Commas to avoid ambiguity · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Commas that save your meaning

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 9-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. In "Pass the ball, Leo," the speaker is talking to Leo.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Which sentence shows you are calling Zara over to play?

    • Come and play, Zara.
    • Come, and play Zara.
    • Come and play Zara.

  3. Which sentence sounds like someone wants to cook the children?

    • Time to cook kids.
    • Time to cook, kids.
    • Time, to cook kids.

  4. In "Let's eat, Grandma," who is doing the eating?

    • Nobody, it's just a greeting
    • Grandma alone
    • You and Grandma together

  5. A reader briefly pictured Jake cooking his dog. Which sentence gave that silly first reading?

    • When Jake was cooking the dog barked.
    • When Jake was cooking, the dog barked.
    • Jake cooked dinner while the dog barked nearby.

  6. A comma after an introductory phrase tells the reader that the introduction is finished and the main idea is coming.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Which sentence uses a comma correctly to avoid ambiguity?

    • After we ate, the dog barked.
    • After we ate the dog, barked.
    • After, we ate the dog barked.

  8. One of these sentences has a comma in a spot that makes it harder to read. Which one?

    • After the film, everyone clapped.
    • Come inside, Milo.
    • After the, film everyone clapped.

  9. Which sentence could confuse a reader because it is missing a comma?

    • When Mia finished, Zara took her turn.
    • When Mia, finished, Zara took her turn.
    • When Mia finished Zara took her turn.

  10. "I don't know Mia" and "I don't know, Mia" mean different things. Which one tells Mia that you don't know something?

    • I don't know, Mia.
    • I don't know Mia.
    • I don't, know Mia.
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Answer key

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

Commas that save your meaning W1-mt_VMS3kDQ8sA-s1

  1. True · The comma before Leo's name shows the words are aimed at Leo. He is the one being told to pass the ball.
  2. Come and play, Zara. · The comma before Zara's name shows you are speaking to her, inviting her to join the game.
  3. Time to cook kids. · Without a comma after "cook," the words "cook kids" glue together and it sounds like the kids are dinner. The comma in "Time to cook, kids" shows the speaker is calling the kids.
  4. You and Grandma together · "Let's" means "let us," so the comma shows you're calling Grandma to join you both for a meal.
  5. When Jake was cooking the dog barked. · Without a comma after "cooking," the words "cooking the dog" can glue together. Choice A is the one with the missing comma.
  6. True · That is exactly the comma's job. It is a little signpost that says the intro is done and the main part is next.
  7. After we ate, the dog barked. · The comma after "ate" makes clear the dog barked after the meal, not that anyone ate a dog.
  8. After the, film everyone clapped. · In "After the, film everyone clapped" the comma chops the phrase "After the film" in half. A comma helps only when it sits in the right spot.
  9. When Mia finished Zara took her turn. · Without a comma after "finished," a reader might briefly read "Mia finished Zara" as one chunk.
  10. I don't know, Mia. · The comma after "know" aims the sentence at Mia. Without it, "know Mia" glues together and Mia sounds like a stranger to you.
Worksheet · LightMySky