Punctuation Quiz 1: Commas and Clauses for TOEFL (C1 level)
Which is the ONE correct way to write each sentence?
[Developed by englishin3d.net]
[Developed by englishin3d.net]
Question 1
a. He told us, that there were no tickets left.
b. He told us that there were no tickets left.
This is an example of indirect speech with the reporting verb ‘told’. No comma is needed with indirect speech.
Question 2
a. Her father, who lives in Spain, is a retired golfer.
b. Her father who lives in Spain is a retired golfer.
The sentence contains the non-defining relative clause 'who lives in Spain'. When a relative clause is non-defining, it needs to be enclosed by commas (before and, if necessary, after).
Sentence b could only be correct if she has more than one father.
Sentence b could only be correct if she has more than one father.
Question 3
a. Whichever cake you buy, just make sure that it doesn’t contain vanilla.
b. Whichever cake you buy just make sure that it doesn’t contain vanilla.
The first four words here are a comment clause, a type of non-defining relative clause. You could also call them an adverbial clause because they add a kind of description to the rest of the sentence.
Comment clauses need a comma between them and the main clause.
Comment clauses need a comma between them and the main clause.
Question 4
a. They invited me to cat-sit in their beautiful penthouse flat, which was great.
b. They invited me to cat-sit in their beautiful penthouse flat which was great.
Here, the comment clause "which was great" comes after the main clause. Again, it needs to be separated by a comma.
Question 5
a. Could I ask, whose coat this is?
b. Could I ask whose coat this is?
This is an embedded question, another example of indirect speech, so no comma should be used.
An alternative way to write it would be as direct speech, in which case there is a comma, but then we don't change the word order in the question: "Could I ask, whose coat is this?"
An alternative way to write it would be as direct speech, in which case there is a comma, but then we don't change the word order in the question: "Could I ask, whose coat is this?"
Question 6
a. If it works for you, can we meet next Friday at the same time?
b. If it works for you can we meet next Friday at the same time?
This is a mixed conditional with a fronted if-clause (meaning that the if-clause is at the start). In this case, there's a comma needed.
Question 7
a. The cat, that Sarah found in her garage, is a Persian Longhair.
b. The cat that Sarah found in her garage is a Persian Longhair.
This is a defining relative clause: there are many cats, and the clause "that Sarah found in her garage" is necessary to show which cat it is. Defining relative clauses don't have a comma before or after.
Question 8
a. The lecturer points out, some inconsistencies in the text.
b. The lecturer points out some inconsistencies in the text.
This is a simple sentence with a subject ("the lecturer"), verb ("points out") and object ("some inconsistencies"). No comma should be used.
Question 9
a. The main argument in the passage is, that the public mood is an important factor for lawmakers to consider.
b. The main argument in the passage is that the public mood is an important factor for lawmakers to consider.
"That" is a subordinator in this sentence, similar to reported speech. A comma would be incorrect here.
Question 10
a. Whoever told you, that I am leaving my job, is absolutely incorrect.
b. Whoever told you that I am leaving my job, is absolutely incorrect.
c. Whoever told you that I am leaving my job is absolutely incorrect.
This is another sentence containing indirect speech. It's a simple sentence with a subject, verb "is", and adjective. No commas are necessary.
Question 11
a. Whereas the article supports extending voting to the under-18s, the lecture takes a more nuanced viewpoint, of this contentious issue.
b. Whereas the article supports extending voting to the under-18s, the lecture takes a more nuanced viewpoint of this contentious issue.
c. Whereas the article supports extending voting to the under-18s the lecture takes a more nuanced viewpoint of this contentious issue.
The first comment clause with "whereas" needs to be separated by a comma. The final phrase with "of..." is an adjectival phrase, which doesn't take a comma. Therefore, the correct sentence is (b).
Question 12
a. Although I am broadly in favour of private investment in public services, which I consider a generally positive influence on quality and value, there are some areas of public life, which I feel should be kept fully in government control.
b. Although I am broadly in favour of private investment in public services, which I consider a generally positive influence on quality and value, there are some areas of public life which I feel should be kept fully in government control.
c. Although I am broadly in favour of private investment in public services which I consider a generally positive influence on quality and value, there are some areas of public life, which I feel should be kept fully in government control.
d. Although I am broadly in favour of private investment in public services which I consider a generally positive influence on quality and value, there are some areas of public life which I feel should be kept fully in government control.
There are two relative clauses in this sentence, but they are different types.
Therefore, (b) is correct for this sentence.
- "which I consider..." is a comment clause, a type of non-defining relative clause, needing a comma before and after.
- "which I feel..." is a defining clause thus it doesn't need a comma before or after. We know it's defining because "some areas of public life" doesn't make sense without this clause.
Therefore, (b) is correct for this sentence.