Name: ________________________

Practice with Commas

Part 1
Directions: Add commas to the following sentences where needed.
Section 1: Separating Items from a Series
1. My three favorite foods are pasta ice cream pizza and sushi.
2. I need to call Sally Tom Brad and Kelly about the party.
3. The protesters made signs and spoke public speeches and passed pamphlets
during the election.
4. Neither a dog nor a cat nor a fish is acceptable as a pet for me.
5. I want either Cobbs or Ruth or Mantle on my team.
6. I came I saw and I conquered.
Section 2: Separating two or more adjectives preceding a noun.
1. I had a crazy hectic rushed morning.
2. The brown fluffy border collie jumped at the ball.
3. Warm savory clam chowder sounds good right now.
4. Karen thinks her dark dusty attic is haunted by raccoons.
5. Cold metallic-tasting canned vegetables taste good when youre stuck in the
basement for a day.
6. The car needs repairs but we cannot afford high expensive costs.
Section 3: Separating Independent Clauses.
1. I got to the mall so I will go to the food court.
2. She arrived on time yet her boss yelled at her for being late.
3. Do you like the daily special sandwich or would you prefer the fish fillet.
4. My flight is delayed but my family knows.
5. Gas prices are high for the economy is bad.
Section 4: Nonessential and Essential Clauses and Phrases.
1. Students planning to try out for a role in the play should sign up no later than
Friday afternoon.
2. My brother a 22 year old male graduated from college today.
3. Two basketballs signed by Michael Jordan and Larry Bird are in the museum.

4. Hair that is damaged or bleached cannot be donated.

5. John who is a workaholic likes to go overtime.
6. My shirt which has sharks in a tornado was inspired by a bad movie.
Section 5: Introductory Elements
1. Yes we can find a place for you to stay over the weekend.
2. Im sorry I did not understand what you said.
3. Excuse me you left your bag on the counter.
4. Wait I think we need to make a left turn up ahead.
5. Unfortunately my favorite flavor was sold out.
6. Well you can call again tomorrow to see if Mr. Roberts is in.
Section 6: Interrupters
1. I watched Now You See Me 2 a movie about magic.
2. Yao Ming a seven-foot giant is taller than the average person.
3. Chocolate ice cream a comfort food for some has studies showing just how happy
it makes you feel.
4. Mom I do not want a haircut.
5. Did you call me Mr. Fury?
6. You are after all part of the Stark family.
Section 7: Conventional Situations
1. Paris France is my favorite place to visit.
2. The capital of the United States is Washington D.C.
3. Taylor Lives in Nashville TN.
4. Today is Tuesday June 10th 1992.
5. The Summer Olympics will begin on Friday August 8th 2008.
6. His Birthday is on February 23rd 1972.
Part 2
Directions: Put commas where they belong. A few of these sentences do
not need commas.
1. We are having peas and carrots roast beef and cake for dinner.
2. Mr. Morton my English teacher says we have to learn how to use commas.

3. The teachers at Ericson Academy work hard to teach the students.

4. Alex painted the fence white blue and green.
5. We waited at the bus stop on Central Park Avenue after school.
6. My mom who is a nurse cares for the sick injured and disabled
7. One famous basketball player Michael Jordan won five MVP awards.
8. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer of novels poems and essays.
9. Now Mr. Bond we will saw you in half.
10. Chicago the largest city in the Midwest is the home of the skyscraper blues and
deep-dish pizza.
11. Emilio my next-door neighbor has two daughters a son and a puppy.
12. That Tuesday which also happens to be my birthday is the only day we can take
the test.
13. Fred who often cheats on his homework is really only harming himself.
14. Brett Favre the quarter back for the team is having a bad week.
Part Two: On the back of this sheet write a sentence for each of the
following tasks:
1. Use commas to set off an interruption in the flow of the sentence.
2. Use commas before and/or after directly addressing someone.
3. Use commas to separate three or more items in a series.
4. Use commas for an appositive.
5. Use commas for an independent clause.
6. Use commas for a nonessential clause or phrase.