Download this free English grammar worksheet on punctuation rules for commas from Skoolon.com.

Let’s go through each rule for comma usage one by one, using the examples given. We’ll make sure we understand why commas are used in each case.

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Rule 1: Use a comma between all items in a series.

This means when you list three or more things (like fruits, colors, actions), put a comma after each item except the last one — and usually before “and” too (this is called the Oxford comma).

Example i:
“I like to cut oranges, apples, bananas and pears.”
→ Should be: “I like to cut oranges, apples, bananas, and pears.”
*(Add comma before “and”)*

Example ii:
“I love to swim, dance and skate.”
→ Should be: “I love to swim, dance, and skate.”
*(Add comma before “and”)*

✔ So both need a comma before “and”.

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Rule 2: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or, nor) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses).

A “complete idea” = subject + verb + makes sense on its own.

Example i:
“I ran for the bus, but I missed it.”
→ This is CORRECT.
“*I ran for the bus*” = complete idea.
“*I missed it*” = complete idea.
Comma before “but” → ✔ Good!

Example ii:
No example given here? Wait — actually, looking back, only one example was listed under Rule 2. Maybe typo? But based on what’s written, Example i is correct as-is.

Wait — let me check again. The worksheet says:

> e.g. i) I ran for the bus, but I missed it.

That’s already correctly punctuated. No change needed.

But if there was another example like:
“She wanted to go out and she stayed home.”
→ That would need a comma: “She wanted to go out, and she stayed home.”

So for now, Rule 2 example is fine.

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Rule 3: Use a comma to separate an introductory element (word or phrase) from the rest of the sentence.

Introductory elements can be words like “Well,” “Sorry,” “Yes,” “No,” or phrases like “To be honest,” etc.

Examples:

i) “Hello, how are you?” → ✔ Correct. “Hello” is introductory → comma after it.

ii) “Sorry, we don’t have enough room. Yes, you may come in.”
→ Both sentences start with introductory words → commas after “Sorry” and “Yes” → ✔ Correct.

iii) “No, thank you.” → ✔ Correct. Comma after “No”.

iv) “To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the movie.” → ✔ Correct. Phrase at beginning → comma after it.

All these are already correctly punctuated!

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Rule 4: Use a comma to separate a city from a country or state.

Example:
“I live in Mumbai, Maharashtra.” → ✔ Correct. City first, then state/country → comma between them.

If someone wrote: “I live in Paris France” → should be “Paris, France”

So this example is good.

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Rule 5: Use commas to set off direct quotations.

When someone speaks, and you write their exact words, use commas to introduce or end the quote.

Example:
Mary said, “Abhile concert band...”
→ Actually, the example shows:
“Abhile concert band,” said Mary.
Wait — let’s read carefully:

It says:
e.g. Mary said, “Abhile concert band...”
Then below: “Abhile concert,” producer...

Hmm — seems like incomplete quotes, but the point is: when you have a quotation, you often use commas around it.

Correct format:
- If the quote comes after the speaker:
  Mary said, “I’m tired.”
- If the quote comes before the speaker:
  “I’m tired,” said Mary.
- If the quote is split:
  “I’m tired,” said Mary, “but I’ll keep going.”

In the example:
“Abhile concert,” producer... → probably meant to show that the quote is being interrupted or followed by who said it → so comma inside the quotes before closing.

Actually, standard rule: In American English, commas go *inside* the quotation marks.

So if it’s:
Producer said, “Abhile concert,” → no, that doesn’t make sense.

Looking again:
The worksheet says:
e.g. Mary said, “Abhile concert band...”
Then next line: “Abhile concert,” producer...

Probably trying to show two different ways.

First one:
Mary said, “Abhile concert band...” → ✔ Correct. Comma before opening quote.

Second one:
“Abhile concert,” producer... → likely meant to be:
“Abhile concert,” said the producer. → ✔ Correct. Comma inside the quotes before “said”.

So both follow the rule — commas used to set off the direct speech.

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Now, since the worksheet says “Points to remember”, and gives examples, your job might be to identify which ones are correct or fix errors — but in this case, all the examples provided are already correctly punctuated, except possibly Rule 1 where the Oxford comma is missing.

Wait — let’s double-check Rule 1 examples:

Original:
i) I like to cut oranges, apples, bananas and pears.
→ Missing comma before “and” → should add it.

ii) I love to swim, dance and skate.
→ Also missing comma before “and” → should add it.

Those are the ONLY two that need correction.

Everything else is already correct.

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Final Answer:
The sentences that need commas added are:
1. “I like to cut oranges, apples, bananas, and pears.”
2. “I love to swim, dance, and skate.”

All other examples in the handout are already correctly punctuated.