Grammar-Quizzes.com

 PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

• Punctuation Sum
• Complete Thought
• Fragments
• Run-on Sentences
• Semicolons
• Bulleted Lists
• Hyphens
• Comma–series
• Comma–comments
• Comma-clauses

Commas Series

Punctuation & Word Play

 

 

 

Commas Join Items in a Series

WORD FORM	COMMA USE
VERBS	A triathlete runs, bikes, and swims.      Placing a comma before and is optional.
NOUNS	The athlete uses running shoes, a bicycle, and swim goggles.
ADJECTIVES	A triathlete is strong, well-trained, and focused.
ADVERBS	In order to win, he must run swiftly, gracefully, and boldly.
PHRASES	He is able to outwit, out-last and out-play the others.
CLAUSES	She was a woman who knew her strengths, who knew how to use her wit, and who wasn't afraid to "stick her head out".

Related page: using commas to set of comments or clauses

 

 

 

Using a comma before "and" clarifies meaning:

COMMA BEFORE AND	NO COMMA BEFORE AND
Some writing style manuals recommend using a comma when a conjunction joins the last two elements of a series:  Chicago Manual of Style, Fowler's Modern English Usage, The Elements of Style, The U.S. Gov. Printing Office ,MLA, Harvard style manuals.	Some writing style manuals recommend not using a comma when a conjunction joins the last two elements of a series unless it causes the meaning to become unclear:  Associated Press, The New York Times, The Times
I would like a pastrami, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly sandwich. Indicates one sandwich with four different ingredients.	I would like a pastrami, cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Indicates one sandwich with three or maybe four ingredients.
I would like a pastrami and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Indicates two sandwiches with two different ingredients.
I would like a pastrami, a cheese, a peanut butter, and a jelly sandwich. Indicates clearly four sandwiches with four different ingredients.  (Uses article - a.)
I would like to thank my brothers, Sarah, and Mary. (He thanks at least four people: two brothers and Sarah and Mary)	I would like to thank my brothers, Sarah and Mary. (He thanks his brothers whose names are Sarah and Mary!)

 

References for and against using commas before and or or.

• Overview -  Serial comma:  Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma
• "Extended Rules for Using Commas" #5. The Owl at Purdue. 2009. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/
• Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition (University of Chicago Press, 2003), paragraph 6.19
• The United States Government Printing Office's Style Manual
• The Elements of Style (Strunk and White, 4th edition 1999)
• The Oxford Style Manual, 2002, Chapter 5, section 5.3 Comma
• MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (Modern Language Association 2008). 3.4.2.b
• The Associated Press Stylebook, 42 ed, New York: The Associated Press. p.32

 

 

 

Using a comma clarifies word form – noun or verb!

TWO COMMAS	ONE COMMA	NO COMMAS
All three items are verbs	Second item is a noun.	Second and third items are nouns.
He kicks, rocks, and rolls.   He verb + verb + verb. rock(v.) = dancerock style	He kicks rocks, and rolls. He verb + noun + verb. (nonsense)   rock (n.) = stone	He kicks rocks and rolls.   He verb + noun + noun. (nonsense) rolls (n.) = bread
He waters, weeds, and plants. He verb + verb + verb. weed (v.) = remove ugly plants	He waters weeds and plants. He verb + noun + verb. (nonsense) weed (n.) = ugly plant	He waters weeds and plants. He verb + noun + noun.
He performs, flips, and spins. He verb + verb + verb. He does three activities.	He performs flips and spins. He verb + noun + verb. flip (n.) = 360 turn-over	He performs flips and spins. He verb + noun + noun.

nonsense (n.) – something that is silly 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy sports car design. (unclear use of modifiers)	The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy, sports-car design. If sexy is a second modifier to design, use a comma. The appeal of Tesla's Model S lies in its sexy sports-car design. If sexy is a single modifier to sports-car, don't use a comma.
Punch mark or fill-in your ballot.  (unclear word form meaning)	Punch, mark, or fill-in your ballot!   A comma joins items in a row (same word forms) -- in this case three verbs.  Using a comma before or is optional.)

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Word Play -- What does each person do?

 

 

Select the response with the punctuation that best answers the question.

Remember that punctuation can determine whether a word form is a verb or a noun.  One option will be logical.  The other option might be silly (nonsense).  Can you tell the difference?

Compare your option choice to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

 

#	YOUR RESPONSE  (OPTION)	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
1.	A playwright writes   - scripts and plays. , scripts, and plays. playwright (n.) = a writer of plays and dramas; script (n.) = written text and dialog; script (v.) = to write the text and dialog for a movie or play
2.	An event planner organizes   - parties and conferences. , parties, and conferences.
3.	A military commander assigns   - names and numbers. , names, and numbers.
4.	An astronomer examines   - moons and stars. , moons, and stars.
5.	Santa answers - wishes and dreams. , wishes, and dreams.
6.	A child hopes    - wishes and dreams. , wishes, and dreams.
7.	A sign painter designs   - letters and installs. , letters, and installs.
8.	An accountant adds   - checks and bills. , checks, and bills. .
9.	A bird doctor checks   - ducks and bills. , ducks, and bills.
10.	A fashion photographer shoots   - smiles and winks. , smiles, and winks.
11.	A grocery clerk checks   - bags and carts. , bags, and carts.
12.	A pet groomer sells   - combs, shampoos and brushes. , combs, shampoos, and brushes. pet groomer (n.) – person who washes and cuts the hair/fur of dogs and cats
13.	A jeweler fixes   - rings and watches. , rings, and watches.
14.	A masseuse massages   - elbows and knees. , elbows, and knees. a masseuse= person who gives therapy in the form of body rubs.
15.	A drunk or bully drinks   - pops and punches. , pops, and punches. pop (n.) = soft/soda drink; pop v. = hit;  bully = an aggressive cruel person