Comma, Dash, and Ellipsis to Indicate a Pause or Omission (L 2a,b) Add dashes where needed in the following sentences

Name ______________________________________________ Hour ______ Score _______

Comma, Dash, and Ellipsis to Indicate a Pause or Omission (L.8.2a,b)

Add dashes where needed in the following sentences.

1. 
   Tell me I doubt you can what city is the capital of Wyoming.
   
2. 
   Brenda can’t that is won’t help me.
   
3. 
   Cajun music how I love it is loud and lively.
   
4. 
   They are classified as lizards the biological family Helodermatidae.
   
5. 
   “Next we will read please stop talking from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
   
6. 
   The right solution I repeat will come to you.
   
7. 
   Derek I think you’ve met him enjoys racing automobiles.
   
8. 
   My dream I don’t care if you do laugh is to be a professional clown.
   
9. 
   The restored house it has always been a favorite of mine is now a museum.
   
10. 
    Sloths believe it or not feed while hanging down from branches.
    

Add ellipses where needed to the following sentences.

1. 
   The correct answer appears to be no, figure it out for yourself.
   
2. 
   The winning number is but first, a commercial break.
   
3. 
   “We are leaving on the 12:45 no, 1:45 p.m. flight to Chicago,” said John.
   
4. 
   Here comes wait, I’ll let her introduce herself!
   
5. 
   The next assignment will be where is my book?
   
6. 
   A full year later she finally came to a decision.
   
7. 
   “Hey, have you seen my? Never mind I found it.”
   
8. 
   “Jason, uhm this is hard to say, but I can’t go on Saturday.”
   
9. 
   Angela tried and tried and tried all day, but she could not do the back hand spring.
   
10. 
    “Let me think about it uhm no.”
    

Add one or more comma to set off the interrupting phrase or introductory phrase in each of the following sentences.

1. 
   Martha a total perfectionist always revises her work at least three times.
   
2. 
   Trying to concentrate I turned off the T.V.
   
3. 
   My best friend as you can see from this picture is almost a foot taller than me.
   
4. 
   Hoping for the best she just went for it.
   
5. 
   Fortunately for Elena the teacher forgot to collect the homework.
   
6. 
   The dog hoping for table scraps stayed under the table throughout dinner.
   
7. 
   My little brothers as annoying as they can be are really adorable.
   
8. 
   Sorry for what she’d said Silvia immediately apologized.
   
9. 
   My best friend a huge fan of mystery novels reads all the time.
   
10. 
    Regardless of how I want it there is no way my mom will buy me that game.
    

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the ellipsis to show an omission.

1. 
   A voice informs you that, "You'll need to keep your wits sharp as you navigate through the passageways that lead to the Arctic."
   

1. 
   A voice informs you that, "You'll need to navigate through the passageways … that lead to the Arctic."
   
2. 
   A voice informs you that, "You'll need to … navigate through the passageways that lead to the Arctic."
   
3. 
   A voice informs you that, "You'll need to navigate through the passageways that lead to … the Arctic."
   

2. 
   "When you see a post bracing the passageway, you'll know you're in a spot where the passage has caved in before."
   

1. 
   "When you see a post … you'll know you're in a spot where the passage has caved in before."
   
2. 
   "When you see a post you'll know … you're in a spot where the passage has caved in before."
   
3. 
   "…when you see a post you'll know you're in a spot where the passage has caved in before."
   

3. 
   A voice warns, "As you navigate this area, you'll need to tread carefully and hope that the pillar doesn't collapse!"
   

1. 
   A voice warns, "Tread carefully and hope that the pillar… doesn't collapse!"
   
2. 
   A voice warns, "… tread carefully and hope that the pillar doesn't collapse!"
   
3. 
   A voice warns, "As you navigate, tread carefully… and hope that the pillar doesn't collapse!"
   

4. 
   "You'll need to acquire additional tools, such as a shovel, a pickax, and a fishing rod that will come in handy when you get hungry."
   

1. 
   "You'll need to acquire additional tools… that will come in handy when you get hungry."
   
2. 
   "You'll need to acquire additional tools… such as a shovel, a pickax, and a fishing rod."
   
3. 
   "You'll need to acquire additional tools… such as a shovel, a pickax, and a fishing rod that will come in handy."
   

5. 
   “I cannot help it; reason has nothing to do with it; I love her against reason.”
   

1. 
   “I cannot help it . . . I love her against reason.”
   
2. 
   “I cannot help it… reason has nothing to do with it; I love her against reason.”
   
3. 
   “I cannot help it; reason has nothing to do with it… I love her against reason.”
   

6. 
   The ceremony honored twelve brilliant athletes from the Caribbean who were visiting the U.S.
   

1. 
   The ceremony honored… twelve brilliant athletes from the Caribbean who were visiting the U.S.
   
2. 
   The ceremony honored twelve brilliant athletes from the Caribbean who were visiting the U.S…
   
3. 
   The ceremony honored twelve brilliant athletes … visiting the U.S.
   

7. 
   “All agencies must document overtime or risk losing federal funds.”
   

1. 
   The regulation states, “All agencies must document overtime . . . ”
   
2. 
   The regulation states…“All agencies must document overtime or risk losing federal funds.”
   
3. 
   The regulation states, “…all agencies must document overtime . . . ”
   

8. 
   “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
   

1. 
   “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth . . . a new nation, conceived in liberty...”
   
2. 
   “… Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
   
3. 
   “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth… upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
   

9. 
   After school I went to her house, which was a few blocks away, and then came home.
   

1. 
   After school I went to her house, which was a few blocks away, and then came home…
   
2. 
   After school I went to her house … and then came home.
   
3. 
   After school… I went to her house, which was a few blocks away, and then came home.
   

10. 
    We went to the city, shopped, ate lunch and arrived home after midnight.
    

1. 
   We went to the city, shopped… ate lunch and arrived home after midnight.
   
2. 
   We went to the city, shopped, ate lunch and arrived home after midnight…
   
3. 
   We went to the city … and arrived home after midnight.
   

Comma Review

Place commas where they are needed and write the number of the comma rule used next to the question. (See rules on last page) If no commas are needed, write a C next to the number.

1.  In the mid 1800s many people traveled west during the California Gold Rush. 

2.  The menu included soups sandwiches entrees appetizers and desserts.

3.  She lives at 1352 Kenwood Drive Reading Pennsylvania 17249 and has a beautiful yard.

4.  A major sandstorm tore through the desert and it caused severe damage to any vegetation or rock formations it encountered.

5.  When we boarded the train the conductor immediately announced for everyone to sit down.

6.  Outside the stadium cars are parked as far as the eye can see.

8.  Thank you for helping us officer.

9.  Taking off his hat Ben congratulated the other players.

10.  The movie to tell the truth was rather boring.

11.  It is the high humidity not the temperature that makes this day unbearable.

12.  Sir please answer the telephone.

13.  On January 16 1912 New Mexico the 47th state entered the union.

14.  The train arriving at 6:42 P.M. is from Chicago.

15.  The rain stopped and we went out.

16.  Before we leave we must make a lunch find our bathing suits and pack the car.

17.  After baking apples should be allowed to cool.

18.  The team practiced on Monday for the championship game was on Wednesday.

19.  The dark foggy night made driving difficult.