Comma Practice Test Questions

For questions 1-10, select the answer choice that identifies which comma should be removed from the sentence.

  1. To prepare for the interview, David researched the company, practiced his answers, and, chose a professional outfit.
  1. company, practiced
  2. answers, and
  3. and, chose
  4. No error
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The correct answer is C!

There is an unnecessary comma placed after the coordinating conjunction and.

 

  1. The main character, a clever and resourceful detective, solved the case, because she noticed a tiny, overlooked clue.
  1. detective, solves
  2. case, because
  3. tiny, overlooked
  4. No error
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The correct answer is B!

A comma isn’t needed before a conjunction like because when the dependent clause follows the main clause and is essential to its meaning.

 

  1. On Friday, March 15, 2024, the company announced its new line of eco-friendly products.
  1. Friday, March
  2. 15, 2024
  3. 2024, the
  4. No error
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   The correct answer is D!

All commas are used correctly. Commas are needed to separate the day of the week from the month, the date from the year, and the entire date phrase from the main clause.

 

  1. The old oak tree, which had stood in the town square for a century, finally fell during the storm, and damaged the historic gazebo.
  1. tree, which
  2. century, finally
  3. storm, and
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

A comma isn’t needed before and because the phrase “damaged the historic gazebo” is not a full sentence; it’s the second part of a compound predicate.

 

  1. After a long, complicated meeting, the exhausted committee members, finally reached a unanimous decision.
  1. long, complicated
  2. meeting, the
  3. members, finally
  4. No error
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The correct answer is C!

A comma should not be used to separate the subject of a sentence (members) from its verb (reached). The other two commas correctly separate the coordinate adjectives and the introductory phrase.

 

  1. Maria, who is an accomplished pianist, will perform a solo at the concert, and her brother will play the violin.
  1. Maria, who
  2. pianist, will
  3. concert, and
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

All commas are used correctly. The first two set off the non-essential clause, and the third comma joins two complete sentences with the conjunction and.

 

  1. My cousin, who wrote the award-winning essay, attributed her success to her English teacher, and her parents.
  1. cousin, who
  2. essay, attributed
  3. teacher, and
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

A comma should not be used before and when it connects two items in a compound object (attributing success to the teacher and the parents). The first two commas are correct because they properly set off the non-essential clause.

 

  1. Before you leave for your trip, you should pack your suitcase, arrange for a pet-sitter, and notify the post office.
  1. trip, you
  2. suitcase, arrange
  3. pet-sitter, and
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

All commas are used correctly. The first comma separates the introductory clause, and the next two commas separate the items in a list.

 

  1. My manager, an expert in marketing, believes the new campaign will increase sales, and improve brand recognition.
  1. manager, an
  2. marketing, believes
  3. sales, and
  4. No error
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The correct answer is C!

The comma before and is unnecessary because the word does not connect two full sentences. It connects two parts of a compound predicate (“increase sales” and “improve brand recognition”).

 

  1. The new software, which was expensive to develop, has several major bugs, and is not ready for release.
  1. software, which
  2. develop, has
  3. bugs, and
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

A comma is not needed here because and connects two parts of the predicate (“has several major bugs” and “is not ready for release”), not two independent clauses.

 
 
For questions 11-20, select the answer choice that identifies which comma should be added to the sentence.

  1. Although the forecast predicted rain the teams decided to play the championship game.
  1. rain, the
  2. teams, decided
  3. play, the
  4. No error
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The correct answer is A!

A comma is needed after a long introductory dependent clause like “Although the forecast predicted rain” to separate it from the main clause.

 

  1. The company’s profits increased significantly last quarter and the CEO announced a bonus for all employees.
  1. significantly, last
  2. quarter, and
  3. bonus, for
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

A comma is needed before a coordinating conjunction (like and) when it joins two independent clauses (two complete sentences).

 

  1. The lead actor walked onto the stage and delivered his lines with perfect timing.
  1. actor, walked
  2. stage, and
  3. lines, with
  4. No error
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The correct answer is D!

This sentence contains a compound predicate (“walked… and delivered…”). A comma is not needed before and because it does not connect two independent clauses.

 

  1. The Eiffel Tower which is located in Paris, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.
  1. Tower, which
  2. Paris, is
  3. recognizable, landmarks
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

A comma is needed to set off a non-essential (non-restrictive) clause. The clause “which is located in Paris” needs a comma at both the beginning and the end.

 

  1. The speaker told a funny engaging story to begin her presentation.
  1. funny, engaging
  2. story, to
  3. begin, her
  4. No error
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The correct answer is A!

A comma is needed to separate two coordinate adjectives (“funny” and “engaging”) that modify the same noun (“story”).

 

  1. The only car that I want to buy is the red convertible in the showroom.
  1. car, that
  2. buy, is
  3. red, convertible
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

This sentence is grammatically correct. The clause “that I want to buy” is essential (restrictive) and does not require commas. The adjectives “red” and “convertible” are not coordinate and do not require a comma.

 

  1. Dr. Evans our family doctor for over twenty years, is retiring next month.
  1. Evans, our
  2. doctor, for
  3. years, is
  4. No error
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The correct answer is A!

A comma is needed to set off an appositive phrase (“our family doctor for over twenty years”) that renames the subject. The phrase needs a comma at both the beginning and end.

 

  1. The historic document was officially signed on September 17 1787.
  1. signed, on
  2. September, 17
  3. 17, 1787
  4. No error
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The correct answer is C!

In a full date, a comma is needed to separate the day of the month from the year.

 

  1. The new policy was, in my opinion a significant improvement.
  1. policy, was
  2. was, in
  3. opinion, a
  4. No error
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The correct answer is C!

A comma is needed to set off an interrupting transitional phrase like “in my opinion”. The phrase requires a comma at both the beginning and the end.

 

  1. She decided to bring a jacket because the weather can be unpredictable in the mountains.
  1. jacket, because
  2. unpredictable, in
  3. in, the
  4. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

This sentence is correct as is. A comma is not needed before “because” when the clause that follows is essential to the meaning of the sentence.