adverbs

Which of the following is an example of participial phrases in a series?

• We found seaweed in the water, on the sand, under the rocks, and even in our shoes.

• Checking his shoelaces, fastening his helmet strap, and positioning his knee pads, Todd prepared for the skateboarding competition.

• Clearing the table, washing the dishes, and putting everything away took almost an hour.

• Barbecue, hammock, and canoe are words English got from Native Americans.

Which of the following is an example of prepositional phrases in a series?

• We found seaweed in the water, on the sand, under the rocks, and even in our shoes.

• Checking his shoelaces, fastening his helmet strap, and positioning his knee pads, Todd prepared for the skateboarding competition.

• Clearing the table, washing the dishes, and putting everything away took almost an hour.

• Barbecue, hammock, and canoe are words English got from Native Americans.

Which of the following is an example of gerund phrases in a series?

• We found seaweed in the water, on the sand, under the rocks, and even in our shoes.

• Checking his shoelaces, fastening his helmet strap, and positioning his knee pads, Todd prepared for the skateboarding competition.

• Clearing the table, washing the dishes, and putting everything away took almost an hour.

• Barbecue, hammock, and canoe are words English got from Native Americans.

When items in a series are joined by "and" or "or," how should they be separated?

• With commas

• With semicolons

• No separation is needed

• With periods

Which of the following is an example of clauses in a series correctly joined by "and" without commas?

• We didn’t know where we were going, how we would get there, or when we would arrive.

• The lights dimmed, the curtain rose, and the orchestra began to play.

• I voted for Corey and Mona and Ethan in the student council officers election.

• For your report you may want to read a book by Ralph Ellison, or a book by Richard Wright, or a book by Maya Angelou.