Adding Commas
I can add commas to clarify the meaning of a sentence.
Read the sentences as an editor and decide if you think commas need to be added. If you
decide to add commas, explain your reason for doing so.
Explain your reason for adding commas or
Sentence
leaving the sentence as it is.
The rabbit had long sharp pointy teeth.
As the campers sat round the fire eating the
bear stayed in the bushes.
Lucy wanted a biscuit but she couldn’t have
one.
David who was 10 wore glasses.
Hetty dressed and performed for the packed
audience.
There was lots to do at the fair including
face painting and a raffle.
While the onions were cooking soup was
brought from the shop.
If you have got everything you need then
we are ready to go!
Hanging out the washing is one of the most
boring things in the world.
He was cold without his jacket even though
the sun was shining.
Language Conventions | Year 6 | Using Commas
Adding Commas
I can add commas to clarify the meaning of a sentence.
Read the sentences as an editor and decide if you think commas need to be added. If you
decide to add commas, explain your reason for doing so.
Explain your reason for adding commas or
Sentence
leaving the sentence as it is.
The rabbit had long sharp pointy teeth.
While the campers sat round the fire eating
the bear crouched just metres away in the
bushes.
Lucy wanted a biscuit but she couldn’t have
one.
David who was in year six had lots to say
about most subjects.
Hetty dressed and performed for the packed
audience.
There were a lot of different activities at the
fair including face painting and a raffle.
At the same time as the onions were
cooking soup was being bought from the
shop.
If you have got everything you need then
we are ready to go!
Hanging out washing is one of the most
boring things in the world.
He was cold without his jacket even though
the sun was shining.
Language Conventions | Year 6 | Using Commas
Using Commas Answers
Read the sentences as an editor and decide if you think commas need to be added. If you decide to add
commas, explain your reason for doing so.
Explain your reason for adding commas or leaving the
Sentence
sentence as it is.
Commas do not change or clarify the meaning in this
sentence so there is no correct answer. Commas can
The rabbit had long, sharp, pointy teeth. be added to provide the reader with mini pauses or left
out altogether at the discretion of the author.
A comma is needed here to separate the subordinate
As the campers sat round the fire eating, the bear
clause from the main clause and to make it clear that
stayed in the bushes. the campers are not eating the bear!
In a compound sentence like this, a comma is often
Lucy wanted a biscuit, but she couldn’t have one. used before the conjunction, but it can be written
without.
Commas are needed here to surround the embedded
David, who was 10, wore glasses. clause so that the sentence is read correctly.
The comma in this sentence clarifies the meaning.
Hetty dressed, and performed for the packed
Without it, it sounds as though Hetty getting dressed is
audience. part of the show!
Although this sentence is correct without a comma,
There was lots to do at the fair, including face using a comma to signify adding additional
painting and a raffle. information seems to help it read with an extra focus
on the individual examples of activity.
A commas is needed in this complex sentence to
While the onions were cooking, soup was bought divide the opening subordinate clause from the main
from the shop. clause to avoid confusion – the onions are not cooking
soup!
A comma is needed here to separate the opening
If you have got everything you need, then we are subordinate clause from the main clause in this
ready to go! complex sentence. There are two places where the
comma could go and each of them would contribute a
If you have got everything you need then, we are slightly different meaning to the sentence. The second
ready to go! one suggests that it has taken some time to get
everything together!
This is just a simple sentence which does not require
Hanging out the washing is one of the most boring
commas - no ambiguity and no further clarification
things in the world. necessary.
He was cold without his jacket even though the This sentence doesn’t need a comma to clarify
sun was shining. meaning.
Language Conventions | Year 6 | Using Commas
Using Commas Answers
Read the sentences as an editor and decide if you think commas need to be added. If you decide to add
commas, explain your reason for doing so.
In these case there may be no clear correct answer but the matter of including commas or not is a suggestion
and open to debate and discussion.
Explain your reason for adding commas or
Sentence
leaving the sentence as it is.
Commas do not change or clarify the meaning in this
sentence so there is no correct answer. Commas can
The rabbit had long, sharp, pointy teeth. be added to provide the reader with mini pauses or left
out altogether at the discretion of the author.
Whilst the campers sat round the fire eating, the A comma is needed here to separate the subordinate
clause from the main clause and to make it clear that
bear crouched just metres away in the bushes. the campers are not eating the bear!
Lucy wanted a biscuit, but she wasn’t allowed to In a compound sentence like this, a comma is often
used before the conjunction, but it can be written
have one. without.
David, who was in year six, had lots to say on Commas are needed here to surround the embedded
most subjects. clause so that the sentence is read correctly.
Hetty dressed, and performed for the packed The comma in this sentence clarifies the meaning.
Without it, it sounds as though Hetty getting dressed is
audience. part of the show!
Although this sentence is correct without a comma,
There were a lot of different activities at the fair, using a comma to signify adding additional
including face painting and a raffle. information seems to help it read with an extra focus
on the individual examples of activity.
A commas is needed in this complex sentence to
At the same time the onions were cooking, soup divide the opening subordinate clause from the main
was being bought from the shop. clause to avoid confusion – the onions are not cooking
soup!
A comma is needed here to separate the opening
If you have got everything you need, then we are subordinate clause from the main clause in this
ready to go! complex sentence. There are two places where the
comma could go and each of them would contribute a
If you have got everything you need then, we are slightly different meaning to the sentence. The second
ready to go! one suggests that it has taken some time to get
everything together!
Hanging out the washing is one of the most This is just a simple sentence which does not require
commas - no ambiguity and no further clarification
boring things in the world. necessary.
He was cold without his jacket even though the This sentence doesn’t need a comma to clarify
sun was shining. meaning.
Language Conventions | Year 6 | Using Commas