Commas In Coordinating Adjectives Quiz

1. Those men are cruel heartless people.

Those men are cruel, heartless people.

Those men are cruel heartless people.

Those men, are cruel, heartless people.

Those, men, are, cruel heartless people.

The correct answer is "Those men are cruel, heartless people." The correct answer includes the appropriate use of commas to separate the adjectives "cruel" and "heartless" in order to convey that both adjectives are describing the men. The other options either lack the necessary commas or include unnecessary commas, which would change the intended meaning of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Those men are cruel, heartless people." The correct answer includes the appropriate use of commas to separate the adjectives "cruel" and "heartless" in order to convey that both adjectives are describing the men. The other options either lack the necessary commas or include unnecessary commas, which would change the intended meaning of the sentence.

2. Her friend was a tall thin man.

He was a tall, thin man.

He was a tall thin man.

He was, a tall, man.

He, was, a tall thin man.

In the sentence "He was a tall, thin man," the correct punctuation involves placing a comma between "tall" and "thin" because these are coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives equally describe the noun and should be separated by a comma. The other options either misuse commas or omit them where they are needed, making "He was a tall, thin man" the correct and properly punctuated sentence.

Explanation

In the sentence "He was a tall, thin man," the correct punctuation involves placing a comma between "tall" and "thin" because these are coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives equally describe the noun and should be separated by a comma. The other options either misuse commas or omit them where they are needed, making "He was a tall, thin man" the correct and properly punctuated sentence.

3. The pianist played a beautiful haunting melody.

The pianist played a beautiful, haunting melody.

The pianist played a beautiful haunting melody.

The pianist, played, a beautiful, haunting melody.

The pianist played, a, beautiful, haunting melody.

The correct answer is "The pianist played a beautiful, haunting melody." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the adjectives "beautiful" and "haunting" to describe the melody. The other options either include unnecessary commas or do not include the necessary comma.

Explanation

The correct answer is "The pianist played a beautiful, haunting melody." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the adjectives "beautiful" and "haunting" to describe the melody. The other options either include unnecessary commas or do not include the necessary comma.

4. Kate was a brave honest and wise woman.

Kate was a brave, honest, and wise woman.

Kate was, a brave, honest and wise woman.

Kate was a brave, honest, and, wise woman.

Kate was a brave, honest and wise woman.

The correct answer is "Kate was a brave, honest, and wise woman." This is the correct sentence structure with the proper use of commas to separate the adjectives "brave," "honest," and "wise."

Explanation

The correct answer is "Kate was a brave, honest, and wise woman." This is the correct sentence structure with the proper use of commas to separate the adjectives "brave," "honest," and "wise."

5. The itchy scratchy sweater irritated my cold dry skin.

The itchy scratchy sweater irritated my cold dry skin.

The itchy, scratchy sweater irritated my cold dry skin.

The itchy scratchy sweater irritated my cold, dry skin.

The itchy, scratchy sweater irritated my cold, dry skin.

The correct answer is "The itchy, scratchy sweater irritated my cold, dry skin." The use of commas in this sentence helps to separate the adjectives "itchy" and "scratchy" as well as "cold" and "dry" to provide a clearer and more organized description of the sweater and the skin. Without the commas, the sentence may be confusing and less grammatically correct.

Explanation

The correct answer is "The itchy, scratchy sweater irritated my cold, dry skin." The use of commas in this sentence helps to separate the adjectives "itchy" and "scratchy" as well as "cold" and "dry" to provide a clearer and more organized description of the sweater and the skin. Without the commas, the sentence may be confusing and less grammatically correct.

6. I could really go for a hot delicious pepperoni pizza right about now.

I could really go for a hot, delicious pepperoni pizza right about now.

I could really go for a hot, delicious, pepperoni pizza right about now.

I could really go for a hot delicious pepperoni pizza right about now.

I could really go for a hot delicious, pepperoni pizza right about now.

The correct answer is "I could really go for a hot, delicious pepperoni pizza right about now." This sentence includes the correct use of punctuation and adjectives to describe the pizza. The commas are used to separate the adjectives "hot" and "delicious" before the noun "pepperoni pizza."

Explanation

The correct answer is "I could really go for a hot, delicious pepperoni pizza right about now." This sentence includes the correct use of punctuation and adjectives to describe the pizza. The commas are used to separate the adjectives "hot" and "delicious" before the noun "pepperoni pizza."

7. The squirrel with the thick bushy tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog.

The squirrel with the thick bushy tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog.

The squirrel with the thick, bushy tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog.

The squirrel, with the thick bushy, tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog.

The squirrel, with the thick, bushy tail, skittered from sight when it noticed the dog.

The correct answer is "The squirrel with the thick, bushy tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog." The commas are used correctly in this sentence to set off the descriptive phrase "with the thick, bushy tail" from the rest of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "The squirrel with the thick, bushy tail skittered from sight when it noticed the dog." The commas are used correctly in this sentence to set off the descriptive phrase "with the thick, bushy tail" from the rest of the sentence.

8. Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old drive-in movie theater.

Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old drive-in movie theater.

Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old, drive-in movie theater.

Let’s go catch, the 8:00 show at that old, drive-in movie theater.

Let’s go, catch the 8:00, show at that old, drive-in movie theater.

The correct answer is "Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old, drive-in movie theater." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements of the sentence. The comma is used to separate the adjective "old" from the noun "drive-in movie theater," and the comma is also used to separate the phrase "8:00 show" from the rest of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Let’s go catch the 8:00 show at that old, drive-in movie theater." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements of the sentence. The comma is used to separate the adjective "old" from the noun "drive-in movie theater," and the comma is also used to separate the phrase "8:00 show" from the rest of the sentence.

9. The cold December wind chilled me to the bones.

The cold December wind chilled me to the bones.

The cold, December wind chilled me to the bones.

The cold December, wind chilled, me to the bones.

The cold December wind, chilled me to the bones.

The correct answer is "The cold, December wind chilled me to the bones." The use of commas in this sentence helps to clarify the meaning and structure of the sentence. "The cold, December wind" indicates that the wind is both cold and occurring in December. Without the commas, it could be interpreted as the wind being cold and December being a separate descriptor.

Explanation

The correct answer is "The cold, December wind chilled me to the bones." The use of commas in this sentence helps to clarify the meaning and structure of the sentence. "The cold, December wind" indicates that the wind is both cold and occurring in December. Without the commas, it could be interpreted as the wind being cold and December being a separate descriptor.

10. At the park, we watched large migratory birds in flight.

At the park, we watched large, migratory birds in flight.

At the park, we watched, large migratory birds in flight.

At the park, we, watched large migratory birds in flight.

At the park, we watched large migratory birds in flight.

The correct answer is "At the park, we watched large migratory birds in flight." This is the correct answer because it uses proper punctuation and does not have any unnecessary commas. The sentence is clear and concise, stating that the speaker watched large migratory birds in flight at the park.

Explanation

The correct answer is "At the park, we watched large migratory birds in flight." This is the correct answer because it uses proper punctuation and does not have any unnecessary commas. The sentence is clear and concise, stating that the speaker watched large migratory birds in flight at the park.