Mastering Comma Usage in English

Why did a major Canadian company lose two million dollars in 2006?

• They used the wrong currency.

• They made a common punctuation mistake in a contract.

• They missed a deadline.

• They failed to sign the contract.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.2C

What is the first rule for using commas?

• To indicate a pause.

• To end a sentence.

• To separate items in a list.

• To separate two independent clauses.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

In a list of words, how should each item be separated?

• With a period.

• With a semicolon.

• With a dash.

• With a comma.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Which of the following is an example of using commas between two adjectives?

• The tall, and strong man.

• The large and spacious room.

• The beautiful, old house.

• The quick brown fox.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

When can commas be used between just two adjectives?

• When the adjectives describe different nouns.

• When the adjectives are of the same type.

• When the adjectives are connected with 'and'.

• When the adjectives are of different types.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Which sentence correctly uses commas in a list of phrases?

• He spent the weekend researching his topic, writing his essay and proofreading his final draft.

• He spent the weekend researching his topic, writing his essay, and proofreading his final draft.

• He spent the weekend, researching his topic, writing his essay and proofreading his final draft.

• He spent the weekend researching his topic writing his essay and proofreading his final draft.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2C

CCSS.L.5.2A

CCSS.L.7.2A

Which of the following is an example of a list of clauses?

• The guests included the president, the first lady, the vice president, and the Minister of Defence.

• Children used computers to play video games, business people use them to advertise products, students use them to research secondary sources, and teachers use them to teach basic skills.

• The beautiful, old house had a huge living room.

• Jason had difficulty in his first semester, but he was at the top of his class by the end of the year.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

What is a coordinating conjunction?

• A punctuation mark used to end a sentence.

• A word that describes a noun.

• A word that connects two independent clauses.

• A phrase that introduces a list.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a comma with a coordinating conjunction?

• Jason had difficulty in his first semester but, he was at the top of his class by the end of the year.

• Jason had difficulty in his first semester, but, he was at the top of his class by the end of the year.

• Jason had difficulty in his first semester, but he was at the top of his class by the end of the year.

• Jason had difficulty in his first semester but he was at the top of his class by the end of the year.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Which of the following is NOT a coordinating conjunction?

• Or

• Because

• But

• And

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E