Practice Makes Perfect: Exploring Grammar - Muschla Gary Robert 2010
Big Boulder
Commas
Punctuation and capitalization
Commas have many uses in sentences. Use a comma for the following:
✵ To separate the words in a series
Laurie had math, science, and history for homework.
✵ Before the conjunctions and, but, and or when forming a compound sentence
Casey wanted to play baseball, but his brother wanted to play soccer.
✵ To set off introductory words and phrases
No, the team hasn’t scored yet.
Scared by the thunder, the puppy hid behind the couch.
✵ To set off appositives (An appositive is a group of words that tells about a noun.)
Kimberly, John’s younger sister, was always causing mischief.
Mrs. Williams, our principal, is always smiling.
The snowstorm, the first of the season, made driving dangerous.
✵ To set off nouns in direct address
Danny, it’s time to leave.
The book is on the desk, Tierra.
I told you, Carly, we have to be home by two.
✵ Between the name of a city or town and its state
Miami, Florida
Los Angeles, California
Chicago, Illinois
✵ Between the day and year in a date
September 1, 2010
December 31, 2010
✵ After the greeting in a friendly letter, and after the closing in all letters
Dear Aunt Mary,
Sincerely,
Yours truly,
✵ To set off direct quotations in a sentence
“The movie begins at seven,” said Ashley.
Geena said, “I hope the sun comes out.”
“After I get home,” said Tom, “I’ll start my science project.”
8.5 Big Boulder
This granite boulder in Wyoming covers about twenty-seven acres. Some five thousand names of pioneers are carved on it. What is the name of this boulder?
To answer the question, read each sentence below. If the commas in the sentence are used correctly, write the letter for correct in the space above the sentence number at the bottom of the page. If a comma in the sentence is missing or is used incorrectly, write the letter for incorrect. You will need to divide the letters into words.
1. Angelina her little brother, and her parents went on a vacation.
R. Correct
O. Incorrect
2. They went, to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
E. Correct
I. Incorrect
3. They left from Chicago Illinois, and they drove to Yellowstone.
W. Correct
H. Incorrect
4. Angelina enjoyed the drive, but her brother didn’t.
F. Correct
L. Incorrect
5. “Angelina there it is,” said her brother as they neared the park.
O. Correct
G. Incorrect
6. Angelina, and her brother soon learned many things about the park.
L. Correct
D. Incorrect
7. Yellowstone, the first national park in the United States, is known for its great beauty.
T. Correct
F. Incorrect
8. The park was established on March 1, 1872.
S. Correct
E. Incorrect
9. It is a wonderful park, and the family enjoyed their visit.
R. Correct
T. Incorrect
10. Someday they might go to California, or they might go to Florida.
E. Correct
H. Incorrect