8YNE Commas homework sheet 2

Don’t Splice me!

Comma homework answer sheet

How did you get on with the questions for your homework? How is your understanding of the comma now? This homework requires you to mark your own work, consolidate (strengthen) your understanding and assess how much more work you need to do in this area.  

Here are some suggested answers to the questions on last week’s homework. Each of the suggestions below is correct (there is more than one way to write a sentence!) You don’t have to have written all of the ones that I have, but the ones you have written need to be correct. Mark your work and pay attention to the ones you get wrong. If you don’t get any wrong, well done!

 

1.      I went to the market to buy some wool, it was really busy.

a.      I went to the market to buy some wool but it was really busy.

b.      I went to the market to buy some wool. It was really busy.

 

2.      Commas were a real problem, they kept getting them wrong.

a.      Commas were a real problem because they kept getting them wrong.

b.      Commas were a real problem as they kept getting them wrong.

c.       Commas were a real problem. They kept getting them wrong.

d.      Commas were a real problem: they kept getting them wrong.

 

3.      He crept up the stairs slowly, he could hear the wind howling outside.

a.      He crept up the stairs slowly. He could hear the wind howling outside.

b.      He crept up the stairs slowly with the wind howling outside.

c.       He crept up the stairs slowly as the wind howled outside.

 

4.      Slowly, she entered the room, everyone was waiting for her.

a.      Slowly, she entered the room. Everyone was waiting for her.  (Note – the first comma is correct as it is a fronted adverbial)

b.      Slowly, she entered the room whilst everyone was waiting for her.

c.       Slowly, she entered the room because everyone was waiting for her.

5.      I went to the medical room, I had hurt my shoulder during Rugby.

a.      I went to the medical room because I had hurt my shoulder during Rugby.

b.      I went to the medical room. I had hurt my shoulder during Rugby.

c.       I went to the medical room as I had hurt my shoulder during Rugby.

d.      I went to the medical room after I had hurt my should during Rugby.

 

2.  Here is the paragraph, with the correct punctuation. Mark your own version and see if you got it right.  

They walked up to the ancient ruin. It was twilight and the shadows were gathering fast.  It was very difficult to make out the footpath that led up to the grand portcullis of the castle.  The rickety drawbridge groaned in the evening wind and swung eerily over the empty moat. It was tempting to just turn and go home. They did not want to go there but they had no choice. In the castle their host was awaiting them.

 

How did you do? Tick one of the following boxes so I can measure how much work we need to do on this:

 

¨ I am a punctuation wizard. There is nothing I don’t know.

¨ I am fairly confident that I can amaze Mrs Desai with my punctuation power.

¨ I understand more than I did before but my punctuation powers need a bit more work.

¨ I am confused.com. Please save me from punctuation panic.