Comma Use Exercise

Place commas only where they are needed in the following sentences. Some items do not need commas. Be prepared to explain why added commas are necessary.

1. He left the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened.

2. Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface.

3. Mrs. Hamilton was an attractive gracious lady.

4. “Nice” is a word with many meanings and some of them are contradictory.

5. The builder testified that the house was completed and that the work had been done properly.

6. Because of their opposition to institutions that force creatures to live in captivity some people refuse to go to the zoo.

7. Most people at the Super Bowl party left after halftime because the score was so lopsided.

8. Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some cities.

9. The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and dirty hats.

10. The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit.

11. After surviving this ordeal the trapper felt relieved.

12. Mark Twain’s early novels I believe stand the test of time.