← Back to the activity

Year 8 English — Commas with clauses

Put the comma where a clause needs one — after a clause that comes first, around an extra piece of information, and between two main clauses joined by a joining word.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Put the steps of deciding where a comma goes in the right order.

    • First, find the clause that could stand alone as a sentence — that is the main clause.
    • Next, find the other clause, the one beginning with a word like when, because or although.
    • Then check which of the two comes first in the sentence.
    • Last, put a comma after the subordinate clause only if it came first.

  2. 2.Write the one word the comma should come straight after: "Although the shop was closed we knocked anyway."

  3. 3.In which sentence is the comma wrong?

    • a) Our neighbour, who is a nurse, works nights.
    • b) Before we left, we locked the gate.
    • c) It was late, so we took a taxi.
    • d) We locked the gate, before we left.

  4. 4.Sort each sentence by whether its comma is in the right place or the wrong one.

    Groups: Right place · Wrong place

    • After the film, ended we walked home.
    • After the film ended, we walked home.
    • Because she was late, she missed the bus.
    • Because, she was late she missed the bus.

  5. 5.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • a) However, we could not find the key.
    • b) However we could not, find the key.
    • c) How ever, we could not find the key.
    • d) However we could not find the key.

  6. 6.Meera has exactly one brother. Which sentence is punctuated correctly for her?

    • a) My, brother who lives in Pune is a doctor.
    • b) My brother who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
    • c) My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
    • d) My brother, who lives in Pune is a doctor.

  7. 7.Match each rule to the sentence that follows it.

    • A clause that comes before the main clause
    • A clause that comes after the main clause
    • Two main clauses joined by a joining word
    • An extra piece of information dropped into the middle
    • Our house, which is very old, has no fan at all.
    • The lights went out, but we had a candle.
    • When the lights went out, we lit a candle.
    • We lit a candle when the lights went out.

  8. 8.Rewrite this with one comma added: "When the gates opened the crowd rushed in." Write the whole sentence.

Answer key — Year 8 English — Commas with clauses

  1. 1. 1. First, find the clause that could stand alone as a sentence — that is the main clause. 2. Next, find the other clause, the one beginning with a word like when, because or although. 3. Then check which of the two comes first in the sentence. 4. Last, put a comma after the subordinate clause only if it came first.
  2. 2. closed
  3. 3. d) We locked the gate, before we left.
  4. 4. After the film ended, we walked home. → Right place; After the film, ended we walked home. → Wrong place; Because she was late, she missed the bus. → Right place; Because, she was late she missed the bus. → Wrong place
  5. 5. a) However, we could not find the key.
  6. 6. c) My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
  7. 7. A clause that comes before the main clause → When the lights went out, we lit a candle.; A clause that comes after the main clause → We lit a candle when the lights went out.; Two main clauses joined by a joining word → The lights went out, but we had a candle.; An extra piece of information dropped into the middle → Our house, which is very old, has no fan at all.
  8. 8. When the gates opened, the crowd rushed in.