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Commas with Appositives and Nonessential Clauses — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 6th Grade punctuation worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet6th Grade · English · Punctuation

Commas with Appositives and Nonessential Clauses — Answers

Part A: Which one is right?

The test: cover the words. If the sentence still means the same thing and you still know who or what it is about, the words are nonessential: set them off with commas. If the meaning changes, they are essential: no commas.

1.Which words are the appositive? Ms. Patel, our science teacher, brought in a fossil.
  1. AMs. Patel
  2. Bour science teacher
  3. Cbrought in a fossil
  4. Da fossil

Answer: our science teacher

"Our science teacher" renames Ms. Patel.

2.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AAustin the capital of Texas, is known for live music.
  2. BAustin, the capital of Texas, is known for live music.
  3. CAustin, the capital of Texas is known for live music.
  4. DAustin the capital of Texas is known, for live music.

Answer: Austin, the capital of Texas, is known for live music.

The appositive "the capital of Texas" is extra information, so it needs a comma on both sides.

3.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AOur principal, who grew up in El Paso, plays the guitar.
  2. BOur principal who grew up in El Paso, plays the guitar.
  3. COur principal, who grew up in El Paso plays the guitar.
  4. DOur principal who, grew up in El Paso, plays the guitar.

Answer: Our principal, who grew up in El Paso, plays the guitar.

A school has one principal, so "who grew up in El Paso" is extra information. It is set off by a pair of commas.

4.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. AStudents, who finish early, may read.
  2. BStudents who finish early may read.
  3. CStudents who finish early, may read.
  4. DStudents, who finish early may read.

Answer: Students who finish early may read.

"Who finish early" tells which students may read. It is essential, so there are no commas.

Part B: Add the commas

Set off each appositive or nonessential clause with commas.

5.Our dog Pepper a beagle loves to howl.

Answer: Our dog Pepper, a beagle, loves to howl.

"A beagle" renames Pepper. "Pepper" is kept with "our dog" because it tells which dog.

6.The Rio Grande which forms part of the border with Mexico flows into the Gulf.

Answer: The Rio Grande, which forms part of the border with Mexico, flows into the Gulf.

There is only one Rio Grande, so the which clause is extra information.

7.We visited the Alamo a famous mission in San Antonio.

Answer: We visited the Alamo, a famous mission in San Antonio.

When the appositive ends the sentence, only one comma is needed.

8.Jordan the team captain gave a short speech.

Answer: Jordan, the team captain, gave a short speech.

Part C: Essential or nonessential?

Circle the right answer.

9.The bike that has a flat tire is mine. Is the clause essential or nonessential?
  1. Aessential: no commas
  2. Bnonessential: add commas

Answer: essential: no commas

It tells which bike, so it is essential. Clauses that begin with that are essential.

10.The Moon which has no air to breathe is covered in craters. Is the clause essential or nonessential?
  1. Aessential: no commas
  2. Bnonessential: add commas

Answer: nonessential: add commas

There is only one Moon, so the clause adds extra information: The Moon, which has no air to breathe, is covered in craters.

11.My friend Luis moved to Austin. Should Luis have commas around it?
  1. ANo, it tells which friend.
  2. BYes, it is extra information.

Answer: No, it tells which friend.

Most people have more than one friend. The name tells which one, so it is essential and takes no commas.

Part D: Combine the sentences

Join the two sentences into one. Use commas correctly.

12.Combine with an appositive: Mr. Ruiz is our bus driver. Mr. Ruiz waves to everyone.

Answer: Mr. Ruiz, our bus driver, waves to everyone.

13.Combine with a which clause: Big Bend National Park is in West Texas. It has mountains, desert, and a river canyon.

Answer: Big Bend National Park, which has mountains, desert, and a river canyon, is in West Texas.

Another correct version: Big Bend National Park, which is in West Texas, has mountains, desert, and a river canyon.

Part E: True or false?

Circle True or False.

14.An appositive in the middle of a sentence needs a comma on both sides.

Answer: True

15.Clauses that begin with that are usually set off with commas.

Answer: False

That clauses are essential, so they take no commas.

16.If removing a clause changes which person or thing you mean, the clause is essential.

Answer: True

Part F: Your turn

17.Write three sentences about people or places in your community. Use one appositive, one nonessential who or which clause with commas, and one essential clause with no commas.

Model answer: Dr. Kim, our family dentist, always tells a joke before she starts. The public library, which reopened last spring, has a new maker space. The kids who volunteer at the food bank get a thank-you lunch in May.

Success criteria:

  • An appositive set off with commas
  • A nonessential who or which clause set off with commas
  • An essential clause with no commas
  • Each sentence is complete and correctly capitalized
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