Grammar worksheet teaching students how to use commas correctly in sentences.
A worksheet titled "Using Commas" with instructions and 15 sentences for students to correct using commas properly.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Punctuation Worksheets (Commas) | Punctuation worksheets, Teaching ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Punctuation Worksheets (Commas) | Punctuation worksheets, Teaching ...
Since I can't view or access images directly, I can't see the specific content of your uploaded image. However, based on the text you've provided, it appears to be a worksheet titled "Using Commas" from Super Teacher Worksheets (super-teacher-worksheets.com). The worksheet includes rules for using commas and a list of 15 sentences that need commas inserted in the correct places.
Let me walk you through how to solve this worksheet step by step, based on the instructions and examples given.
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1. Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, or, yet) to join two independent clauses.
Example: *I want to go to the game, but my team lost.*
2. Use a comma after an introductory element.
Example: *After dinner, Bob got right back to work.*
3. Use a comma to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Example: *I bought sugar, pasta, and juice.*
4. Use commas to separate adjectives.
Example: *A thin, handsome man approached me.*
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Now let's go sentence by sentence and apply these rules.
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1. Even though the paint was still wet I couldn’t resist touching it.
→ Add a comma after "wet" because "Even though the paint was still wet" is an introductory clause.
✔ Even though the paint was still wet, I couldn’t resist touching it.
2. After the fire burned out I went inside the house.
→ "After the fire burned out" is an introductory phrase.
✔ After the fire burned out, I went inside the house.
3. In English class we read Old Man and the Sea Dracula and Beowulf.
→ This is a list of books — use commas between them. Also, "Old Man and the Sea" is a title; no comma needed inside the title.
✔ In English class we read *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Dracula*, and *Beowulf*.
4. I watched television took the dog for a walk and drove to the store to get milk.
→ This is a list of actions (series of verbs). Use commas to separate.
✔ I watched television, took the dog for a walk, and drove to the store to get milk.
5. William Shakespeare a famous playwright wrote Macbeth and Hamlet.
→ "William Shakespeare" is the subject; "a famous playwright" is an appositive (descriptive phrase), so it needs commas around it.
✔ William Shakespeare, a famous playwright, wrote *Macbeth* and *Hamlet*.
6. The three pound bass which was the biggest fish I ever caught tasted delicious.
→ "which was the biggest fish I ever caught" is non-restrictive (adds extra info), so set off with commas.
✔ The three-pound bass, which was the biggest fish I ever caught, tasted delicious.
*(Note: "three-pound" should be hyphenated as a compound adjective.)*
7. While the turkey was cooking I prepared mashed potatoes.
→ "While the turkey was cooking" is an introductory clause.
✔ While the turkey was cooking, I prepared mashed potatoes.
8. My best friend John is about a new lawn mower.
→ "John" is part of the name, so no comma needed unless it’s a parenthetical. But here, it's not. Wait — the sentence seems incomplete or awkward. Possibly meant: *"My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower."*
But as written: "My best friend John is about a new lawn mower." — unclear. Assuming typo, likely meant:
✔ My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower.
*(Commas used around the appositive "John".)*
9. In the basement mice had been between the boxes.
→ Probably meant: *"In the basement, mice had been found between the boxes."* — but as is, "In the basement" is introductory.
✔ In the basement, mice had been between the boxes.
10. After hiking in the woods for three hours I sat down to have a drink of water.
→ Introductory phrase: "After hiking in the woods for three hours"
✔ After hiking in the woods for three hours, I sat down to have a drink of water.
11. The big gray dog wouldn’t stop barking last night.
→ Two adjectives: "big" and "gray" modifying "dog" — they are coordinate adjectives (can be reversed: "gray big dog"? No — so not coordinate). Actually, "big" and "gray" are both descriptive, but not coordinate. So no comma needed.
✔ No comma needed.
*(Note: Only separate adjectives if they are coordinate — e.g., "big, fluffy dog.")*
12. Jane I would like you to meet my mother and father.
→ "Jane" is a direct address — add comma after it.
✔ Jane, I would like you to meet my mother and father.
13. I need to go to the hardware store to get nails paint and light bulbs.
→ List of items: "nails, paint, and light bulbs"
✔ I need to go to the hardware store to get nails, paint, and light bulbs.
14. If you liked Harry Potter you’ll love Lord of the Rings.
→ Independent clauses joined by "you'll" — but "if" introduces a dependent clause.
→ "If you liked Harry Potter" is dependent; "you’ll love..." is independent. No comma needed before "you’ll".
✔ If you liked Harry Potter, you’ll love *Lord of the Rings*.
*(Comma after dependent clause when it comes first.)*
15. I’ve had enough of your silly wild and inappropriate behavior.
→ Adjectives: "silly," "wild," "inappropriate" — all describe "behavior". Are they coordinate? Yes — could say "wild, silly, and inappropriate".
→ Use commas to separate.
✔ I’ve had enough of your silly, wild, and inappropriate behavior.
---
1. Even though the paint was still wet, I couldn’t resist touching it.
2. After the fire burned out, I went inside the house.
3. In English class we read *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Dracula*, and *Beowulf*.
4. I watched television, took the dog for a walk, and drove to the store to get milk.
5. William Shakespeare, a famous playwright, wrote *Macbeth* and *Hamlet*.
6. The three-pound bass, which was the biggest fish I ever caught, tasted delicious.
7. While the turkey was cooking, I prepared mashed potatoes.
8. My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower. *(Assuming correction)*
9. In the basement, mice had been between the boxes.
10. After hiking in the woods for three hours, I sat down to have a drink of water.
11. The big gray dog wouldn’t stop barking last night. *(No comma needed)*
12. Jane, I would like you to meet my mother and father.
13. I need to go to the hardware store to get nails, paint, and light bulbs.
14. If you liked Harry Potter, you’ll love *Lord of the Rings*.
15. I’ve had enough of your silly, wild, and inappropriate behavior.
---
- Always look for introductory elements, compound sentences, lists, and appositives.
- Use commas before conjunctions only when joining two complete thoughts.
- Use commas in lists (especially with "and").
- Use commas around appositives (extra info).
- Use commas after direct addresses (e.g., "Jane,").
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer key or if there were any typos in the original sentences!
Let me walk you through how to solve this worksheet step by step, based on the instructions and examples given.
---
Rules for Using Commas (Summary):
1. Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, or, yet) to join two independent clauses.
Example: *I want to go to the game, but my team lost.*
2. Use a comma after an introductory element.
Example: *After dinner, Bob got right back to work.*
3. Use a comma to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Example: *I bought sugar, pasta, and juice.*
4. Use commas to separate adjectives.
Example: *A thin, handsome man approached me.*
---
Now let's go sentence by sentence and apply these rules.
---
Corrected Sentences with Explanations:
1. Even though the paint was still wet I couldn’t resist touching it.
→ Add a comma after "wet" because "Even though the paint was still wet" is an introductory clause.
✔ Even though the paint was still wet, I couldn’t resist touching it.
2. After the fire burned out I went inside the house.
→ "After the fire burned out" is an introductory phrase.
✔ After the fire burned out, I went inside the house.
3. In English class we read Old Man and the Sea Dracula and Beowulf.
→ This is a list of books — use commas between them. Also, "Old Man and the Sea" is a title; no comma needed inside the title.
✔ In English class we read *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Dracula*, and *Beowulf*.
4. I watched television took the dog for a walk and drove to the store to get milk.
→ This is a list of actions (series of verbs). Use commas to separate.
✔ I watched television, took the dog for a walk, and drove to the store to get milk.
5. William Shakespeare a famous playwright wrote Macbeth and Hamlet.
→ "William Shakespeare" is the subject; "a famous playwright" is an appositive (descriptive phrase), so it needs commas around it.
✔ William Shakespeare, a famous playwright, wrote *Macbeth* and *Hamlet*.
6. The three pound bass which was the biggest fish I ever caught tasted delicious.
→ "which was the biggest fish I ever caught" is non-restrictive (adds extra info), so set off with commas.
✔ The three-pound bass, which was the biggest fish I ever caught, tasted delicious.
*(Note: "three-pound" should be hyphenated as a compound adjective.)*
7. While the turkey was cooking I prepared mashed potatoes.
→ "While the turkey was cooking" is an introductory clause.
✔ While the turkey was cooking, I prepared mashed potatoes.
8. My best friend John is about a new lawn mower.
→ "John" is part of the name, so no comma needed unless it’s a parenthetical. But here, it's not. Wait — the sentence seems incomplete or awkward. Possibly meant: *"My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower."*
But as written: "My best friend John is about a new lawn mower." — unclear. Assuming typo, likely meant:
✔ My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower.
*(Commas used around the appositive "John".)*
9. In the basement mice had been between the boxes.
→ Probably meant: *"In the basement, mice had been found between the boxes."* — but as is, "In the basement" is introductory.
✔ In the basement, mice had been between the boxes.
10. After hiking in the woods for three hours I sat down to have a drink of water.
→ Introductory phrase: "After hiking in the woods for three hours"
✔ After hiking in the woods for three hours, I sat down to have a drink of water.
11. The big gray dog wouldn’t stop barking last night.
→ Two adjectives: "big" and "gray" modifying "dog" — they are coordinate adjectives (can be reversed: "gray big dog"? No — so not coordinate). Actually, "big" and "gray" are both descriptive, but not coordinate. So no comma needed.
✔ No comma needed.
*(Note: Only separate adjectives if they are coordinate — e.g., "big, fluffy dog.")*
12. Jane I would like you to meet my mother and father.
→ "Jane" is a direct address — add comma after it.
✔ Jane, I would like you to meet my mother and father.
13. I need to go to the hardware store to get nails paint and light bulbs.
→ List of items: "nails, paint, and light bulbs"
✔ I need to go to the hardware store to get nails, paint, and light bulbs.
14. If you liked Harry Potter you’ll love Lord of the Rings.
→ Independent clauses joined by "you'll" — but "if" introduces a dependent clause.
→ "If you liked Harry Potter" is dependent; "you’ll love..." is independent. No comma needed before "you’ll".
✔ If you liked Harry Potter, you’ll love *Lord of the Rings*.
*(Comma after dependent clause when it comes first.)*
15. I’ve had enough of your silly wild and inappropriate behavior.
→ Adjectives: "silly," "wild," "inappropriate" — all describe "behavior". Are they coordinate? Yes — could say "wild, silly, and inappropriate".
→ Use commas to separate.
✔ I’ve had enough of your silly, wild, and inappropriate behavior.
---
Final Answers (with corrections):
1. Even though the paint was still wet, I couldn’t resist touching it.
2. After the fire burned out, I went inside the house.
3. In English class we read *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Dracula*, and *Beowulf*.
4. I watched television, took the dog for a walk, and drove to the store to get milk.
5. William Shakespeare, a famous playwright, wrote *Macbeth* and *Hamlet*.
6. The three-pound bass, which was the biggest fish I ever caught, tasted delicious.
7. While the turkey was cooking, I prepared mashed potatoes.
8. My best friend, John, is excited about a new lawn mower. *(Assuming correction)*
9. In the basement, mice had been between the boxes.
10. After hiking in the woods for three hours, I sat down to have a drink of water.
11. The big gray dog wouldn’t stop barking last night. *(No comma needed)*
12. Jane, I would like you to meet my mother and father.
13. I need to go to the hardware store to get nails, paint, and light bulbs.
14. If you liked Harry Potter, you’ll love *Lord of the Rings*.
15. I’ve had enough of your silly, wild, and inappropriate behavior.
---
Key Takeaways:
- Always look for introductory elements, compound sentences, lists, and appositives.
- Use commas before conjunctions only when joining two complete thoughts.
- Use commas in lists (especially with "and").
- Use commas around appositives (extra info).
- Use commas after direct addresses (e.g., "Jane,").
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer key or if there were any typos in the original sentences!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of punctuation exercises.
