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Grade 5 · English Language Arts · Unit 5 of 10

Punctuation Power

Commas and colons

What your child practises

Setting off extra information with commas, adding commas after opening phrases, and using colons to introduce lists.

Ontario Curriculum expectation: B3.3 · commas around appositives and participial phrases, and colons before lists

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Waving her flag Ana cheered for the runners.
    • Waving her flag, Ana cheered for the runners.
    • Waving her flag Ana, cheered for the runners.
    Show answer

    Waving her flag, Ana cheered for the runners.

    Hint: Place a comma after the participial phrase.

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • The moose a gentle giant, wandered past the cabin.
    • The moose, a gentle giant wandered past the cabin.
    • The moose, a gentle giant, wandered past the cabin.
    Show answer

    The moose, a gentle giant, wandered past the cabin.

    Hint: An appositive renames a noun and is set off with commas.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses a comma correctly after a participial phrase?

    • Running down the hill Sam lost his hat.
    • Running down the hill, Sam lost his hat.
    • Running, down the hill Sam lost his hat.
    Show answer

    Running down the hill, Sam lost his hat.

    Hint: A phrase that starts with an -ing verb is followed by a comma when it comes first.

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Tired from the long hike, we fell asleep early.
    • Tired, from the long hike we fell asleep early.
    • Tired from the long hike we fell asleep early.
    Show answer

    Tired from the long hike, we fell asleep early.

    Hint: Put a comma after an opening phrase that describes the subject.

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Our dog, a golden retriever, loves the snow.
    • Our dog, a golden retriever loves the snow.
    • Our dog a golden retriever loves the snow.
    Show answer

    Our dog, a golden retriever, loves the snow.

    Hint: Commas go before and after the appositive.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Maple Leaf Gardens, an old arena is a famous building.
    • Maple Leaf Gardens, an old arena, is a famous building.
    • Maple Leaf Gardens an old arena, is a famous building.
    Show answer

    Maple Leaf Gardens, an old arena, is a famous building.

    Hint: An old arena renames the place, so put commas around it.

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