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7th grade Commas between describing words worksheet

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Commas between describing words

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

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Circle the best answer.

  1. The hikers rested in a cold damp stone cellar beneath the farmhouse. Ari punctuates three describing words. Which sentence puts commas only where the checks say?

    • The hikers rested in a cold, damp, stone cellar beneath the farmhouse.
    • The hikers rested in a cold, damp stone cellar beneath the farmhouse.
    • The hikers rested in a cold damp stone cellar beneath the farmhouse.
    • The hikers rested in a cold damp, stone cellar beneath the farmhouse.
  2. The class followed a rough steep rocky trail to the summit. Bo punctuates three describing words. Which sentence puts commas only where the checks say?

    • The class followed a rough, steep, rocky, trail to the summit.
    • The class followed a rough steep, rocky trail to the summit.
    • The class followed a rough, steep, rocky trail to the summit.
    • The class followed a rough, steep rocky trail to the summit.
  3. Jun found a faded patched blue cotton shirt in the trunk. Esme punctuates four describing words. Which sentence puts commas only where the checks say?

    • Jun found a faded patched blue cotton shirt in the trunk.
    • Jun found a faded, patched blue, cotton shirt in the trunk.
    • Jun found a faded, patched blue cotton shirt in the trunk.
    • Jun found a faded, patched, blue, cotton shirt in the trunk.
  4. Ari carried a heavy, wool blanket and a warm cozy sleeping bag to the tent. Jun repairs a sentence with two comma slips. Which version is fully correct?

    • Ari carried a heavy wool blanket and a warm, cozy, sleeping bag to the tent.
    • Ari carried a heavy wool blanket and a warm, cozy sleeping bag to the tent.
    • Ari carried a heavy, wool blanket and a warm, cozy sleeping bag to the tent.
    • Ari carried a heavy wool blanket and a warm cozy sleeping bag to the tent.
  5. The tired, hungry, hikers reached a small, wooden cabin. Kira repairs a sentence with two comma slips. Which version is fully correct?

    • The tired, hungry hikers reached a small wooden cabin.
    • The tired hungry hikers reached a small wooden cabin.
    • The tired, hungry hikers reached a small, wooden cabin.
    • The tired, hungry, hikers reached a small wooden cabin.
  6. A loud crowded cafeteria feeds hundreds of students beneath a tall, glass roof. Luz repairs a sentence with two comma slips. Which version is fully correct?

    • A loud, crowded cafeteria feeds hundreds of students beneath a tall glass roof.
    • A loud crowded cafeteria feeds hundreds of students beneath a tall glass roof.
    • A loud, crowded, cafeteria feeds hundreds of students beneath a tall glass roof.
    • A loud, crowded cafeteria feeds hundreds of students beneath a tall, glass roof.
  7. A: a sleek, silent submarine. B: a sleek gray submarine. Milo compares two phrases. Which explanation covers both?

    • In A no comma is needed, but in B a comma is needed, because gray is a color word that stands alone.
    • In A a comma is needed since silent is a long word, and in B no comma is needed since gray is a short word.
    • In both phrases a comma is needed, because each one has two describing words in a row before the noun.
    • In A, swapping and adding and both work, so a comma goes between; in B, “gray sleek” sounds odd, so no comma.
  8. A: a warm, gentle breeze. B: a warm summer breeze. Noah compares two phrases. Which explanation covers both?

    • In A no comma is needed, but in B a comma is needed, since summer names a season and warm names a feeling.
    • In A, warm and gentle swap and take and, so a comma goes between; in B, “summer warm” sounds odd, so no comma.
    • In A a comma is needed since gentle is a feeling, and in B no comma is needed since summer is a noun.
    • In both phrases a comma is needed, since warm is followed by another describing word before the noun.
  9. A: a quiet and calm lake. B: a quiet, calm lake. Pia compares two phrases that mean the same thing. Which explanation fits?

    • B is a different meaning from A, since the comma makes calm describe the word quiet.
    • A needs a comma too, since and does not take the place of a comma between describing words.
    • B is wrong, since a comma may be used when a sentence has three or more describing words.
    • The comma in B takes the place of and in A, so using both would repeat the link between the words.
  10. The soup was hot. The soup was thick. Bo ladled the soup. Ren joins three short sentences into one. Which result is punctuated correctly?

    • Bo ladled the hot thick soup.
    • Bo ladled the hot, thick, soup.
    • Bo ladled the hot, and thick soup.
    • Bo ladled the hot, thick soup.
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7th grade Commas between describing words worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Commas between describing words. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can tell two describing words that are equal partners (coordinate adjectives) from two that build on each other (cumulative adjectives).
  • I can run the swap check and the and check, and use the results to place a comma.
  • I can fix a comma that is missing, a comma that does not belong, and a comma stuck before the noun, in sentences with three or four describing words.
  • I can join short sentences into one noun phrase and punctuate it.

Words to know

coordinate adjectives: Describing words that are equal partners; each describes the noun on its own

cumulative adjectives: Describing words that build on each other, so the order is fixed (a heavy wool blanket)

swap check: Reverse the two words; if both orders sound natural, they pass

and check: Put and between the two words; if it sounds natural, they pass

noun adjunct: A noun used as a describing word, such as stone in stone cellar

Common mistakes

When punctuating describing words, your child left the comma out between two words that are equal partners.

When punctuating describing words, your child put a comma between words that build on each other, as in a heavy, wool blanket.

When punctuating describing words, your child put a comma between the last describing word and the noun.

What to say

Ask: does the phrase still work if you swap them or put and between them?

Ask: does the swap sound odd?

Ask: does the last describing word belong to the noun?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with commas between describing words?

When punctuating describing words, your child left the comma out between two words that are equal partners.

How can I help my child with commas between describing words?

Ask: does the phrase still work if you swap them or put and between them?

Are these 7th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 7 reading

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