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Commas

English Language: KS3, topic 2.1.3

Using Commas to Express Meaning

You need to use commas to make sure your sentences have the correct meaning. Let's look at an example of how commas can affect meaning...

Let's eat Grandpa

Let's eat Grandpa

  • Without a comma, this sentence means you want to eat Grandpa!
Let's eat, Grandpa

Let's eat, Grandpa

  • With a comma, this sentence means you want Grandpa to eat with you.
Why don't you sing Roxanne?

Why don't you sing Roxanne?

  • Without a comma, this question asks someone to sing a song called Roxanne.
Why don't you sing, Roxanne?

Why don't you sing, Roxanne?

  • With a comma, this question means you are asking a person called Roxanne to sing.
Please call Jasper

Please call Jasper

  • Without a comma, this sentence means you are asking someone to call Jasper.
Please call, Jasper

Please call, Jasper

  • With a comma, this sentence means you are asking Jasper to call you.

Using Commas for Lists

You need to use commas in lists to make it clear you are writing a list. Let's look at some examples to see why we use commas...

List without commas

List without commas

  • The children found an acorn a newt conkers and smooth pebbles in the wood.
  • This sentence is very hard to read and very confusing!
List with commas

List with commas

  • The children found an acorn, a newt, conkers and smooth pebbles in the wood.
  • See how much easier the sentence is to read with commas.
List without commas

List without commas

  • The swimmer could do crawl backstroke breaststroke and butterfly beautifully.
  • This sentence is very hard to read and very confusing!
List with commas

List with commas

  • The swimmer could do crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly beautifully.
    • See how much easier the sentence is to read with commas.
List without commas

List without commas

  • The boy wanted a teddy bear a torch a book a shirt and some shoes for Christmas.
  • This sentence is very hard to read and very confusing!
List with commas

List with commas

  • The boy wanted a teddy bear, a torch, a book, a shirt and some shoes for Christmas.
  • See how much easier the sentence is to read with commas.

Test yourself on Commas

  • Which of these sentences uses punctuation correctly to give the sentence a different meaning?

    Let's eat Sebastian.

  • Which sentence means let's eat with Jimmy?

  • In which sentence are you asking someone called Harper to call to you?

  • In which sentence are you asking someone to say the word 'trumpet'?

  • What punctuation is missing from this list?

    Billie had a ruler a rubber a pencil a sharpener and felt tip pens in his pencil case.

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