Commas after introductory elements

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 10-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

The sentence "Because it, rained we stayed inside." has its comma in the right place.
Circle one: True False
Which sentence uses the comma correctly?
- Suddenly the lights, went out.
- Suddenly, the lights went out.
- Suddenly the, lights went out.
What is the opening phrase in this sentence? "Before the test, we sharpened our pencils."
- sharpened our pencils
- Before the test
- we sharpened
Which sentence uses the comma correctly?
- In, the morning we fed the chickens.
- In the morning, we fed the chickens.
- In the morning we, fed the chickens.
The comma in this sentence belongs right after one of the words. After which word number does it go? "While we waited the rain stopped."
Answer: ______________
How many words are in the opening phrase of this sentence? "After the long trip, we finally arrived home."
Answer: ______________
Which word needs a comma right after it? "Therefore we should leave now."
- we
- Therefore
- leave
Which of these sentences is correct just as it is, with no comma added?
- After lunch we played outside.
- We played outside after lunch.
- After, lunch we played outside.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- In the middle, of the night the wind shook the windows.
- In the middle of the night the wind, shook the windows.
- In the middle of the night, the wind shook the windows.
Read this sentence: "After the show ended we walked home." What is wrong with it?
- It is missing a comma after "ended"
- It is missing a comma after "show"
- Nothing is wrong with it

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Commas after introductory elements W1-mt_0wUwxyBs5y-s1

False · The opening clause is "Because it rained," so the comma belongs after "rained," not in the middle of the clause.
Suddenly, the lights went out. · "Suddenly" is the introductory word, so the comma goes right after it, before the main sentence begins.
Before the test · The opening phrase is "Before the test." It comes first and tells when, and the comma marks where it ends.
In the morning, we fed the chickens. · The comma comes after the whole opening phrase "In the morning," not in the middle of it.
3 · The opening clause is "While we waited," which is 3 words, so the comma goes right after word number 3.
4 · The opening phrase is "After the long trip," and it has 4 words. The comma comes right after it.
Therefore · "Therefore" is the introductory word, so it gets the comma right after it: "Therefore, we should leave now."
We played outside after lunch. · In "We played outside after lunch," the phrase comes at the end, not the start, so no comma is needed. Only an opening part at the start gets a comma.
In the middle of the night, the wind shook the windows. · The whole opening phrase is "In the middle of the night," so the comma comes after "night," not inside the phrase and not after the subject.
It is missing a comma after "ended" · The introductory clause "After the show ended" ends at "ended," so the comma belongs right there, before "we walked home."