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8th grade Commas around extra information worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

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Commas around extra information

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. The school has three reading groups, and one finished early. Sentence: The group [that finished early] went outside. Ari runs the swap check on the bracketed part. Which choice gives the swap result and the commas it needs?

    • Without it, the sentence could mean any of the three groups, so the part takes no commas.
    • Without it, the sentence could mean any of the three groups, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same group, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same group, so the part takes no commas.
  2. The town has one library. Sentence: The library [a brick building on Elm Street] opens at nine. Bo runs the swap check on the bracketed part. Which choice gives the swap result and the commas it needs?

    • Without it, the sentence could mean a different library, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same library, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same library, so the part takes no commas.
    • Without it, the sentence could mean a different library, so the part takes no commas.
  3. Read this first

    Facts

    The class has three kites, and one is stuck in the tree. Sentence: The kite [stuck in the tree] needs a ladder.

  4. Esme runs the swap check on the bracketed part. Which choice gives the swap result and the commas it needs?

    • Without it, the sentence could mean any of the three kites, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same kite, so the part takes no commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same kite, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence could mean any of the three kites, so the part takes no commas.
  5. The school has one gym. Sentence: The gym [which has a new floor] opens Monday. Jun runs the swap check on the bracketed part. Which choice gives the swap result and the commas it needs?

    • Without it, the sentence names the same gym, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence could mean a different gym, so the part takes no commas.
    • Without it, the sentence could mean a different gym, so the part takes a pair of commas.
    • Without it, the sentence names the same gym, so the part takes no commas.
  6. The town has one mayor. Sentence: The mayor [who started the book drive] visited the school. Kira proofreads a newsletter. The facts say whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which sentence is punctuated to match?

    • The mayor, who started the book drive, visited the school.
    • The mayor who started the book drive visited the school.
    • The mayor who started the book drive, visited the school.
    • The mayor, who started the book drive visited the school.
  7. Facts

    Three bikes are parked outside, and one is leaning on the fence. Sentence: The bike [leaning on the fence] belongs to the coach.

  8. Luz proofreads a newsletter. The facts say whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which sentence is punctuated to match?

    • The bike, leaning on the fence, belongs to the coach.
    • The bike leaning on the fence, belongs to the coach.
    • The bike, leaning on the fence belongs to the coach.
    • The bike leaning on the fence belongs to the coach.
  9. Facts

    Four helpers work at the fair, and one wears a green apron. Sentence: The helper [who wears a green apron] hands out the maps.

  10. Noah proofreads a newsletter. The facts say whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which sentence is punctuated to match?

    • The helper who wears a green apron hands out, the maps.
    • The helper who wears a green apron hands out the maps.
    • The helper who wears a green apron, hands out the maps.
    • The helper, who wears a green apron, hands out the maps.
  11. The shelf holds three jars, and one holds buttons. Sentence: The jar [that holds buttons] is on the left. Ren edits a sentence. The facts show whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which version has the right words and commas?

    • The jar that holds buttons, is on the left.
    • The jar that holds buttons is on the left.
    • The jar, which holds buttons, is on the left.
    • The jar, that holds buttons is on the left.
  12. The camp has one shed. Sentence: The shed [which holds the tools] is old. Tala edits a sentence. The facts show whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which version has the right words and commas?

    • The shed, which holds the tools, is old.
    • The shed, that holds the tools, is old.
    • The shed that holds the tools is old.
    • The shed, which holds the tools is old.
  13. Facts

    Four notebooks sit on the desk, and one has a blue cover. Sentence: The teacher wants the notebook [that has a blue cover] for the lesson.

  14. Zee edits a sentence. The facts show whether the bracketed part is extra or needed. Which version has the right words and commas?

    • The teacher wants, the notebook that has a blue cover for the lesson.
    • The teacher wants the notebook that has a blue cover for the lesson.
    • The teacher wants the notebook, that has a blue cover for the lesson.
    • The teacher wants the notebook, which has a blue cover, for the lesson.
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8th grade Commas around extra information worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Commas around extra information. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can take a part out of a sentence and tell whether the sentence still names the same one. If it does, the part is extra and takes a pair of commas. If it does not, the part is needed and takes none.
  • I can say what a pair of commas, or no commas, tells a reader: "The students, who finished early, went outside" is not the same message as "The students who finished early went outside."
  • I can use the facts (a count, or what readers already know) to decide, and I know that "that" never opens a clause set off by commas.

Words to know

extra part (nonrestrictive): A part that only adds a detail. Take it out and the sentence still names the same one.

needed part (restrictive): A part that tells which one. Take it out and the reader cannot tell which one.

clause: A group of words with a subject and its verb, like who finished early.

participial phrase: A phrase built on an -ing or -ed verb that describes a noun, like standing by the window.

appositive: A noun group that renames the noun beside it, like Ms. Dell after the principal.

swap check: Take the part out and reread: does the sentence still name the same one?

pair of commas: One comma before an extra part in the middle and one after it.

Common mistakes

When deciding about commas, your child ran the swap check correctly but chose the wrong commas for the result. Remind your child: the same one still named means a pair of commas, and could be any one means none.

When deciding about commas, your child read the swap result the wrong way round. Take the part out together and ask whether the same one is still named.

When deciding about commas, your child chose commas that fit the part but misjudged the swap result. Take the part out together and read what is left.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with commas around extra information?

When deciding about commas, your child ran the swap check correctly but chose the wrong commas for the result. Remind your child: the same one still named means a pair of commas, and could be any one means none.

Are these 8th 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 8 reading

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