Grammar essentials: commas and clauses

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.