Commas, Semicolons, & Colons Practice

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. Students hugged laughed and compared schedules on the first day of school.

• Students hugged, laughed, and compared schedules on the first day of school.

• Students hugged laughed, and compared schedules on the first day of school.

• Students hugged, laughed and compared schedules on the first day of school.

• Students hugged laughed and, compared schedules on the first day of school.

Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. Always make sure you are ready at 7:10 or you will be late for school.

• Always make sure you are ready at 7:10, or you will be late for school.

• Always, make sure you are ready at 7:10 or you will be late for school.

• Always make sure, you are ready at 7:10 or you will be late for school.

• Always make sure you are ready, at 7:10 or you will be late for school.

Are you really interested in going to that smelly dirty windowless restaurant?

• Are you really interested in going to that smelly, dirty, windowless restaurant?

• Are you really interested in going to that clean, bright, windowless restaurant?

• Are you really interested in going to that smelly, dirty, well-lit restaurant?

• Are you really interested in going to that smelly, clean, windowless restaurant?

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. Jason walked all over the parking lot but he could not find his car.

• Jason walked all over the parking lot, but he could not find his car.

• Jason walked, all over the parking lot but he could not find his car.

• Jason walked all over, the parking lot but he could not find his car.

• Jason walked all over the parking lot but, he could not find his car.

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. Stay close to the tour guide and be very careful where you step.

• Stay close to the tour guide, and be very careful where you step.

• Stay close, to the tour guide and be very careful where you step.

• Stay close to the tour guide and, be very careful where you step.

• Stay close to the tour guide and be, very careful where you step.

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. She invited Mark Shawna Mike and Maria to her birthday dinner.

• She invited Mark, Shawna, Mike, and Maria to her birthday dinner.

• She invited Mark Shawna, Mike, and Maria to her birthday dinner.

• She invited Mark, Shawna Mike and Maria to her birthday dinner.

• She invited Mark, Shawna, Mike and Maria to her birthday dinner.

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. Mr. Bassett who told us to attend the tennis match was nowhere to be found.

• Mr. Bassett, who told us to attend the tennis match, was nowhere to be found.

• Mr. Bassett who, told us to attend the tennis match, was nowhere to be found.

• Mr. Bassett, who told us, to attend the tennis match was nowhere to be found.

• Mr. Bassett who told us, to attend the tennis match, was nowhere to be found.

Part I: Place commas correctly in the following sentence. Commas are used to separate a series of items, to separate two or more modifiers, before conjunctions when they join independent clauses, and to offset nonessential phrases or clauses. I will need some paint a hammer and some nails to work on the set for the play.

• I will need some paint, a hammer, and some nails to work on the set for the play.

• I will need some paint a hammer, and some nails to work on the set for the play.

• I will need some paint, a hammer and some nails to work on the set for the play.

• I will need some paint a hammer and some nails, to work on the set for the play.

Place semicolons in the following sentence. Semicolons are used in between independent clauses if they are not joined by a comma and a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, & yet. See rule above.) Semicolons can also be used between independent clauses joined by words like hence, however, for instance, furthermore, etc. He wanted to take a trip to Rome therefore he decided to start learning Italian.

• He wanted to take a trip to Rome; therefore, he decided to start learning Italian.

• He wanted to take a trip to Rome, therefore he decided to start learning Italian.

• He wanted to take a trip to Rome: therefore, he decided to start learning Italian.

• He wanted to take a trip to Rome therefore; he decided to start learning Italian.

Match the following sentences with the correct punctuation usage.

• Use a colon to introduce an explanation or list.

• Science is my most difficult subject; I will have to spend a little more time studying my classwork in order to do well in it.

• Use a period to separate two independent sentences.

• Science is my most difficult subject: I will have to spend a little more time studying my classwork in order to do well in it.

• Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses.

• Science is my most difficult subject. I will have to spend a little more time studying my classwork in order to do well in it.

• Incorrect punctuation between two independent clauses.

• Science is my most difficult subject, I will have to spend a little more time studying my classwork in order to do well in it.