Deck 15: Commas

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT one of the three most important uses of the comma?

A) to separate two main clauses that have no conjunction between them
B) to enclose or separate nonessential words, phrases, or clauses that come within or after a main clause
C) to separate a main clause from introductory word(s)
D) to separate two main clauses that have a coordinating conjunction between them

Answer 1

to separate two main clauses that have no conjunction between them

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an example of an introductory word that requires a comma?

A) conjunctive adverb
B) participle (present or past)
C) mild interjection
D) subject

Answer 2

subject

Question 3

One major use of the comma is to enclose ___________ words, phrases, or clauses that come within a main clause or after a main clause.

A) necessary
B) nonessential
C) essential
D) complete

Answer 3

nonessential

Question 4

___________ adjectives-two or more equal adjectives in front of a noun (or pronoun)-need a comma between them.

A) Cumulative
B) Coordinate
C) Compound
D) Conjugated

Question 5

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the use of commas?

A) If an adverb clause ends a sentence, it should have a comma in front of its subordinating conjunction.
B) If a coordinating conjunction is joining only two items and those two items are not main clauses, then no comma should be placed in front of the coordinating conjunction.
C) Essential word groups should never be set off with commas.
D) Commas have special uses with addresses, dates, and direct quotes.

Question 6

Identify which revision of the following sentence has no punctuation or mechanics errors:
Although we had a substitute teacher; we still had to take a test and we had to write a paragraph before we could leave class.

A) Although we had a substitute teacher; we still had to take a test, and we had to write a paragraph; before we could leave class.
B) Although we had a substitute teacher, we still had to take a test; and we had to write a paragraph before we could leave class.
C) Although we had a substitute teacher, we still had to take a test, and we had to write a paragraph before we could leave class.
D) There are no errors.

Question 7

Commas are used in the following conventions.

A) Names
B) Dates
C) Titles
D) All of the above

Question 8

Commas are used primarily to separate or to enclose.

Question 9

If an adverb clause begins a sentence, a comma must be placed immediately after the subordinating conjunction.

Question 10

When punctuating a two-part sentence, you should treat the second part as if it were the start of a new sentence. Therefore, if an introductory word group follows a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon in the second part of a two-part sentence, then you should use a comma after that introductory word group.

Question 11

If you use a nonessential word group to enrich a sentence, you should signal that the extra material is of secondary importance by setting it off with commas.

Question 12

Essential adjective clauses should not be set off with commas.

Question 13

A coordinating conjunction always takes a comma in front of it regardless of where it appears in the sentence or what it is connecting or separating.

Question 14

When writing a series of three or more items, you should put a comma after every item except the last one.

Question 15

If your sentence contains a compound noun, you should use a comma between the two parts of the compound noun.

Question 16

Identify if the following sentence displays the correct use of commas. Therefore I watch reality television every evening.

Question 17

Identify if the following sentence displays the correct use of commas. Yesterday, I slept in until after my test was over.

Question 18

Identify if the following sentence displays the correct use of commas. January 1 2000, was the beginning of a new century.

Question 19

Commas are used to separate contrasting ideas.

Question 20

Commas are used to separate two independent clauses.