Comma Worksheet

The comma is the most frequent used (and abused) aid to reading. Just as pauses and variations in voice pitch help to convey the meaning of spoken sentences, commas help to clarify the meaning of written sentences. (Try to avoid using pausing and breathing, however, since that causes confusion. Sentence structure is a much better way to punctuate.)

When the lightning struck, James Harvey fainted.

When the lightning struck James, Harvey fainted.

The sound of a sentence can serve as a guide in using commas. But many times sound is not a dependable guide. Rules that govern comma usage may become detailed and involved unless they are presented in an orderly manner. For this reason, consider first these five basic categories of comma usage:

My own personal #1 rule of comma usage is "When in doubt, leave it out." But many instructors swear by just the opposite. Go figure. Anyway, we’ll precede area by area to explore the various ramifications.

Area One

Note the following pattern in compound sentences:

Study the use of commas in the compound sentences below.

• An oral culture is necessarily a highly ritualized one, and oral poetry has strong affinities with magic.
• Paradise was an exclusive country club, but the gates of hell were open to all.
• Justice stands upon power, or there is no justice.
• The peoples of the Sahara have never been united, nor have they even considered uniting in any common cause.
• No one watches the performance, for everybody is taking part.
• They are hopeless and humble, so he loves them.
• Space can be mapped and crossed and occupied, yet it can never be conquered.

Colonel Catheart had courage and never hesitated to volunteer his men for any target available. (compound predicate no comma before and)

• He went to the office and opened his mail. (compound predicate--no comma before and)
• He aimed carefully but missed the target completely. (compound predicate--no comma before but)
• They owned neither the car nor the garage. (compound direct object--no comma before nor)
• We talked quietly before dinner and also after the movie. (compound prepositional phrases-- no comma before and)

Exercise: Join the sentences in the following items with a coordinating conjunction, using the comma appropriately. Then check your answers. (Try not to look at the answers before you write your sentences!)

• A crisis strikes. Another presidential fact-finding committee is born.
• We cannot win the battle. We cannot afford to lose it.
• Motorists may admit their guilt and pay a fine immediately. They may choose to appear in court within thirty days.
• They decided not to take a vacation. They needed the money to remodel their kitchen.
• The leader of the band can sing and dance. He cannot read music.

• A crisis strikes, and another presidential fact-finding committee is born.
• We cannot win the battle, nor can we afford to lose it.
• Motorists may admit their guilt and pay a fine immediately, or they may choose to appear in court within thirty days.
• They decided not to take a vacation, for they needed the money to remodel their kitchen.
• The leader of the band can sing and dance, but he cannot read music.

Exercise: Supply commas where needed in the following sentences. Then check your answers.

• He trimmed the shrubbery very carefully for he hoped to keep the hedge alive for the entire summer.

• Night falls quickly in the mountains yet the cabin is comfortable and wam.

• Judy picked vegetables and Bob mowed the lawn.

• I plan to spend the weekend at the lake and return to the city on Monday.

• The nets were full of fish but we were too exhausted to haul them in.

• carefully, for
• mountains, yet
• vegetables, and
• no comma needed
• fish, but

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 Area Two

Introductory adverb clauses are followed by commas. Note the following pattern in complex sentences:

Study the use of the comma in the complex sentences below.

• Whenever I tried to put chains on a tire, the car would maliciously wrap them around a rear axle.
• If he is a key man on his team, an injury is often insufficient to keep him on the sidelines.
• When I see robins on the lawn, I know that spring is here.
• While the committee was studying the problem, more information became available.
• After they check the company manual, secretaries follow the recommended format for reports.

• I didn't think I'd do well. I didn't do too well in high school.

• I met Laura. I felt more confident.

• She showed me I had to work slowly. I was not too quick at understanding academic subjects.

• Others were faster than I was. My grades were higher than theirs.

• I graduated with a 3.8 grade average. I spent only fourteen years in college.

• Because I didn't do too well in high school, I didn't think I'd do well.
• After I met Laura, I felt more confident. Or Because I met Laura, I felt more confident.
• Because I was not too quick at understanding academic subjects, she showed me I had to work slowly.
• Although others were faster than I was, my grades were higher than theirs.
• After I spent only fourteen years in college, I graduated with a 3.8 grade average. or Although I graduated with a 3.8 grade average, I spent fourteen years in college.

• After Harry left his wife began to collect her wits.

• Before you compare those two poets you should be sure you're familiar with their work.

• While you sit there talking and wasting time I'm trying to finish this project.

• Because he had to change diapers the baby-sitter considered walking out on the job.

• When Sue finished her last exam she went out to celebrate.

• left, his
• poets, you
• time, I'm
• diapers, the
• exam, she

Introductory phrases containing a gerund, a participle, or an infinitive are followed by commas. Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• Showing modesty, most successful men rarely speak of their own achievements.
• Having reached the age of discretion, she was no longer supervised.
• To win fame, he gave up his friends and left home.
• Irritated by our resistance, the sergeant called double-time.
• To prevent a scene in the restaurant, Geraldine changed plates with her mother.

Lengthy prepositional phrases at the beginning of sentences are follows by commas. Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• With hardly a trace of emotion, Inspector Barnes continued his inspection of the scene of the crash.
• In the folklore of white America, Harlem has long been considered exotic as well as dangerous territory.
• Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, all young diabetics died before they could grow up and reproduce.
• Soon after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, Bolingbroke was impeached and fled to France.
• During the long winter of 1881, the king suffered a severe illness.

Introductory transitional expressions and interjections are followed by commas. Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• Gosh, that was a good game.
• Hey, watch your step!
• On the other hand, he wasted his money.
• Intelligent she was not. In fact, she veered in the opposite direction.
• Also, we must consider the opposition.

Exercise : Insert commas where necessary in the following sentences. Then check your answers.

• Lingering at the window Emily watched the last sailboat sink beneath the horizon.
• Well it has been a long day.
• Yes the program will be repeated tonight on Channel 9.
• Expecting to see some of her former pupils she looked down the line of soldiers.
• From long association with women Jeff professed to know what would please Deborah.
• To make the pose more appealing the photographer told the model to turn her right leg slightly outward.
• No the mail has not yet been delivered.
• In spite of his training it was difficult to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
• Warned by the shot the wild horses stampeded across the valley.
• Satisfied by what he saw he took off his hat and wiped his brow.
• Nevertheless he continued to work toward his goal.
• To earn a small amount of money Miss Susan opened a studio for china painting.
• After completing that business psychology course salesmen are always enthusiastic.
• In preparing such department notices officials must use appropriate forms.
• Indeed we can't afford to lose this game.

Answers:

• window, Emily
• Well, it
• Yes, the
• pupils, she
• women, Jeff
• appealing, the
• No, the
• training, it
• shot, the
• saw, he
• Nevertheless, he
• money, miss
• course, salesmen
• notices, officials
• Indeed, we

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Area Three

A COMMA SEPARATES ITEMS IN A SERIES.

The punctuation of a series depends upon its form:

The air was rank, dank, gray. (a, b, c)

The air was rank, dank, and gray. (a, b, and c)

The air was raw and dank and gray . (a and b and c)

A comma is used to separate words, phrases, or clauses in a series. A series has three or more items. The comma before the conjunction is often omitted when the series takes the form a, b, and c. But students are usually advised to use the final comma because it is sometimes needed to prevent confusion.

Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• These trends discourage all compassionate people, darken our prospect, and chill our once wam faith. (series of verbs, each having an object)
• He arose, he smiled, he began to speak. (series of clauses)
• The farmer sold corn, hay, oats, potatoes, and wheat. (series of nouns used as direct objects)
• He looked behind the door, under the table, and beneath the chair. (series of prepositional phrases)
• He walked, he trotted, and finally he ran. (series of clauses)
• George, John, Larry, and Sam were chosen to represent our class. (series of nouns used as subjects)
• Go to your favorite drugstore tomorrow, buy yourself a bottle of the American dream, shake well before using, and live luxuriously ever afterward. (series of clauses)
• The student brought his slide rule, compass, protractor, and books to class. (series of nouns used as direct objects)
• The vice president, the manager, and the clerk. prepared separate statements. (series of nouns used as subjects)
• The girls were discussing the major topics of the day--clothes, hairstyles, and boys. (series of nouns used as appositives.

• A comma is used between coordinate adjectives not linked by a coordinating conjunction. Study the use of commas in the following sentences. Notice that a comma is not placed between the last adjective in the series and the word modified.
• It was a dreary, depressing, gray day.
• Thomas proved to be a competent, responsible assistant.
• A rich, aromatic pipe tobacco can be blended from burley, Virginia, and Latakia.
• Do you like your steak rare, medium, or well done?
• The jury was addressed by a mature, poised, and seasoned attorney.
• Jane was calm, steady, and good-natured.
• The writhing, slashing, gnawing river looked like an angry maggot.
• The hero is a shallow, irresponsible, likable clown of a fellow.
• The mayor complimented the student leaders on their objective, serious, responsible approach to solving the gang fights.
• That tired, haggard, overworked teacher finally retired.

Exercise: By omitting words and shifting word order, change each of the following sentences so that it contains items in a series or coordinate adjectives. Be sure to use commas correctly. Then check your answers.

Examples: Drowsiness and drunkenness are difficult to hide; so is hostility. Drowsiness; drunkenness, and hostility are difficult to hide.

It was a football game that was close and exciting. It was a close, exciting football game.

• Pete More carried a lunch pail that was old and battered.

• Every morning he would go past our house and wait on the corner and catch his ride.

• That year marked the end of the depression of hunger, and it also marked the end of the good old days.

• Tracy stifled a smile that was small and internal.

• We had lasagna and salad and garlic bread for supper.

Answers:

• Pete More carried an old, battered lunch pail.
• Every morning he would go past our house, wait on the corner, and catch his ride.
• That year marked the end of the depression, of hunger, and of the good old days. or That year marked the end of the depression, hunger, and good old days.
• Tracy stifled a small, internal smile.
• We had lasagna, salad, and garlic bread for supper.

• Use commas to separate words phrases or clauses in a series.
• Most children enjoy playing games riding bicycles and engaging in make-believe.
• Harry will need more nails screws and glue to finish that bookcase.
• That thick warm rug looks real cozy in front of the fireplace.
• Frank packed the books in boxes sealed them up and took them to the post office.
• Jim and Joan will be visiting Amsterdam Copenhagen Paris and London on their trip this fall.
• Have you had chicken pox mumps or measles?
• He worked quickly quietly and accurately.
• Her silent cold eyes revealed nothing.
• I want you to finish your homework take a bath and be in bed before 9:30.

Answers:

• words, phrases, or
• games, riding bicycles, and
• nails, screws,
• thick, warm
• boxes, sealed them up, and
• Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris, and
• pox, mumps, or
• quickly, quietly, and
• silent, cold
• homework, take a bath, and

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 Area Four

Commas set off nonrestrictive clauses and phrases. Restrictive clauses and phrases are not set off. Adjective clauses and phrases are nonrestrictive when they are not essential to the meaning of the sentence and may be omitted. Study the following examples very carefully. Phrases and clauses are underlined.

• Ben Franklin, best known for politics, was a printer. ("…best known for his politics" is simply added information.)
• The idea that appeals to me most is to go to the museum. (No commas because "that appeals to me most" tells which idea. Adjective clauses beginning with that are always restrictive.)
• Our class president, who is also the brightest student, has a pig for a pet. ( "…who is also the brightest student" is nonessential or added information.)
• The child who finishes first will receive a prize. (No commas because the adjective clause is necessary to identify which child.)
• That fascinating discussion was led by Mrs. Jackson, who employs irony with great skill and humor. (Mrs. Jackson is identifiable by name, so the adjective clause is unnecessary to identify her. Adjective clauses are always nonrestrictive if they modify proper names.)
• The two things most universally desired are power and admiration. (No commas because the phrase is necessary to the sense of the sentence.)

Sometimes a clause or phrase may be either nonrestrictive or restrictive. The writer signifies his meaning by using or omitting commas. Of course, this is sometimes a hazardous approach because people do not always understand sophisticated comma usage.

• He spent hours caring for the Indian guides, who were sick with malaria. (He cared for all the Indian guides. They were all sick.)
• He spent hours caring for the Indian guides who were sick with malaria. (Only some of the Indian guides were sick with malaria. He cared for only the sick ones.)

• His dog, named Rover, is a collie. (He owns only one dog. The name is not essential to identify it.)

• His dog named Rover is a collie. (He has several dogs, so the name is necessary to identify which one is a collie.)

• The man who owns the bank is a grandson of the one who founded it.
• James Lee who owns the bank and five others is one of the wealthiest men in the state.
• The coach called out to Higgins who got up from the bench and trotted over to him.
• Coach Jones who chewed on cigars but never lighted them threw one away and reached for another.
• Anyone who saw him could tell that something was troubling him.
• All banks which fail to report by the following Saturday will be closed.
• All banks failing to report will be closed.
• Henry betrayed the man who had helped him build his fortune.
• William White who had helped Henry build his fortune died yesterday.
• My father hoping that I would remain at home offered me a share in his business.

• Answers:
• no commas
• James Lee, who owns the bank and five others, is
• Higgins, who
• Coach Jones, who... them, threw
• no commas
• no commas
• no commas
• no commas
• William White, who ... fortune, died
• father, hoping ... home, offered

• Those insects are termites, distant cousins of roaches.
• He gave me a mini-car, not a white elephant.
• The most visible victims of pollution, fish are only a link in the chain of environmental damage. (The appositive precedes "fish.")
• President Roosevelt, not President Lincoln, led the Rough Riders.
• She prefers to camp out, not to pay for a motel room.
• The goal was achievement, not adjustment; the young were taught to work, not to socialize.
• Miss Jones, my teacher, writes books.
• Death of a Salesman, a play by Arthur Miller, is considered a great tragedy.
• The answer should be true, not false.
• Austin, the capital of Texas, has a rich historical background.

• My favorite sport the rodeo is not very popular in this part of the country.
• Samuel Clemens the author of Tom Sawyer used a pen-name.
• This shampoo the best on the market is very expensive.
• Highway 73 the only direct route through the city is crowded with traffic several hours a da
• The crown of thorns a member of the cactus family grows well in Florida.
• It's his dishonesty not his cheapness that disturbs me.
• Put your feet on the floor not on the coffee table.
• Negligence not mechanical failure caused the accident.
• It's the hot water not the detergent that makes my hands red.
• It was the excitement from the party not the coffee that kept me from sleeping.

• sport, the rodeo, is
• Samuel Clemens, the author of Tom Sawyer, used
• shampoo, best on the market, is
• Highway 73, the only.... city, is
• thorns, a member of the cactus family, grows
• dishonesty, not his cheapness, that
• floor, not
• negligence, not mechanical failure, caused
• water, not the detergent, that
• party, not the coffee

Parenthetical expressions are set-off. The most common are

Study the use of commas in the sentences below.

• You will, then, accept our offer?
• Organic foods will, I believe, gain in popularity.
• Your efforts will, of course, be appreciated.
• To tell the truth, I did not expect to see you here.
• He came, unfortunately, at the wrong moment.
• After all, I want you to believe me.
• The work is, in fact, very satisfactory.
• We thought, in the first place, that he would never win.
• It will help me pass the course, to say the least.

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Area Five

In writing dates, use commas:

When only the month and year are used, a comma between them is optional:

Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• I was born on February 6, 1948.
• Jack and Amelia were married May 20, 1913, in New York.
• Was Friday, November 20, 1914, the first day the stamp was issued?
• Amando's birthday is February 25.
• The meeting is scheduled for July 9, 1975, in Dallas.

In writing addresses, use commas:

Do not use a comma between the state and the zip code. Study the use of commas in the following sentences.

• My friend's address is Mike Sanchez, 138 Santiago St., Brownsville, Texas 62051, U.S.A.
• If you want to visit a beautiful city, don't miss Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the fall.
• Please deliver this telegram to Agents Unlimited, 714 Third Avenue, as soon as possible.
• Pasadena, California, is the site of the Rose Bowl.
• The letter was addressed to Mr. J. L. Karnes, Clayton, Delaware 19938.

Exercise: Insert commas where necessary in the following sentences. Then check your answers.

• My son was born on Friday June 11 1971 In Denver Colorado.
• He was inducted Into the army at Fort Oglethorpe Georgia on September 30 1942.
• William Congreve was born in Bardsey England on January 24 1670.
• The publisher's address is 757 Third Avenue New York New York 10017.
• On December 7 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

• My son was born on Friday, June 11, 1917, in Denver, Colorado.
• He was inducted into the army at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, on September 30, 1942.
• William Congreve was born in Bordsey, England, on January 24, 1670.
• The publisher's address is 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York 1001;
• On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

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 Review

 Now, let's review the five basic categories of comma usage:

A comma precedes the coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.

A comma follows certain introductory elements.

A comma separates items in a series.

Nonrestrictive clauses and phrases and other parenthetical elements are set off with commas.

Items in dates and addresses are set off with commas.