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Lists, fronted adverbials and parenthesis. Every comma doing a job, not marking a breath.
Question 1 of 12
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
"The path, which had flooded overnight, was closed." is correct. The relative clause is extra information, so it is fenced off with a comma at each end. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
The answer is A. "The path, which had flooded overnight, was closed." is correct. The relative clause is extra information, so it is fenced off with a comma at each end. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
"Yes, I have finished my homework." is correct. A single-word opener like "Yes" or "However" is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
The answer is C. "Yes, I have finished my homework." is correct. A single-word opener like "Yes" or "However" is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
"However, the weather had other ideas." is correct. "However" at the start of a sentence is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
The answer is A. "However, the weather had other ideas." is correct. "However" at the start of a sentence is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
"After a long and very wet walk, we stopped at a tea room." is correct. "After a long and very wet walk" is a fronted adverbial — it tells you when — and a fronted adverbial is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
The answer is D. "After a long and very wet walk, we stopped at a tea room." is correct. "After a long and very wet walk" is a fronted adverbial — it tells you when — and a fronted adverbial is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
"My brother, who lives in Truro, is coming at the weekend." is correct. "who lives in Truro" is extra information dropped into the middle, so it needs a comma at both ends. One comma is never enough for a parenthesis. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
The answer is C. "My brother, who lives in Truro, is coming at the weekend." is correct. "who lives in Truro" is extra information dropped into the middle, so it needs a comma at both ends. One comma is never enough for a parenthesis. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
"Slowly and very carefully, Omar lifted the lid." is correct. The sentence opens with an adverbial phrase, so a comma marks where it ends and the main clause starts. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Extra information in the middle of a sentence needs a comma at both ends, never just one.
The answer is C. "Slowly and very carefully, Omar lifted the lid." is correct. The sentence opens with an adverbial phrase, so a comma marks where it ends and the main clause starts. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Extra information in the middle of a sentence needs a comma at both ends, never just one.
"The lane was narrow, steep and badly rutted." is correct. Three adjectives in a list, with commas between and "and" before the last. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
The answer is A. "The lane was narrow, steep and badly rutted." is correct. Three adjectives in a list, with commas between and "and" before the last. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
"On the last day of term, the whole school walked to the beach." is correct. A fronted adverbial of time is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
The answer is A. "On the last day of term, the whole school walked to the beach." is correct. A fronted adverbial of time is followed by a comma. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
"The hall was cold, damp and almost entirely dark." is correct. A list of adjectives takes commas between them, with "and" before the last. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
The answer is B. "The hall was cold, damp and almost entirely dark." is correct. A list of adjectives takes commas between them, with "and" before the last. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. Cover the part between the commas. If what is left still makes a whole sentence, the commas are right.
"Before we set off, Dad checked the tyres." is correct. The sentence opens with a subordinate clause, so a comma shows where it ends. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
The answer is A. "Before we set off, Dad checked the tyres." is correct. The sentence opens with a subordinate clause, so a comma shows where it ends. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
"We waited, but the bus never came." is correct. Two main clauses joined by "but" take a comma before the conjunction. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
The answer is B. "We waited, but the bus never came." is correct. Two main clauses joined by "but" take a comma before the conjunction. Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. A comma dropped in for a pause is nearly always wrong. Ask what job it is doing.
"The shop sells bread, milk, stamps and firewood." is correct. Commas separate the items, and only the final pair is joined by "and". Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
The answer is C. "The shop sells bread, milk, stamps and firewood." is correct. Commas separate the items, and only the final pair is joined by "and". Commas are not sprinkled where a reader might pause for breath; each one is doing a specific job, and the ones in the wrong answers are placed where no job exists. If the sentence starts with a phrase or clause that could be moved to the end, put a comma after it.
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