Use these Comma Usage practice questions to review commas in series, coordinate adjectives, direct address, interrupting phrases, name suffixes, compound sentences, quotations, and tag questions. After answering each question, open the explanation to see the comma rule behind the correct answer.
Comma Usage Topics Covered
- Commas in a series
- Coordinate adjectives
- Commas with direct address
- Commas around interrupting phrases
- Commas with name suffixes
- Commas between independent clauses
- Commas before quotations
- Commas with tag questions
- When not to use a comma
Comma Usage Practice Questions
- Stephen, was away
- was away, at camp
- sister and brother
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: D. No error
The sentence is punctuated correctly.
The comma before but separates two independent clauses. The commas in mother, father, sister, and brother separate items in a series.
A comma should not separate a subject from its verb, so Stephen, was away is incorrect. A comma should also not interrupt the phrase away at camp.
- across the street, from
- rambling, house
- large, rambling
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: C. large, rambling
The adjectives large and rambling both describe house. Since the sentence could reasonably say a large and rambling house, the adjectives should be separated with a comma.
The corrected sentence is:
They lived in a large, rambling house across the street from the school.
- underdeveloped, baby
- sickly, underdeveloped
- He was, a sickly
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: B. sickly, underdeveloped
The adjectives sickly and underdeveloped both describe baby, so they should be separated with a comma.
The corrected sentence is:
He was a sickly, underdeveloped baby.
A comma should not be placed between an adjective and the noun it describes, so underdeveloped, baby is incorrect. A comma should also not separate the linking verb was from its complement.
- Will you, John, be
- Will you, John be
- Will you John, be
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: A. Will you, John, be
When a person is directly addressed by name in the middle of a sentence, the name should be set off with commas on both sides.
The corrected sentence is:
Will you, John, be willing to take on this project?
- We are as you may be aware, very
- We are, as you may be aware, very
- We are, as you may be aware very
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: B. We are, as you may be aware, very
The phrase as you may be aware interrupts the main sentence, so it should be set off with commas before and after the phrase.
The corrected sentence is:
We are, as you may be aware, very excited about the upcoming renovations.
- The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., had two sons named Dexter Scott King, and Martin Luther King, III.
- The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. had two sons named Dexter Scott King and Martin Luther King, III.
- The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. had two sons named Dexter Scott King and Martin Luther King III.
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: C. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. had two sons named Dexter Scott King and Martin Luther King III.
Commas are no longer required around suffixes such as Jr. and Sr. in many modern styles. Numbered suffixes such as III do not need commas.
A comma is also not needed before and when only two names are being joined.
- blue, and green and red
- blue, and green, and red
- blue and green, and red
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: C. blue and green, and red
The sentence contains two independent clauses:
I liked the colors blue and green and red was Doug’s favorite.
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, place a comma before the conjunction.
The corrected sentence is:
I liked the colors blue and green, and red was Doug’s favorite.
- You can, help me
- You can help me, with this
- You can help me with this can’t you?
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: D. No error
The sentence is punctuated correctly.
A comma is used before the tag question can’t you?. A comma should not be placed between can and help, and it should not separate help me from the phrase with this.
- She said “How do you do?”
- She said “How, do you do?”
- She said “How do, you do?”
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: D. No error
The sentence is punctuated correctly.
A comma is commonly used to introduce a short direct quotation. There is no reason to place commas inside the quoted question.
- He considered, the proposal but did not actually adopt it.
- He considered the proposal but did not actually adopt it.
- He considered the proposal but, did not actually adopt it.
- No error
Show Answer
Answer: B. He considered the proposal but did not actually adopt it.
The sentence has one subject, He, and two verb phrases: considered the proposal and did not actually adopt it.
Because the subject is not repeated after but, the comma is not needed.
A comma should not be placed between the verb considered and its object, the proposal. A comma should also not appear after but.
How to Use These Comma Usage Practice Questions
Answer each question before opening the explanation. Then compare your answer with the rule described in the solution.
If you miss a question, identify what the comma is being asked to do. Most comma questions involve series, coordinate adjectives, direct address, interrupting phrases, independent clauses, quotations, or places where a comma should not be used at all.