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Commas for Meaning

English: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 2.10.1

Using Commas to Express Meaning

You need to use commas to make sure your sentences have the correct meaning.

Example

Example

  • Let's eat Grandpa.
  • Without a comma, this sentence means you want to eat your Grandpa!
  • Let's eat, Grandpa.
  • With a comma, this sentence means you want Grandpa to eat with you.
Another example

Another example

  • 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?
  • With a comma, this question means you are asking a person called Roxanne to sing.
More examples

More examples

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

Test yourself on Commas for Meaning

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

    Let's eat Sebastian.

  • Which sentence means 'I am sorry because I love Billy'?

  • Which sentence means let's eat with Jimmy?

Practise this topic for free