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English Quiz - Punctuation (Commas to Separate Clauses) 01 (Questions)

Learn how commas separate clauses in KS3 English, from openers and asides to appositives, so your sentences are clear, accurate, and easy to read.

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Fascinating Fact:

Appositives are extra naming clauses and need commas, My sister, a keen sprinter, ran 200 metres in 31 seconds.

In KS3 English, commas help readers follow your meaning. Use them to separate a fronted clause, to bracket off nonessential information, and to mark appositives that rename a noun.

Key Terms

Appositive: Extra information that renames a noun, usually set off with commas, as in my brother, Tom.
Subordinate clause: A clause that cannot stand alone. If it comes first, add a comma after it.
Nonrestrictive clause: Information that is not essential to the meaning. Place commas around it.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

When do I use a comma before which or who?

Use a comma with nonrestrictive clauses, for example, The bike, which I fixed, is fast. Do not use a comma if the clause is essential.

Do I need a comma after a fronted subordinate clause?

Yes, usually. For example, When the bell rang, we lined up. If the clause follows the main clause, a comma is often not needed.

What is an appositive and where do the commas go?

An appositive renames a noun. Place commas around it if it is extra, as in Mrs Khan, our teacher, smiled. If it is essential, omit commas.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I telephoned him he read me his shopping list.

[ ]	When I telephoned him he read me, his shopping list.
[ ]	When I telephoned him, he read me his shopping list.
[ ]	When I telephoned, him he read me his shopping list.
[ ]	When, I telephoned him he read me his shopping list.

2.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When the bell rang the pupils left the school quickly.

[ ]	When the bell rang the pupils, left the school quickly.
[ ]	When the bell rang, the pupils left the school quickly.
[ ]	When the bell, rang, the pupils left the school quickly.
[ ]	When, the bell rang the pupils left the school quickly.

3.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided to move on.

[ ]	Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided to move on.
[ ]	Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided, to move on.
[ ]	Grey clouds now filling the sky, we decided to move on.
[ ]	Grey clouds, now filling the sky we decided to move on.

4.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
While the choir rehearsed I listened to the singing.

[ ]	While the choir rehearsed I listened to the, singing.
[ ]	While the choir rehearsed I listened, to the singing.
[ ]	While the choir rehearsed, I listened to the singing.
[ ]	While, the choir rehearsed I listened to the singing.

5.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The player who joined the club today won the game.

[ ]	The player who joined the club today won the game.
[ ]	The player who joined the club today won, the game.
[ ]	The player, who joined the club today won the game.
[ ]	The player, who joined the club today, won the game.

6.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
Although I hit the ball hard I was beaten by him.

[ ]	Although I hit the ball hard, I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although I hit the ball, hard I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although I hit, the ball hard I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although, I hit the ball hard I was beaten by him.

7.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I have practised consistently I win games too.

[ ]	When I have practised consistently I win, games too.
[ ]	When I have practised consistently, I win games too.
[ ]	When I have practised, consistently I win games too.
[ ]	When, I have practised consistently I win games too.

8.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The black dog which had brown ears caught the ball.

[ ]	The black dog which had brown ears caught the ball.
[ ]	The black dog, which had brown ears caught the ball.
[ ]	The black dog, which had brown ears caught, the ball.
[ ]	The black dog, which had brown ears, caught the ball.

9.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The tall man who wore spectacles dropped the ball.

[ ]	The tall man, who, wore spectacles dropped the ball.
[ ]	The tall man who wore, spectacles dropped the ball.
[ ]	The tall man, who wore spectacles dropped the ball.
[ ]	The tall man, who wore spectacles, dropped the ball.

10.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.

[ ]	When I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.
[ ]	When I looked out of the window earlier, it was sunny.
[ ]	When I looked, out of the window earlier it was sunny.
[ ]	When, I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is a comma?

English Quiz - Punctuation (Commas to Separate Clauses) 01 (Answers)

1.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I telephoned him he read me his shopping list.

[ ]	When I telephoned him he read me, his shopping list.
[x]	When I telephoned him, he read me his shopping list.
[ ]	When I telephoned, him he read me his shopping list.
[ ]	When, I telephoned him he read me his shopping list.

It helps to read the sentence aloud!

2.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When the bell rang the pupils left the school quickly.

[ ]	When the bell rang the pupils, left the school quickly.
[x]	When the bell rang, the pupils left the school quickly.
[ ]	When the bell, rang, the pupils left the school quickly.
[ ]	When, the bell rang the pupils left the school quickly.

"When the bell rang" is an adverbial clause adding information

3.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided to move on.

[ ]	Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided to move on.
[ ]	Grey clouds now filling the sky we decided, to move on.
[x]	Grey clouds now filling the sky, we decided to move on.
[ ]	Grey clouds, now filling the sky we decided to move on.

Separate the clause from the rest of the sentence with a comma

4.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
While the choir rehearsed I listened to the singing.

[ ]	While the choir rehearsed I listened to the, singing.
[ ]	While the choir rehearsed I listened, to the singing.
[x]	While the choir rehearsed, I listened to the singing.
[ ]	While, the choir rehearsed I listened to the singing.

"While the choir rehearsed" is an example of a subordinate clause

5.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The player who joined the club today won the game.

[ ]	The player who joined the club today won the game.
[ ]	The player who joined the club today won, the game.
[ ]	The player, who joined the club today won the game.
[x]	The player, who joined the club today, won the game.

The phrase "who joined the club today" adds extra information describing the player

6.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
Although I hit the ball hard I was beaten by him.

[x]	Although I hit the ball hard, I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although I hit the ball, hard I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although I hit, the ball hard I was beaten by him.
[ ]	Although, I hit the ball hard I was beaten by him.

A comma should always follow subordinate clauses which begin sentences

7.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I have practised consistently I win games too.

[ ]	When I have practised consistently I win, games too.
[x]	When I have practised consistently, I win games too.
[ ]	When I have practised, consistently I win games too.
[ ]	When, I have practised consistently I win games too.

The comma separates the subordinate clause from the rest of the sentence

8.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The black dog which had brown ears caught the ball.

[ ]	The black dog which had brown ears caught the ball.
[ ]	The black dog, which had brown ears caught the ball.
[ ]	The black dog, which had brown ears caught, the ball.
[x]	The black dog, which had brown ears, caught the ball.

"Which had brown ears" is a phrase describing the dog

9.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
The tall man who wore spectacles dropped the ball.

[ ]	The tall man, who, wore spectacles dropped the ball.
[ ]	The tall man who wore, spectacles dropped the ball.
[ ]	The tall man, who wore spectacles dropped the ball.
[x]	The tall man, who wore spectacles, dropped the ball.

The bracketing commas separate "who wore spectacles" from the rest of the sentence

10.

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
When I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.

[ ]	When I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.
[x]	When I looked out of the window earlier, it was sunny.
[ ]	When I looked, out of the window earlier it was sunny.
[ ]	When, I looked out of the window earlier it was sunny.

"When I looked out of the window earlier" adds information to "it was sunny".