Narrative examples showing comma usage for clarity

📚 Quick Study Guide

• ✍️ Commas separate elements in a list: "I need milk, bread, and eggs."
• 🏙️ Commas set off introductory phrases or clauses: "After the game, we went out for pizza."
• 🤝 Commas join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so): "I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining."
• 💬 Commas set off nonessential information: "My brother, who is a doctor, lives in New York."
• 📅 Commas are used in dates and addresses: "July 4, 1776, was an important day." and "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C."
• 📢 Commas are used to set off direct quotations: "I'm going to the store," she said.
• 🤔 Use a comma to prevent misreading: "To John, Smith gave a dollar." (vs. "To John Smith gave a dollar.")

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence uses commas correctly to separate items in a list?
   1. A. I need apples oranges and bananas.
   2. B. I need apples, oranges and bananas.
   3. C. I need apples, oranges, and bananas.
   4. D. I need, apples, oranges, and bananas.
2. Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory phrase?
   1. A. After the long day we went home.
   2. B. After the long day, we went home.
   3. C. After, the long day we went home.
   4. D. After the long day,we went home.
3. Which sentence uses a comma correctly to join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction?
   1. A. I wanted to go swimming but it was too cold.
   2. B. I wanted to go swimming, but it was too cold.
   3. C. I wanted to go swimming but, it was too cold.
   4. D. I wanted to go, swimming but it was too cold.
4. Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off nonessential information?
   1. A. My mom who is a teacher loves her job.
   2. B. My mom, who is a teacher loves her job.
   3. C. My mom who is a teacher, loves her job.
   4. D. My mom, who is a teacher, loves her job.
5. In which sentence is the comma used correctly in a date?
   1. A. He was born on June 15 2000.
   2. B. He was born on June, 15 2000.
   3. C. He was born on June 15, 2000.
   4. D. He was born, on June 15, 2000.
6. Which sentence uses a comma correctly to set off a direct quotation?
   1. A. "I'm going to the park" she said.
   2. B. "I'm going to the park", she said.
   3. C. "I'm going to the park," she said.
   4. D. "I'm going to the park she said."
7. Which sentence requires a comma to prevent misreading?
   1. A. To Mary the letter was important.
   2. B. To Mary, the letter was important.
   3. C. To Mary the letter, was important.
   4. D. To Mary, the letter, was important.