ENG II B: COMMAS EXERCISE LEARNING TARGET 1-4 REVIEW FORMATIVE
NAME_______________________________
LEARNING TARGET 1: I can use commas to separate items in a series.
LEARNING TARGET 2: I can use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun.
LEARNING TARGET 3: I can use commas before coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) when they join independent clauses.
LEARNING TARGET 4: Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and nonessential phrases. A nonessential clause or participial
phrase adds information that is not necessary to the main idea in the sentence.
DIRECTIONS
Most of the following sentence require commas. If a sentence is punctuated correctly, write a C on the line that
follows the sentence. If a sentence is incorrect, write the word that should be followed by a comma and then the comma. The write
the number of the learning target above that pertains to why the comma is needed or not needed.
EXAMPLES
1. The emu is a large flightless bird from Australia.
Large, 2______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The novelist whose latest book is a best seller gave a talk at our school.
C, 4__________________________________________________________________________________________
1.
The English word weapon is related to the Old English waepen the Dutch wapen the German
Waffe and some earlier common root.
_________________________________________________________________________________
2.
Sticks stones and poisons were among the weapons used by primitive cultures.
_________________________________________________________________________________
3.
Modern weapons which are produced by sophisticated people like ourselves are more fully
developed.
_________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Weapons that were produced in early times were not well developed nor were they distinct from
each other in appearance function or design.
_________________________________________________________________________________
5.
The cord sling which is easily the most familiar sling was used all over the world for it was easy
to put together and not too difficult to master.
_________________________________________________________________________________
6.
The dart the arrow the spear the lance and the javelin all developed from the plain stick thrown by
hand. ___________________________________________________________________________
OVER
KMH
taken from Warriner’s English Composition, Fourth Course(Blue)
Review Ex. A, page 578-579
rev.05/14
LEARNING TARGET 1: I can use commas to separate items in a series.
LEARNING TARGET 2: I can use commas to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun.
LEARNING TARGET 3: I can use commas before coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) when they join independent clauses.
LEARNING TARGET 4: Use commas to set off nonessential clauses and nonessential phrases. A nonessential clause or participial
phrase adds information that is not necessary to the main idea in the sentence.
KMH
7.
Among the more unusual weapons, bolas consist of weighted balls of sone wood or metal ties
together with thongs.
________________________________________________________________________
8.
The purpose of the bola which is somewhat different from that of most other weapons is to
entangle the victim without inflicting pain injury or death.
__________________________________________________________________________
taken from Warriner’s English Composition, Fourth Course(Blue)
Review Ex. A, page 578-579
rev.05/14