Practice Using Commas in a List (Year 2) | CGP Plus - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step, focusing on the correct use of commas in a list.

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✔ Task 1: Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly

We are given four sentences. We need to pick the one where commas are used correctly in a list.

#### Sentence 1:
> My favourite subjects at school are, Maths, English and Art.

✘ Incorrect — The comma after "are" is unnecessary. It creates a pause before the list, which is not needed here.

#### Sentence 2:
> My favourite subjects at school are Maths, English, and Art.

✔ Correct! This uses the Oxford comma (also called the serial comma) — a comma before "and". While optional in some styles, it’s often taught in schools as correct for clarity, especially in formal writing.

#### Sentence 3:
> My favourite subjects at school are Maths, English and Art.

⭕ This is also grammatically acceptable in many style guides (e.g., British English often omits the Oxford comma). However, since Task 1 asks for correct usage and includes an option with the Oxford comma, and because Sentence 2 is more precise and clear, Sentence 2 is the best choice.

#### Sentence 4:
> My favourite subjects at school, are Maths English and Art.

✘ Incorrect — There's a comma splice after "school", and no comma between "Maths" and "English". Also, missing spaces around "English".

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✔ Answer for Task 1:
👉 Tick the box next to:
"My favourite subjects at school are Maths, English, and Art."

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✔ Task 2: Tick where a comma should be

We need to add commas between items in lists.

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#### Sentence 1:
> I would like cheese ham and mushrooms on my pizza.

- Items: cheese, ham, mushrooms → three items in a list.
- Commas go between each item, but before "and" if using Oxford comma.

So:
- After cheese → ✔
- After ham → ✔
- Before and → ✔
- After mushrooms → ✘ (no comma needed after last item)

But the arrows point to:
1. After cheese
2. After ham
3. After and
4. After mushrooms

Wait — let's look carefully:

The sentence is:
"I would like cheese ham and mushrooms on my pizza."

Arrows point to:
- After "cheese" → ✔ (comma needed)
- After "ham" → ✔ (comma needed)
- After "and" → ✘ (not needed)
- After "mushrooms" → ✘

But the third arrow points to after "and", which is wrong. Let's re-check:

Actually, the sentence has:
> cheese ham and mushrooms

So the list is: cheese, ham, and mushrooms.

Therefore:
- Comma after cheese → ✔
- Comma after ham → ✔
- Comma before and → ✔ (this is the Oxford comma)
- But the arrow after "and" is pointing to the space after "and", which is not a comma place.

Wait — the arrows are pointing to:
1. After cheese
2. After ham
3. After and
4. After mushrooms

But the word order is:
"cheese ham and mushrooms"

So:
- After cheese → yes ✔
- After ham → yes ✔
- After and → no ✘
- After mushrooms → no ✘

But the comma before "and" is not marked by an arrow — the arrow is after "and", which is wrong.

This seems confusing.

Wait — actually, the third arrow is pointing to the space between "ham" and "and", so it's asking whether there should be a comma before "and".

Yes — that’s correct.

Let’s clarify the positions:

> I would like cheese [▲] ham [▲] and [▲] mushrooms [▲]

So:
- First arrow: after "cheese" → ✔ (comma needed)
- Second arrow: after "ham" → ✔ (comma needed)
- Third arrow: after "and" → ✘ (no comma needed)
- Fourth arrow: after "mushrooms" → ✘

But wait — the third arrow is pointing after "and", which is not right.

Actually, looking closely, the arrows are:
- After cheese
- After ham
- After and
- After mushrooms

But “and” is not part of the list — it's a conjunction.

So we need commas:
- Between cheese and ham → after "cheese" ✔
- Between ham and mushrooms → after "ham" ✔
- And optionally before "and" → after "ham" — already covered

So:
- After cheese → ✔
- After ham → ✔
- After and → ✘
- After mushrooms → ✘

But the third arrow is pointing to after "and", which is not where a comma goes.

Wait — perhaps the arrows are pointing to spaces between words, not after.

Let me re-read:

> I would like cheese ham and mushrooms on my pizza.
> ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑

So:
1. Between cheese and ham → ✔ (comma needed)
2. Between ham and and → ✔ (comma needed)
3. Between and and mushrooms → ✘ (no comma)
4. Between mushrooms and on → ✘

But between "ham" and "and" is where the Oxford comma goes.

So:
- Arrow 1 (after "cheese") → ✔
- Arrow 2 (after "ham") → ✔
- Arrow 3 (after "and") → ✘
- Arrow 4 (after "mushrooms") → ✘

Wait — but the second arrow is pointing to after "ham", which is before "and", so yes, that’s where the comma goes.

So:
- After "cheese" → ✔
- After "ham" → ✔
- After "and" → ✘
- After "mushrooms" → ✘

So only first two boxes should be ticked.

But the third arrow is after "and" — that's not a comma place.

Wait — maybe the arrows are pointing to the spaces, and the third arrow is between "and" and "mushrooms" — but that’s not where a comma goes.

No — the correct punctuation is:

> I would like cheese, ham, and mushrooms on my pizza.

So commas:
- After "cheese"
- After "ham"
- Before "and" (which is the same as after "ham")

So:
- After "cheese" → ✔
- After "ham" → ✔
- After "and" → ✘
- After "mushrooms" → ✘

So only the first two boxes should be ticked.

But the third arrow is pointing to after "and", which is not correct.

Wait — perhaps the arrows are misaligned?

Let’s look again:

> I would like cheese ham and mushrooms on my pizza.
> ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑

So:
1. Between cheese and ham → ✔
2. Between ham and and → ✔
3. Between and and mushrooms → ✘
4. Between mushrooms and on → ✘

So:
- Box 1: ✔
- Box 2: ✔
- Box 3: ✘
- Box 4: ✘

✔ So tick the first two boxes.

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#### Sentence 2:
> I have been to Spain France Italy and Greece on holiday.

List: Spain, France, Italy, Greece

Commas between each country.

Arrows:
- After Spain → ✔
- After France → ✔
- After Italy → ✔
- After and → ✘
- After Greece → ✘

So:
- Box 1: ✔
- Box 2: ✔
- Box 3: ✔
- Box 4: ✘
- Box 5: ✘

✔ So tick boxes 1, 2, and 3.

Note: No comma after "and" or after "Greece".

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#### Sentence 3:
> My best friends at school are called Zach Holly and Scarlett.

List: Zach, Holly, Scarlett

Commas between:
- After Zach → ✔
- After Holly → ✔
- Before and → ✔ (same as after Holly)
- After Scarlett → ✘

Arrows:
- After Zach → ✔
- After Holly → ✔
- After and → ✘
- After Scarlett → ✘

So:
- Box 1: ✔
- Box 2: ✔
- Box 3: ✘
- Box 4: ✘

✔ So tick boxes 1 and 2.

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Task 1:
Tick:
☑️ My favourite subjects at school are Maths, English, and Art.

#### Task 2:

Sentence 1:
I would like cheese ham and mushrooms on my pizza.
☐ ✔ ☐ ✔ ☐ ☐

→ Tick first two boxes (after "cheese" and "ham").

Sentence 2:
I have been to Spain France Italy and Greece on holiday.
☐ ✔ ☐ ✔ ☐ ✔ ☐ ☐

→ Tick boxes 1, 2, and 3 (after Spain, France, Italy).

Sentence 3:
My best friends at school are called Zach Holly and Scarlett.
☐ ✔ ☐ ✔ ☐ ☐

→ Tick boxes 1 and 2 (after Zach and Holly).

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🔍 Summary of Rules:

- Use commas between items in a list.
- In a list of three or more items, use a comma before "and" (Oxford comma) for clarity.
- Do not put a comma after the last item.
- Do not put a comma after the verb or before the subject unless it's a pause.

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✔ Final Answer:

Task 1: Tick the second sentence:
"My favourite subjects at school are Maths, English, and Art."

Task 2:
- Sentence 1: Tick boxes 1 and 2
- Sentence 2: Tick boxes 1, 2, and 3
- Sentence 3: Tick boxes 1 and 2