Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly?

I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.

I bought apples oranges and bananas.

I bought apples, oranges and bananas.

I bought, apples, oranges and bananas.

Identify the sentence that contains a comma splice.

I wanted to go for a walk, it was raining.

I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.

It was raining, so I stayed inside.

Although it was raining, I went for a walk.

Where should you place the comma in this sentence? 'Before leaving the house he checked the weather.'

Before leaving the house, he checked the weather.

Before leaving, the house he checked the weather.

Before leaving the house he, checked the weather.

Before, leaving the house he checked the weather.

Grammar essentials: commas and clauses Quiz

About this quiz

What you’ll practice

Commas and clauses can change meaning fast, so this quiz focuses on decisions you’ll actually make while writing and editing. You’ll work with independent vs. dependent clauses, introductory elements, coordinating conjunctions, and common comma patterns.

Each question is multiple choice with 4 options and no timer, so you can slow down and reason it out. Choose your preferred question count and difficulty before you start—mixed mode blends easy wins with tougher, more nuanced items.

Common pitfalls to watch for

Many errors come from overusing commas “where you pause” instead of following clause logic, or from missing commas that prevent misreading. Watch especially for comma splices, misplaced commas around conjunctions, and unnecessary commas that split a subject from its verb.

Mixing up comma splices vs. correct joins with FANBOYS
Forgetting the comma after an introductory dependent clause
Adding commas around restrictive (essential) clauses
Missing commas with nonessential (parenthetical) clauses
Misplacing commas with coordinating conjunctions in compound sentences

How the difficulty stays balanced

The set is designed to ramp from straightforward comma rules to sentences where more than one rule could apply. Mixed difficulty keeps momentum while still testing judgment calls, and you can always adjust difficulty to focus on fundamentals or challenge yourself with trickier clause boundaries.