Review exercise: The comma

Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

Using a separate sheet of paper, rewrite each sentence to correct the comma usage, then compare your answer with the one provided.

1. The town of Wolfville boasts spectacular tidal flats an annual apple-blossom festival, and the beautiful campus, of Acadia University.

Answer

Question:
The town of Wolfville boasts spectacular tidal flats an annual apple-blossom festival, and the beautiful campus, of Acadia University.
Answer:
The town of Wolfville boasts spectacular tidal flats, an annual apple-blossom festival, and the beautiful campus of Acadia University.
Explanation:
You need a comma after flats to end this element in the series, while the comma after festival is optional. Moreover, you should not use a comma after campus because the phrase that follows is restrictive.

2. The university gave, the two top scholars Janet and him, gold medals and framed certificates of merit.

Answer

Question:
The university gave, the two top scholars Janet and him, gold medals and framed certificates of merit.
Answer:
The university gave the two top scholars, Janet and him, gold medals and framed certificates of merit.
Explanation:
The comma after gave in the original sentence incorrectly separates the verb from its object. You need a pair of commas around Janet and him because the element is non-restrictive.

3. Everyone, with tickets to the seven o’clock showing of the Rolling Stones movie, should move to the front of the line.

Answer

Question:
Everyone, with tickets to the seven o’clock showing of the Rolling Stones movie, should move to the front of the line.
Answer:
Everyone with tickets to the seven o’clock showing of the Rolling Stones movie should move to the front of the line.
Explanation:
There should be no comma after everyone because what follows is restrictive information. Do not keep the comma between movie and should; doing so incorrectly separates the subject from the verb.

4. Stacey who was usually quite decisive faced a true dilemma in her last year of university.

Answer

Question:
Stacey who was usually quite decisive faced a true dilemma in her last year of university.
Answer:
Stacey, who was usually quite decisive, faced a true dilemma in her last year of university.
Explanation:
You should use commas around the non-restrictive clause who was usually quite decisive.

5. The ring, on his finger, is solid gold.

Answer

Question:
The ring, on his finger, is solid gold.
Answer:
The ring on his finger is solid gold.
Explanation:
The phrase on his finger is restrictive, so you should not set it off with commas.

Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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