Comma Usage Practice

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• I need to buy apples bananas, and oranges.

• I need to buy apples, bananas, and oranges.

• I need to buy apples, bananas and, oranges.

• I need to buy, apples, bananas, and oranges.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'I need to buy apples, bananas, and oranges.' It properly uses commas to separate items in a list, including the Oxford comma before 'and' for clarity.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:

• The dog, the cat, and the rabbit all live peacefully together.

• The dog, the cat and the rabbit, all live peacefully together.

• The dog the cat, and the rabbit, all live peacefully together.

• The dog the cat and the rabbit all live peacefully together.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The dog, the cat, and the rabbit all live peacefully together.' It properly uses commas to separate items in a list and does not place a comma before 'all,' which is unnecessary.

Identify the correctly written sentence:

• For breakfast I had eggs, toast and, juice.

• For breakfast I had eggs toast, and juice.

• For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and juice.

• For breakfast I had eggs, toast, and juice

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'For breakfast, I had eggs, toast, and juice.' It properly uses a comma after 'For breakfast' and includes the Oxford comma before 'and juice', ensuring clarity in the list.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• My favorite colors are blue, green and purple.

• My favorite colors are blue green, and purple.

• My favorite colors are, blue, green, and purple.

• My favorite colors are blue, green, and purple.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'My favorite colors are blue, green, and purple.' It properly uses commas to separate items in a list, including the Oxford comma before 'and', which is standard in American English.

Which sentence is correct?

• I wanted to go outside, but it started raining.

• I wanted to go outside but, it started raining.

• I wanted, to go outside but it started raining.

• I wanted to go outside but it started raining.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'I wanted to go outside, but it started raining.' It properly uses a comma before 'but' to separate two independent clauses, making it grammatically correct.

Choose the correct sentence:

• She studied hard, and passed the test with flying colors.

• She studied hard and passed the test, with flying colors.

• She studied hard and passed the test with flying colors.

• She studied hard and, passed the test with flying colors.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'She studied hard and passed the test with flying colors.' It correctly uses 'and' without a comma, maintaining a clear and concise structure without unnecessary punctuation.

Identify the correctly punctuated sentence:

• He wanted to play soccer but, he forgot his cleats.

• He wanted to play soccer, but he forgot his cleats.

• He wanted, to play soccer, but he forgot his cleats.

• He wanted to play soccer, but, he forgot his cleats.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'He wanted to play soccer, but he forgot his cleats.' It properly uses a comma before 'but' to connect two independent clauses without unnecessary punctuation.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• I wanted to visit the museum, yet it was closed.

• I wanted to visit the museum yet, it was closed.

• I wanted to visit, the museum yet it was closed.

• I wanted, to visit the museum yet it was closed.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is "I wanted to visit the museum, yet it was closed." It properly uses a comma before "yet" to connect two independent clauses, while the other options misplace or omit necessary punctuation.

Which sentence is correct?

• However I did not finish my homework on time.

• However, I did not finish my homework on time.

• However I, did not finish my homework on time.

• However I did not, finish my homework on time.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'However, I did not finish my homework on time.' because it properly uses a comma after 'However' to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause.

Choose the correct sentence:

• After the storm, the sun came out.

• After, the storm the sun came out.

• After the storm the sun came out.

• After the storm, the sun, came out.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'After the storm, the sun came out.' because it properly uses a comma after 'storm' to separate the clauses, ensuring clarity. The other options either lack necessary punctuation or are incorrectly punctuated.