Comma usage practice worksheet focusing on separating multiple adjectives that modify the same noun.
Worksheet titled "Commas with Adjectives" with instructions and ten sentences for adding commas to separate adjectives, featuring a small illustration of a person writing at a desk.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Commas Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Commas Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library
You're working on a grammar worksheet titled “Commas with Adjectives”. The goal is to add commas between coordinate adjectives — that is, two or more adjectives that modify the same noun and can be rearranged or separated by “and” without changing the meaning.
---
> Use a comma between coordinate adjectives if you can:
> - Insert “and” between them, OR
> - Rearrange their order without changing the meaning.
If you *can’t* do either, they are not coordinate, and you *don’t* use a comma.
---
Let’s go through each sentence and add commas where needed:
---
→ “short” and “easy” both describe “test.”
Can we say “short and easy test”? → Yes.
Can we say “easy short test”? → Sounds odd? Actually, it’s acceptable in casual speech — but grammatically, they’re coordinate.
✔ Add comma: It was a short, easy test.
---
→ “sweet,” “little,” “black” all describe “cat.”
Check: Can we rearrange? “little sweet black cat” — sounds weird.
But “sweet and little and black cat” — doesn’t quite work.
Actually, “black” is describing color (inherent), while “sweet” and “little” are opinion/size — so “sweet” and “little” are coordinate; “black” is not.
✔ Add comma only between coordinate pair: The sweet, little black cat is in the window.
---
→ “kind” and “clever” both describe Uncle Pete.
“kind and clever” → makes sense.
“clever kind Uncle Pete” → awkward, but still understandable.
✔ Add comma: My kind, clever Uncle Pete is visiting.
---
→ “short” and “blond” — can we say “short and blond girl”? Yes.
Can we say “blond short girl”? Grammatically okay, though unusual.
They are coordinate.
✔ Add comma: The short, blond girl is my sister.
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→ “complex” and “fascinating” both describe “movie.”
“complex and fascinating movie” → yes.
“fascinating complex movie” → still makes sense.
✔ Add comma: I loved that complex, fascinating movie.
---
→ “large” and “rambunctious” — both describe “class.”
“large and rambunctious class” → yes.
“rambunctious large class” → a bit awkward, but acceptable.
✔ Add comma: The large, rambunctious class intimidated the teacher.
---
→ “heavy” and “wool” — “wool” is material, “heavy” is weight.
Can we say “heavy and wool sweater”? → No — “wool” isn’t an opinion; it’s part of the noun (“wool sweater”).
Rearranged: “wool heavy sweater” → doesn’t make sense.
✘ NO comma.
✔ Correct: This heavy wool sweater makes me itch.
---
→ “glistening” and “white” — both describe “frost.”
“glistening and white frost” → yes.
“white glistening frost” → acceptable.
✔ Add comma: The glistening, white frost on the ground is pretty.
---
→ “itchy” and “red” — both describe “bumps.”
“itchy and red bumps” → yes.
“red itchy bumps” → also fine.
✔ Add comma: These itchy, red bumps will go away soon.
---
→ “tall” and “perfectly shaped” — both describe “tree.”
“tall and perfectly shaped tree” → yes.
“perfectly shaped tall tree” → sounds natural.
✔ Add comma: The tall, perfectly shaped tree was beautiful.
---
## ✔ Final Answers:
1. It was a short, easy test.
2. The sweet, little black cat is in the window.
3. My kind, clever Uncle Pete is visiting.
4. The short, blond girl is my sister.
5. I loved that complex, fascinating movie.
6. The large, rambunctious class intimidated the teacher.
7. This heavy wool sweater makes me itch. *(no comma)*
8. The glistening, white frost on the ground is pretty.
9. These itchy, red bumps will go away soon.
10. The tall, perfectly shaped tree was beautiful.
---
💡 Tip for Students: When in doubt, try inserting “and” between the adjectives. If it sounds natural, add a comma!
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or explanation cards!
---
📌 Key Rule:
> Use a comma between coordinate adjectives if you can:
> - Insert “and” between them, OR
> - Rearrange their order without changing the meaning.
If you *can’t* do either, they are not coordinate, and you *don’t* use a comma.
---
Let’s go through each sentence and add commas where needed:
---
✔ 1. It was a short easy test.
→ “short” and “easy” both describe “test.”
Can we say “short and easy test”? → Yes.
Can we say “easy short test”? → Sounds odd? Actually, it’s acceptable in casual speech — but grammatically, they’re coordinate.
✔ Add comma: It was a short, easy test.
---
✔ 2. The sweet little black cat is in the window.
→ “sweet,” “little,” “black” all describe “cat.”
Check: Can we rearrange? “little sweet black cat” — sounds weird.
But “sweet and little and black cat” — doesn’t quite work.
Actually, “black” is describing color (inherent), while “sweet” and “little” are opinion/size — so “sweet” and “little” are coordinate; “black” is not.
✔ Add comma only between coordinate pair: The sweet, little black cat is in the window.
---
✔ 3. My kind clever Uncle Pete is visiting.
→ “kind” and “clever” both describe Uncle Pete.
“kind and clever” → makes sense.
“clever kind Uncle Pete” → awkward, but still understandable.
✔ Add comma: My kind, clever Uncle Pete is visiting.
---
✔ 4. The short blond girl is my sister.
→ “short” and “blond” — can we say “short and blond girl”? Yes.
Can we say “blond short girl”? Grammatically okay, though unusual.
They are coordinate.
✔ Add comma: The short, blond girl is my sister.
---
✔ 5. I loved that complex fascinating movie.
→ “complex” and “fascinating” both describe “movie.”
“complex and fascinating movie” → yes.
“fascinating complex movie” → still makes sense.
✔ Add comma: I loved that complex, fascinating movie.
---
✔ 6. The large rambunctious class intimidated the teacher.
→ “large” and “rambunctious” — both describe “class.”
“large and rambunctious class” → yes.
“rambunctious large class” → a bit awkward, but acceptable.
✔ Add comma: The large, rambunctious class intimidated the teacher.
---
✔ 7. This heavy wool sweater makes me itch.
→ “heavy” and “wool” — “wool” is material, “heavy” is weight.
Can we say “heavy and wool sweater”? → No — “wool” isn’t an opinion; it’s part of the noun (“wool sweater”).
Rearranged: “wool heavy sweater” → doesn’t make sense.
✘ NO comma.
✔ Correct: This heavy wool sweater makes me itch.
---
✔ 8. The glistening white frost on the ground is pretty.
→ “glistening” and “white” — both describe “frost.”
“glistening and white frost” → yes.
“white glistening frost” → acceptable.
✔ Add comma: The glistening, white frost on the ground is pretty.
---
✔ 9. These itchy red bumps will go away soon.
→ “itchy” and “red” — both describe “bumps.”
“itchy and red bumps” → yes.
“red itchy bumps” → also fine.
✔ Add comma: These itchy, red bumps will go away soon.
---
✔ 10. The tall perfectly shaped tree was beautiful.
→ “tall” and “perfectly shaped” — both describe “tree.”
“tall and perfectly shaped tree” → yes.
“perfectly shaped tall tree” → sounds natural.
✔ Add comma: The tall, perfectly shaped tree was beautiful.
---
## ✔ Final Answers:
1. It was a short, easy test.
2. The sweet, little black cat is in the window.
3. My kind, clever Uncle Pete is visiting.
4. The short, blond girl is my sister.
5. I loved that complex, fascinating movie.
6. The large, rambunctious class intimidated the teacher.
7. This heavy wool sweater makes me itch. *(no comma)*
8. The glistening, white frost on the ground is pretty.
9. These itchy, red bumps will go away soon.
10. The tall, perfectly shaped tree was beautiful.
---
💡 Tip for Students: When in doubt, try inserting “and” between the adjectives. If it sounds natural, add a comma!
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or explanation cards!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 6th grade comma worksheet.
