9th Literature Language Practice # 6

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Commas
Review these basic rules about using commas before taking a standardized test. Rules about commas are often tested in
Improving Sentences questions.
When to Use Commas
Example
To separate three or more items in a series
We visited sites in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New
Mexico.
To set off dates and cities and states in addresses
Our hike began at a ranch in Tucson, Arizona on July 19,
2009.
To set off a noun of direct address
Ramon, please listen up.
To set off introductory prepositional phrases
Within the last decade, archaeologists have begun to gain
new understandings about why the Anasazi left their
homes.
To separate a direct quotation from the rest of the
Im listening, Ramon said, but we need to get started.
sentence
To set off nonessential appositives
The Anasazi, a civilization that arose as early as 1500
B.C., built a network of settlements.
To separate two independent clauses in a compound
The Anasazi civilization is impressive, and it has much to
sentence
teach us about sustaining life and the natural
environment.
To set off a nonessential phrase or clause that interrupts
Scientists have been intrigued, as many have before
the flow
them, by how the village dwellers scaled the cliffs to their
homes.
To set off a subordinate/dependent clause at the
While we were hiking, our guide spotted two stone
beginning of a sentence
structures.
To set off two or more adjectives of equal rank that
It was a steep, perilous climb up to the plateau.
precede a noun
Try it:
1. The hiking expedition focused on the study of the Anasazi people, and the leader of the expedition talked about
how environmental changes affected the way they lived.
2. Some archaeologists, who are not generally rock climbers, at first underestimate the skill and courage it took to
live high up on canyon walls like the Anasazi did.
3. We scrambled, gasping and sweating, up to a ledge about 500 feet above the canyon floor.
4. In contrast to those people living in cliff houses, some Anasazi settled in walled towns.
5. Environmental explanations, although there are many, do not explain everything we now know about the
decline of the Anasazi people and culture.
Identify the sentence error. If an underlined word or phrase contains a grammatical error, choose the part that must be
changed to correct the sentence.
6. The cliff dwellers (A) lived (B) in Arizona, (C) New Mexico, (D) and Utah. No error. (E)
7. I have nearly (A) written all the new tests for (B) inclusion in the revised edition of my book, and
hope to finish the work within (D) a week. No error. (E)
8. The last man on earth will (A) abandon his ruined house for (B) a cave, and (C) his woven clothes for an
animal's (D) skin. No error. (E)
9. If(A) we finish our homework(B) we will be(C) able to go(D) to the movie. No error. (E)

(C)

Improve the sentence. Select the answer choice that best expresses the meaning of the underlined portion of the original
sentence.
10. Scientists archaeologists and grade students lived at the Anasazi dig site all summer.
A. Scientists archaeologists and grade students
B. Scientists archaeologists, and grade students
C. Scientists, archaeologists, and grade students
D. Scientists and archaeologists and grade students
E. Scientists, archaeologists and, grade students
In each of the following exercises, (1) use at least one current vocabulary word per sentence; (2) relate each
sentence to our current unit of study; (3) use proper punctuation.
11. Write a simple sentence that contains a list of at least three items.

12. Write a compound sentence that begins with a prepositional phrase.

13. Write a complex sentence that begins with a dependent clause.

14. Write a simple sentence that uses two equally important adjectives to describe a noun.

15. Write a compound sentence that includes a nonessential phrase in the middle of the second clause.

16. Write a complex sentence about your home city and state including your date of birth.