Commas in Direct Address, Titles, and Abbreviations — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 5th Grade punctuation worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet5th Grade · English · PunctuationCommas in Direct Address, Titles, and Abbreviations — Answers
Part A: Commas for names and yes/no
Use commas to set off the name of the person you are speaking to and the words yes and no at the start of a sentence. Circle the correct sentence.
- ASam can you help me?
- BSam, can you help me?
- CSam can, you help me?
- DSam can you, help me?
Answer: Sam, can you help me?
A comma sets off Sam, the person being spoken to.
- AThank you Dr. Patel for your help.
- BThank you, Dr. Patel, for your help.
- CThank you, Dr. Patel for your help.
- DThank, you Dr. Patel for your help.
Answer: Thank you, Dr. Patel, for your help.
When the name is in the middle of the sentence, put a comma before it and after it.
- ANo, I have not seen it.
- BNo I have, not seen it.
- CNo I have not seen it.
- DNo I, have not seen it.
Answer: No, I have not seen it.
A comma follows "No" at the start of an answer.
- ALet's eat Grandma!
- BLet's eat, Grandma!
Answer: Let's eat, Grandma!
The comma shows that Grandma is the person being spoken to. Without it, the sentence says something very different!
Part B: Punctuating titles
Titles of long works (books, movies, magazines, newspapers) are written in italics when typed, or underlined when written by hand. Titles of short works (songs, poems, short stories, articles, chapters) go in quotation marks. Choose the right way for each title, then rewrite the last two sentences with quotation marks.
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Italics (or underlining by hand)
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Quotation marks
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Italics (or underlining by hand)
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Quotation marks
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Italics (or underlining by hand)
- AItalics (or underlining by hand)
- BQuotation marks
Answer: Quotation marks
Answer: My favorite poem is "The Road Not Taken."
The period goes inside the closing quotation mark.
Answer: We sang "America the Beautiful" at the assembly.
Part C: Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a short way to write a word. In American English, abbreviations such as Mr., Mrs., Dr., St., and Ave. end with a period. Write the abbreviation, then rewrite the sentence using abbreviations.
Answer: Mr.
Answer: Dr.
Answer: St.
Answer: Ave.
Answer: Dr. Kim's office is on Oak Ave.
When a sentence ends with an abbreviation, one period does both jobs.
Part D: True or false?
Circle True or False.
Answer: True
Answer: False
Titles of songs and poems go in quotation marks.
Answer: True
Answer: False
One period does both jobs: We met Dr. Kim at 10 a.m.
Part E: Your turn
Model answer: Mr. Reed, my favorite song is "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Yes, I sang it at the spring concert. My music teacher, Mrs. Diaz, played the piano.
Success criteria:
- Commas set off the name of the person being spoken to
- A comma after yes or no if it starts a sentence
- The title is punctuated correctly (quotation marks for short works; underlined for long works written by hand)
- Abbreviations end with a period
- Commas and periods go inside closing quotation marks
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.