1

Comma Placement

Questions

1. Therefore it is very useful to study all the rules of grammar so that you can apply them to your writing.
a.) no comma

b.) Therefore, it

2. I would like to introduce another grammar rule to you.

a.) no comma

b.) I, would

3. Next we will study the rules regarding the semicolon.

a.) no comma

b.) Next, we

4. Each day learning grammar gets easier and easier.

a.) no comma

b.) day, learning

5. However not everyone learns a language by grammar; some people learn by associating sounds.
a.) no comma

b.) However, not

6. Consequently some instructors think the rules of grammar are more important than other rules of writing.
a.) no comma

b.) Consequently, some

7. Some music teachers believe the ability to read notes is more important than the ability to play them.
a.) no comma

b.) Some, music

8. One might consider that everyone can relate to sound.

a.) no comma

b.) One, might

9. Furthermore it does not help to force students to learn rules of grammar when such rules don't make sense to them.
a.) no comma

b.) Furthermore, it

10. Today we will study how the colon can be used.

a.) no comma

b.) Today, we
 2

1. In a fit of anticipated excitement the crowd waited for the band to perform.
 3

a.) crowd, waited

b.) excitement, the

2. As a matter of fact prohibition failed because it was impossible to enforce the law.
a.) failed, because

b.) fact, prohibition

3. Given that it is after 5:00 PM chances are the bank is closed.

a.) PM, chances

b.) are, the

4. If for no other reason than it breaks down so often we should get another car.
a.) down, so

b.) often, we

5. At the park yesterday I saw wild geese flying over the river.
a.) yesterday, I

b.) geese, flying

6. On the sofa where Johnnie was sitting potato chips were all over.
a.) sofa, where

b.) sitting, potato

7. By the light of moon he could see where the road turned.

a.) see, where

b.) moon, he

8. During last night's performance the musician never took a break.

a.) performance, the

b.) musician, never

9. With the support of your family and friends you can accomplish many things.
a.) family, and

b.) friends, you

10. As long as you are here why not check out the section on dependent clauses?
a.) here, why

b.) section, on

1. Because the semester is over he will find a job for the summer.
a.) because, the
 4

b.) over, he

c.) find, the

2. Since we have now painted the kitchen we may as well paint the living room.
a.) painted, the

b.) kitchen, we

c.) well, paint

3. Whenever you do a job like painting you always have to open windows for ventilation.
a.) painting, you

b.) always, have

c.) windows, for

4. Though I hate this kind of work I know it needs it needs to be done.

a.) hate, this

b.) kind, of

c.) work, I

5. While we`re at it we should probably replace the cupboards, too.

a.) it, we

b.) probably, replace

c.) replace, the

6. If the weather continues to be cold and cloudy I won`t mind doing these chores.
a.) cloudy, I

b.) mind, doing

c.) doing, these

7. Before we make a final decision on the kind of cupboards we want we should shop around for the best price.
a.) decision, on

b.) cupboards, we

c.) want, we

8. Although remodeling can be expensive there are ways to keep the cost down.
a.) remodeling, can

b.) expensive, there

c.) ways, to

9. Unless you`re looking for the very best kind of wood or marble cabinets you can sometimes find the lesser expensive
ones at discount stores.
a.) cabinets, you

b.) sometimes, find

c.) ones, at
 5

10. In order to ensure that you get exactly what you want it`s always a good idea to take your time.
a.) ensure, that

b.) want, it's

c.) idea, to

1. We will go out to dinner tonight and they will join us.

a.) dinner, tonight

b.) tonight, and

c.) they, will

2. I would like to get this job done in a hurry but I think it will take a long time.
a.) done, in

b.) hurry, but

c.) think, it

3. I could study chemistry tonight or I could wait until tomorrow night.

a.) tonight, or

b.) wait, until

c.) until, tomorrow

4. The students in the class believe there will be no final exam but the instructor has repeatedly announced there will
be.
a.) believe, there

b.) exam, but

c.) announced, there

5. I can`t study everything all at once so I will study the most important concepts.
a.) everything, all

b.) once, so

c.) most, important

6. I won`t study the first chapter but I know it will be on the exam.
a.) chapter, but

b.) know, it

c.) be, on

7. I would like to study for this exam a little at a time yet I remember more when I cram the night before.
a.) exam, a

b.) study, for

c.) time, yet

 6

8. I don`t enjoy the study of chemistry much nor do I like the other natural sciences.
a.) enjoy, the

b.) chemistry, much

c.) much, nor

9. I enjoy college because I like to study literature and I like that better than history.
a.) college, because

b.) literature, and

c.) better, than

10. It is said that a well-rounded education requires a little bit of knowledge about a lot of subjects or it could require a
lot of knowledge about a few subjects.
a.) education, requires

b.) knowledge, about

c.) subjects, or

1. Joan an excellent student is also a nurse.

a.) Joan, an excellent student is also a nurse.

b.) Joan, an excellent student, is also a nurse.

c.) Joan an excellent student is, also, a nurse.

2. Jane watched a movie Sophie`s Choice last week.

a.) Jane watched a movie, Sophie`s Choice, last week.

b.) Jane, watched a movie, Sophie`s Choice last week.

c.) Jane watched a movie Sophie`s Choice, last week.

3. John was astonished when he saw his former girlfriend Jill at the dance.
a.) John was astonished, when he saw his former girlfriend Jill at the dance.

b.) John was astonished, when he saw his former girlfriend, Jill at the dance.

c.) John was astonished when he saw his former girlfriend, Jill, at the dance.

4. When I saw Mr. Walker my old English teacher I immediately thought of grammar.
a.) When I saw, Mr. Walker my old English teacher, I immediately thought of grammar.

b.) When I saw Mr. Walker, my old English teacher, I immediately thought of grammar.

c.) When I saw, Mr. Walker my old English teacher I immediately thought, of grammar.

5. One of my dogs Peppy has been sick for a long time.

a.) One of my dogs, Peppy, has been sick for a long time.

b.) One of my dogs, Peppy has been sick, for a long time.

c.) One of my dogs, Peppy has been sick for a long time.

6. There goes Miguel a great athlete who serves on the Committee for Student Concerns.
 7

a.) There goes Miguel a great athlete, who serves on the Committee for Student Concerns.

b.) There goes Miguel, a great athlete, who serves on the Committee for Student Concerns.

c.) There goes Miguel, a great athlete who serves, on the Committee for Student Concerns.

7. Candy my oldest cat is a calico with a pink and gray nose.

a.) Candy my oldest cat, is a calico, with a pink and gray nose.

b.) Candy, my oldest cat, is a calico, with a pink and gray nose.

c.) Candy, my oldest cat, is a calico with a pink and gray nose.

8. Shona the girl wearing the pink dress is in my biology class.

a.) Shona, the girl, wearing the pink dress is in my biology class.

b.) Shona the girl wearing the pink dress, is in my biology class.

c.) Shona, the girl wearing the pink dress, is in my biology class.

9. This cross made of diamonds was given to me by Steve.

a.) This cross, made of diamonds, was given to me by Steve.

b.) This cross made, of diamonds was given, to me by Steve.

c.) This cross made of diamonds, was given to me, by Steve.

10. This concept the appositive can be a tricky element in grammar.

a.) This concept, the appositive can be a tricky element, in grammar.

b.) This concept, the appositive, can be a tricky element in grammar.

c.) This concept the appositive, can be a tricky element, in grammar.

. Exercising immediately after a heavy meal is I think asking for trouble.

a.) Exercising immediately, after a heavy meal, is I think asking for trouble.

b.) Exercising immediately after a heavy meal is, I think, asking for trouble.

c.) Exercising, immediately after a heavy meal, is I think asking for trouble.

2. The moral of the story is that people should always as a result treat one another with kindness.
a.) The moral, of the story, is that people should always as a result treat one another with kindness.

b.) The moral of the story is, that people should always, as a result treat one another with kindness.

c.) The moral of the story is that people should always, as a result, treat one another with kindness.

3. The problem with making decisions based upon emotion he argued is that sound reasoning sometimes gets lost in the
process.
a.) The problem with making decisions based upon emotion, he argued, is that sound reasoning
sometimes gets lost in the process.
b.) The problem with making decisions, based upon emotion, he argued is that sound reasoning
sometimes gets lost in the process.
c.) The problem with making decisions based upon emotion he argued is that sound reasoning,
sometimes, gets lost in the process.

4. Flossing every day in the opinion of most dentists decreases the chances of getting gum disease.
 8

a.) Flossing every day in the opinion of most dentists decreases, the chances of, getting gum disease.

b.) Flossing, every day, in the opinion of most dentists decreases the chances of getting gum disease.

c.) Flossing every day, in the opinion of most dentists, decreases the chances of getting gum disease.

5. We will have an early spring I expect this year.

a.) We will have, an early spring, I expect, this year.

b.) We will have, an early spring, I expect this year.

c.) We will have an early spring, I expect, this year.

6. Two students obviously pranksters replaced the chalk in the classrooms with sticks of white chocolate.
a.) Two students obviously pranksters, replaced the chalk in the classrooms, with sticks of white
chocolate.
b.) Two students, obviously pranksters, replaced the chalk in the classrooms with sticks of white
chocolate.
c.) Two students obviously pranksters replaced the chalk, in the classrooms, with sticks of white
chocolate.

7. If we don't cut up our credit cards right now she asserted we will only descend further into debt.
a.) If we don't cut up our credit cards right now, she asserted, we will only descend further into debt.

b.) If we don't, cut up our credit cards right now she asserted, we will only descend further into debt.

c.) If we don't cut up, our credit cards right now she asserted, we will only descend further into debt.

8. No one I believe should ever be homeless in this country.

a.) No one, I believe, should ever be homeless in this country.

b.) No one I believe, should ever be homeless, in this country.

c.) No one I believe should ever be, homeless, in this country.