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Commas: Spot the missing commas!

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In the following sentences, see if you can decide where commas are missing—if they’re missing at all!

1. The ski instructor

but we paid no attention.

shouted, “Use the snowplow turn to control your speed,” shouted, “Use the snowplow turn to control your speed,” (with commas after “shouted” and “speed”)

shouted, “Use the snowplow turn to control your speed” shouted, “Use the snowplow turn to control your speed” (with a comma after “shouted”)

no commas needed

2. I was born

in Saskatchewan.

in December, 1964 December, 1964 (with a comma after “December”)

in December, 1964, December, 1964, (with commas after “December” and “1964”)

no commas needed

3. The wedding will be held

on a beach in Tofino.

on Saturday, June 22, 2013 on Saturday, June 22, 2013 (with commas after “Saturday” and “June 22”)

on Saturday, June 22, 2013, on Saturday, June 22, 2013, (with commas after “Saturday,” “June 22” and “2013”)

no commas needed

has been appointed dean of the faculty.

Tomasina Nalof, MD, Tomasina Nalof, MD, (with commas after “Nalof” and “MD”)

Tomasina Nalof, MD Tomasina Nalof, MD (with a comma after “Nalof”)

no commas needed

with both Pat and me.

Whatever you decide, is fine Whatever you decide, is fine (with a comma after “decide”)

Whatever you decide is fine, Whatever you decide is fine, (with a comma after “fine”)

no commas needed

6. I’m

for arriving late.

sorry, Doctor

sorry, Doctor,

no commas needed

7. Eric

and plunged into the pool.

grabbed for the guardrail, but missed grabbed for the guardrail, but missed (with a comma after “guardrail”)

grabbed for the guardrail, but missed, grabbed for the guardrail, but missed, (with commas after “guardrail” and “missed”)

no commas needed

8. I know that

plans to create a natural garden with native plants.

the person, who owns the property, the person, who owns the property, (with commas after “person” and “property”)

the person who owns the property, the person who owns the property, (with a comma after “property”)

no commas needed

9. The chef used

in the Moroccan vegetable stew.

cumin, ginger and turmeric, cumin, ginger and turmeric, (with commas after “cumin” and “turmeric”)

cumin, ginger and turmeric cumin, ginger and turmeric (with a comma after “cumin”)

no commas needed

10. The huge oak leaned at an angle

for a moment, and then it fell, splintering the shed for a moment, and then it fell, splintering the shed (with commas after “moment” and “fell”)

for a moment and then it fell, splintering the shed for a moment and then it fell, splintering the shed (with a comma after “fell”)

no commas needed

Date modified:: 2024-12-10

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