Punctuation Quiz 1: Commas and Clauses for TOEFL (C1 level)

Which is the ONE correct way to write each sentence?

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Question 1

This is an example of indirect speech with the reporting verb ‘told’. No comma is needed with indirect speech.

a. He told us, that there were no tickets left.

b. He told us that there were no tickets left.

Question 2

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.

a. Her father, who lives in Spain, is a retired golfer.

b. Her father who lives in Spain is a retired golfer.

Question 3

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.

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.

Question 4

Here, the comment clause "which was great" comes after the main clause. Again, it needs to be separated by a comma.

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.

Question 5

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?"

a. Could I ask, whose coat this is?

b. Could I ask whose coat this is?

Question 6

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.

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?

Question 7

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.

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.

Question 8

This is a simple sentence with a subject ("the lecturer"), verb ("points out") and object ("some inconsistencies"). No comma should be used.

a. The lecturer points out, some inconsistencies in the text.

b. The lecturer points out some inconsistencies in the text.

Question 9

"That" is a subordinator in this sentence, similar to reported speech. A comma would be incorrect here.

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.

Question 10

This is another sentence containing indirect speech. It's a simple sentence with a subject, verb "is", and adjective. No commas are necessary.

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.

Question 11

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).

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.

Question 12

There are two relative clauses in this sentence, but they are different types.

"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.

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.

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