Commas Worksheets | Commas after Introductory Phrase or Clause ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. The rule is: Use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause — that means if the sentence starts with words that set up the main part (like time, place, condition, or greeting), we add a comma right after them.

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1. Hello welcome to our hotel.
→ “Hello” is a greeting at the start → it’s introductory.
✔ Add comma after “Hello”:
Hello, welcome to our hotel.

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2. In the morning we woke up early to go fishing.
→ “In the morning” tells us when → it’s an introductory phrase.
✔ Add comma after “morning”:
In the morning, we woke up early to go fishing.

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3. Okay once we finish eating we will play tennis at the park.
→ “Okay” is a word used to start the sentence → introductory.
Also, “once we finish eating” is a dependent clause that comes first → needs a comma after it too? Wait — let’s check:
Actually, “Okay” is the very first word — so we put a comma after “Okay”. Then “once we finish eating” is also introductory to the main action “we will play...”, so we need a comma after “eating” as well? Let’s think carefully.

But looking at the example in the worksheet:
Example A: “During the evening I like...” → became “During the evening, I like...”
So only ONE comma after the full introductory part.

In this case: “Okay once we finish eating” — is “Okay” separate? Or is “Okay once we finish eating” all together?

Actually, “Okay” here is being used as a discourse marker — like saying “Alright,” — so it should have a comma after it. Then “once we finish eating” is another introductory clause — so we need a comma after “eating” too? But that might be overdoing it.

Wait — let’s look at standard grammar:
If you say: “Okay, once we finish eating, we will play...” — that’s correct. Two commas: one after “Okay”, one after “eating”.

But the instruction says: “Add commas to each introductory phrase or clause.” So if there are two, we add two.

However, in many school worksheets, they treat “Okay” as the introductory element and then the rest as the main sentence — but actually, “once we finish eating” is also introductory to “we will play...”

To be safe and follow the pattern of the example (which had one introductory phrase), let’s see what makes sense.

Actually, re-reading the directions: “Re-Write each sentence below. Add commas to each introductory phrase or clause.”

So if there are multiple, we add multiple.

But let’s check common usage:

“Okay, once we finish eating, we will play tennis at the park.” ← This is grammatically correct.

But maybe for this level, they expect just one comma? Let’s compare to other sentences.

Looking at #4: “Yes I would like...” → clearly “Yes” is introductory → comma after “Yes”.

Similarly, #7: “Well this may be...” → “Well” is introductory → comma after “Well”.

So for #3: “Okay” is like “Yes” or “Well” — so comma after “Okay”. Then “once we finish eating” is a dependent clause introducing the main clause — so comma after “eating” too.

I think we should do both.

But let me double-check with a reliable source mentally: Yes, in English, when you have a transitional word like “okay” followed by a dependent clause, you use commas around the dependent clause if it’s in the middle, but here it’s at the beginning.

Actually, structure is: [Introductory word], [introductory clause], [main clause].

So: Okay, once we finish eating, we will play...

Yes, that’s correct.

But perhaps the worksheet expects only one comma? Let’s see the example again — only one introductory phrase was given.

To avoid confusion, and since the instruction says “each introductory phrase or clause”, I’ll include both.

But wait — in sentence #3, is “Okay” considered part of the introductory clause? Or separate?

Actually, “Okay” is an interjection used to begin the sentence — so it gets a comma. Then “once we finish eating” is a subordinate clause acting as an adverbial modifier — so it also gets a comma after it.

So final answer for #3: Okay, once we finish eating, we will play tennis at the park.

But let’s hold on — maybe for simplicity, some curricula treat “Okay” as the only introductory element and ignore the rest? No, that wouldn’t be accurate.

I recall that in many elementary/middle school worksheets, they focus on the first obvious introductory element. For example, in “After school, I went home.” — comma after “school”.

In “Well, I guess so.” — comma after “Well”.

In “Once we finish eating, we will play...” — comma after “eating”.

So for “Okay once we finish eating...” — it’s combining two things. Perhaps the intended answer is to put a comma after “Okay” and after “eating”.

I think that’s correct.

But to match the level, let’s see sentence #6: “To avoid traffic my dad took...” → “To avoid traffic” is introductory → comma after “traffic”.

Similarly, #5: “From our window on the third floor I can see...” → “From our window on the third floor” is introductory → comma after “floor”.

So for #3, “Okay” is short, but “once we finish eating” is longer — both are introductory.

I’ll go with two commas.

But let’s proceed and come back if needed.

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4. Yes I would like another piece of pizza.
→ “Yes” is a single-word introductory response → needs comma.
✔ Yes, I would like another piece of pizza.

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5. From our window on the third floor I can see all the people below.
→ “From our window on the third floor” is a prepositional phrase telling where → introductory.
✔ Add comma after “floor”:
From our window on the third floor, I can see all the people below.

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6. To avoid traffic my dad took an alternate route.
→ “To avoid traffic” is an infinitive phrase showing purpose → introductory.
✔ Add comma after “traffic”:
To avoid traffic, my dad took an alternate route.

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7. Well this may be the last solution to the problem.
→ “Well” is an introductory interjection → needs comma.
✔ Well, this may be the last solution to the problem.

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Now back to #3: After thinking, I believe the most accurate and complete answer is to add commas after “Okay” and after “eating”, because both are introductory elements.

“Okay” introduces the whole idea, and “once we finish eating” introduces the timing of the main action.

So: Okay, once we finish eating, we will play tennis at the park.

This follows standard punctuation rules.

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Final Answers:

1. Hello, welcome to our hotel.
2. In the morning, we woke up early to go fishing.
3. Okay, once we finish eating, we will play tennis at the park.
4. Yes, I would like another piece of pizza.
5. From our window on the third floor, I can see all the people below.
6. To avoid traffic, my dad took an alternate route.
7. Well, this may be the last solution to the problem.

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Final Answer:
1. Hello, welcome to our hotel.
2. In the morning, we woke up early to go fishing.
3. Okay, once we finish eating, we will play tennis at the park.
4. Yes, I would like another piece of pizza.
5. From our window on the third floor, I can see all the people below.
6. To avoid traffic, my dad took an alternate route.
7. Well, this may be the last solution to the problem.