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Grade 4 English Language Arts — Commas in a list

Use commas to separate the things in a list, and to mark off the person you are speaking to.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Sort each sentence by the job its comma is doing.

    Groups: Separating a list · Naming the person spoken to

    • The shed held nails, screws and a hammer.
    • She packed shoes, socks and a cap.
    • Come inside, Meera.
    • We need bread, milk and eggs.
    • Well done, Kabir.
    • Please pass the salt, Arun.

  2. 2.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • a) Thank you Ravi, for, your help.
    • b) Thank you Ravi for your help.
    • c) Thank you, Ravi, for your help.
    • d) Thank, you Ravi for your help.

  3. 3.Put the cards in order to make one sentence with a list in it.

    • I need
    • a ruler
    • a pencil,
    • and a sharpener.

  4. 4.This sentence has lost its commas: "We bought bread milk and jam." Which word does the first comma go straight after?

  5. 5.Which sentence has its commas in the right places?

    • a) I packed a book, a pen and, a ruler.
    • b) I packed a book a pen and a ruler.
    • c) I packed, a book a pen and a ruler.
    • d) I packed a book, a pen and a ruler.

  6. 6.Sort each sentence by whether its list needs commas in it.

    Groups: Needs commas · Needs no commas

    • She packed a towel a hat and a water bottle.
    • The soup had onions and pepper in it.
    • We saw camels elephants and deer at the park.
    • The soup had onions carrots beans and pepper in it.
    • She packed a towel and a hat.
    • We saw camels and deer at the park.

  7. 7.Pair each job a comma does with a sentence that shows it.

    • separating the things in a list
    • marking off the person you are speaking to
    • after yes or no at the start
    • separating two describing words
    • Sit down, Arun.
    • Yes, I have finished.
    • We need rice, oil and salt.
    • It was a cold, windy day.

  8. 8.Where does the first comma go in "We packed mangoes bread and juice"?

    • a) after bread
    • b) after mangoes
    • c) after We
    • d) after packed

Answer key — Grade 4 English Language Arts — Commas in a list

  1. 1. Come inside, Meera. → Naming the person spoken to; We need bread, milk and eggs. → Separating a list; Please pass the salt, Arun. → Naming the person spoken to; She packed shoes, socks and a cap. → Separating a list; Well done, Kabir. → Naming the person spoken to; The shed held nails, screws and a hammer. → Separating a list
  2. 2. c) Thank you, Ravi, for your help.
  3. 3. 1. I need 2. a pencil, 3. a ruler 4. and a sharpener.
  4. 4. bread
  5. 5. d) I packed a book, a pen and a ruler.
  6. 6. We saw camels elephants and deer at the park. → Needs commas; We saw camels and deer at the park. → Needs no commas; She packed a towel a hat and a water bottle. → Needs commas; She packed a towel and a hat. → Needs no commas; The soup had onions carrots beans and pepper in it. → Needs commas; The soup had onions and pepper in it. → Needs no commas
  7. 7. separating the things in a list → We need rice, oil and salt.; marking off the person you are speaking to → Sit down, Arun.; after yes or no at the start → Yes, I have finished.; separating two describing words → It was a cold, windy day.
  8. 8. b) after mangoes