Two grammar exercises focusing on comma usage in sentences.
Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 text with sentences and instructions for putting commas in sentences.
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Step-by-step solution for: BusyTeacher.org
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: BusyTeacher.org
Here are the solutions to the exercises in your homework.
The goal here is to fix missing capital letters (for names, places, and start of sentences) and punctuation marks (commas, periods, quotation marks).
1. When going on a trip I like to take my guitar with me.
* *Correction:* When going on a trip, I like to take my guitar with me.
* *Reason:* We need a comma after the introductory phrase "When going on a trip" to separate it from the main part of the sentence.
2. I've been to France Germany China and Spain.
* *Correction:* I've been to France, Germany, China, and Spain.
* *Reason:* When listing three or more items, we use commas to separate them.
3. Next week I am going to have a party so I invited my friends Mark and Sue.
* *Correction:* Next week, I am going to have a party, so I invited my friends Mark and Sue.
* *Reason:* A comma goes after "Next week" (introductory time). A comma goes before "so" because it connects two complete thoughts.
4. There are exactly 4897341 people living in this city most of whom take a train a bus or a tram to work.
* *Correction:* There are exactly 4,897,341 people living in this city, most of whom take a train, a bus, or a tram to work.
* *Reason:* Large numbers need commas for thousands/millions. We need a comma before "most of whom." We also need commas in the list of vehicles (train, bus, tram).
5. "Look at this" he whispered.
* *Correction:* "Look at this," he whispered.
* *Reason:* In dialogue, if the speaker tag ("he whispered") comes after the quote, we use a comma inside the quotation marks instead of a period.
6. Paulina his wife of many years decided to live in Greece.
* *Correction:* Paulina, his wife of many years, decided to live in Greece.
* *Reason:* The phrase "his wife of many years" adds extra information about Paulina. We put commas around it to show it can be removed without breaking the sentence structure.
7. As the plane was coming to a halt on the runway I was beginning to feel less nervous.
* *Correction:* As the plane was coming to a halt on the runway, I was beginning to feel less nervous.
* *Reason:* A comma is needed after the long introductory clause starting with "As."
8. The thief had very impractical shoes so he couldn't run very fast.
* *Correction:* The thief had very impractical shoes, so he couldn't run very fast.
* *Reason:* Use a comma before "so" when it joins two independent sentences.
9. "I'm warning you" said the teacher "don't even try to cheat or else you will be expelled from school."
* *Correction:* "I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't even try to cheat, or else you will be expelled from school."
* *Reason:* This is a split quote. Put a comma after "you." Since the second part is a new full sentence, end the first part with a period (or semicolon depending on style, but usually period if the second part starts with a capital letter in narrative flow, though strictly speaking, if it's one continuous speech, it might be: *"I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't..."*). Let's stick to standard dialogue rules: *"I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't even try to cheat, or else you will be expelled from school."* Note the comma before "or else."
10. I dedicate this work to my brothers John Smith and God.
* *Correction:* I dedicate this work to my brothers, John Smith, and God.
* *Reason:* Commas separate the items in the list (brothers, John Smith, God). *Note: If "John Smith" is one of the brothers, it should be: "to my brothers, John Smith, and God."*
11. Sarah the most intelligent pupil in the class was always late for school.
* *Correction:* Sarah, the most intelligent pupil in the class, was always late for school.
* *Reason:* The phrase describing Sarah is extra information, so it needs commas around it.
12. I said that she is intelligent not pretty.
* *Correction:* I said that she is intelligent, not pretty.
* *Reason:* Use a comma to separate contrasting ideas ("intelligent" vs "not pretty").
13. Once the storm was over we could sail to the island.
* *Correction:* Once the storm was over, we could sail to the island.
* *Reason:* Comma after the introductory dependent clause.
14. Given the terrible weather conditions it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
* *Correction:* Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
* *Reason:* Comma after the introductory phrase.
15. India a truly beautiful interesting and exotic country is now a popular tourist destination.
* *Correction:* India, a truly beautiful, interesting, and exotic country, is now a popular tourist destination.
* *Reason:* Commas around the description of India. Also, commas are needed in the list of adjectives (beautiful, interesting, and exotic).
16. During lunch at the campus cafeteria Henry noticed the dirty tables the overworked cashiers and the high prices of food.
* *Correction:* During lunch at the campus cafeteria, Henry noticed the dirty tables, the overworked cashiers, and the high prices of food.
* *Reason:* Comma after the intro phrase. Commas to separate the three things Henry noticed.
17. During the race I tried to keep up with Mark who can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds.
* *Correction:* During the race, I tried to keep up with Mark, who can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds.
* *Reason:* Comma after intro. Comma before "who" because the information about Mark's speed is extra detail (non-restrictive).
18. To study for the exam Bill drank seven cups of coffee which kept him awake all night.
* *Correction:* To study for the exam, Bill drank seven cups of coffee, which kept him awake all night.
* *Reason:* Comma after intro. Comma before "which" because the clause adds extra result/info.
19. I only earn 2000 USD a month for my hard work and my wife gets 12000 USD which is not fair.
* *Correction:* I only earn 2,000 USD a month for my hard work, and my wife gets 12,000 USD, which is not fair.
* *Reason:* Commas in numbers. Comma before "and" (joining two sentences). Comma before "which" (extra comment).
20. Ron who is 15 was doing his best to win the contest but he failed.
* *Correction:* Ron, who is 15, was doing his best to win the contest, but he failed.
* *Reason:* Commas around "who is 15." Comma before "but."
---
Here is the text with the correct commas inserted for better flow and grammar.
Last week, I decided to visit my best friend John. He is a very smart, handsome, and kind person, and he always manages to find some time for me. Last week, however, the situation was different. Because he had just got a new job, John had very little free time. Nevertheless, we managed to arrange a quick 15-minute-long meeting in the "Blue Rose" café, which is said to be owned by a very famous actor. I was wearing my checked red, green, and blue T-shirt, my brown trousers, and a pair of sneakers. I arrived at 9:30, and John at 9:45. The waiter who was working that day took our order. We weren't hungry, so we only ordered drinks. John, who seemed rather tired, told me that his new job was very time-consuming, demanding, and difficult. "I don't know if I'll manage to work like that for long," John said. However, he also admitted that his job had advantages, some of which were: a comfortable working environment, free lunch for each employee, and a salary of over 11,000 USD. "That's a lot of money," I said. "Do you even know," I asked, "what to spend it on?" John had no ideas, but if I had that much money, I would probably go on a long holiday, renovate my house, and buy a new car. That car would have to be fast, comfortable, and safe. Our conversation ended quickly because John had to go back to work, and I had a bus back home to catch. When I reached for my wallet to pay for my drink, John offered to pay for everything, which was very nice of him. "That's something I can spend my money on," he said. "I can pay for my friends' drinks, lunches, and so on."
Exercise 1: Punctuation and Capitalization
The goal here is to fix missing capital letters (for names, places, and start of sentences) and punctuation marks (commas, periods, quotation marks).
1. When going on a trip I like to take my guitar with me.
* *Correction:* When going on a trip, I like to take my guitar with me.
* *Reason:* We need a comma after the introductory phrase "When going on a trip" to separate it from the main part of the sentence.
2. I've been to France Germany China and Spain.
* *Correction:* I've been to France, Germany, China, and Spain.
* *Reason:* When listing three or more items, we use commas to separate them.
3. Next week I am going to have a party so I invited my friends Mark and Sue.
* *Correction:* Next week, I am going to have a party, so I invited my friends Mark and Sue.
* *Reason:* A comma goes after "Next week" (introductory time). A comma goes before "so" because it connects two complete thoughts.
4. There are exactly 4897341 people living in this city most of whom take a train a bus or a tram to work.
* *Correction:* There are exactly 4,897,341 people living in this city, most of whom take a train, a bus, or a tram to work.
* *Reason:* Large numbers need commas for thousands/millions. We need a comma before "most of whom." We also need commas in the list of vehicles (train, bus, tram).
5. "Look at this" he whispered.
* *Correction:* "Look at this," he whispered.
* *Reason:* In dialogue, if the speaker tag ("he whispered") comes after the quote, we use a comma inside the quotation marks instead of a period.
6. Paulina his wife of many years decided to live in Greece.
* *Correction:* Paulina, his wife of many years, decided to live in Greece.
* *Reason:* The phrase "his wife of many years" adds extra information about Paulina. We put commas around it to show it can be removed without breaking the sentence structure.
7. As the plane was coming to a halt on the runway I was beginning to feel less nervous.
* *Correction:* As the plane was coming to a halt on the runway, I was beginning to feel less nervous.
* *Reason:* A comma is needed after the long introductory clause starting with "As."
8. The thief had very impractical shoes so he couldn't run very fast.
* *Correction:* The thief had very impractical shoes, so he couldn't run very fast.
* *Reason:* Use a comma before "so" when it joins two independent sentences.
9. "I'm warning you" said the teacher "don't even try to cheat or else you will be expelled from school."
* *Correction:* "I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't even try to cheat, or else you will be expelled from school."
* *Reason:* This is a split quote. Put a comma after "you." Since the second part is a new full sentence, end the first part with a period (or semicolon depending on style, but usually period if the second part starts with a capital letter in narrative flow, though strictly speaking, if it's one continuous speech, it might be: *"I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't..."*). Let's stick to standard dialogue rules: *"I'm warning you," said the teacher. "Don't even try to cheat, or else you will be expelled from school."* Note the comma before "or else."
10. I dedicate this work to my brothers John Smith and God.
* *Correction:* I dedicate this work to my brothers, John Smith, and God.
* *Reason:* Commas separate the items in the list (brothers, John Smith, God). *Note: If "John Smith" is one of the brothers, it should be: "to my brothers, John Smith, and God."*
11. Sarah the most intelligent pupil in the class was always late for school.
* *Correction:* Sarah, the most intelligent pupil in the class, was always late for school.
* *Reason:* The phrase describing Sarah is extra information, so it needs commas around it.
12. I said that she is intelligent not pretty.
* *Correction:* I said that she is intelligent, not pretty.
* *Reason:* Use a comma to separate contrasting ideas ("intelligent" vs "not pretty").
13. Once the storm was over we could sail to the island.
* *Correction:* Once the storm was over, we could sail to the island.
* *Reason:* Comma after the introductory dependent clause.
14. Given the terrible weather conditions it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
* *Correction:* Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
* *Reason:* Comma after the introductory phrase.
15. India a truly beautiful interesting and exotic country is now a popular tourist destination.
* *Correction:* India, a truly beautiful, interesting, and exotic country, is now a popular tourist destination.
* *Reason:* Commas around the description of India. Also, commas are needed in the list of adjectives (beautiful, interesting, and exotic).
16. During lunch at the campus cafeteria Henry noticed the dirty tables the overworked cashiers and the high prices of food.
* *Correction:* During lunch at the campus cafeteria, Henry noticed the dirty tables, the overworked cashiers, and the high prices of food.
* *Reason:* Comma after the intro phrase. Commas to separate the three things Henry noticed.
17. During the race I tried to keep up with Mark who can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds.
* *Correction:* During the race, I tried to keep up with Mark, who can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds.
* *Reason:* Comma after intro. Comma before "who" because the information about Mark's speed is extra detail (non-restrictive).
18. To study for the exam Bill drank seven cups of coffee which kept him awake all night.
* *Correction:* To study for the exam, Bill drank seven cups of coffee, which kept him awake all night.
* *Reason:* Comma after intro. Comma before "which" because the clause adds extra result/info.
19. I only earn 2000 USD a month for my hard work and my wife gets 12000 USD which is not fair.
* *Correction:* I only earn 2,000 USD a month for my hard work, and my wife gets 12,000 USD, which is not fair.
* *Reason:* Commas in numbers. Comma before "and" (joining two sentences). Comma before "which" (extra comment).
20. Ron who is 15 was doing his best to win the contest but he failed.
* *Correction:* Ron, who is 15, was doing his best to win the contest, but he failed.
* *Reason:* Commas around "who is 15." Comma before "but."
---
Exercise 2: Text Correction
Here is the text with the correct commas inserted for better flow and grammar.
Last week, I decided to visit my best friend John. He is a very smart, handsome, and kind person, and he always manages to find some time for me. Last week, however, the situation was different. Because he had just got a new job, John had very little free time. Nevertheless, we managed to arrange a quick 15-minute-long meeting in the "Blue Rose" café, which is said to be owned by a very famous actor. I was wearing my checked red, green, and blue T-shirt, my brown trousers, and a pair of sneakers. I arrived at 9:30, and John at 9:45. The waiter who was working that day took our order. We weren't hungry, so we only ordered drinks. John, who seemed rather tired, told me that his new job was very time-consuming, demanding, and difficult. "I don't know if I'll manage to work like that for long," John said. However, he also admitted that his job had advantages, some of which were: a comfortable working environment, free lunch for each employee, and a salary of over 11,000 USD. "That's a lot of money," I said. "Do you even know," I asked, "what to spend it on?" John had no ideas, but if I had that much money, I would probably go on a long holiday, renovate my house, and buy a new car. That car would have to be fast, comfortable, and safe. Our conversation ended quickly because John had to go back to work, and I had a bus back home to catch. When I reached for my wallet to pay for my drink, John offered to pay for everything, which was very nice of him. "That's something I can spend my money on," he said. "I can pay for my friends' drinks, lunches, and so on."
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of punctuation exercises.
