A comma is a small pause that keeps the parts of a sentence from running into each other. Along Comma Canal, Year 4 writers learn the main places a comma belongs — and see how a missing comma can change the meaning entirely.
What your child will learn
- Use commas to separate the items in a list
- Use a comma after an opening word or phrase, such as “First,” or “After lunch,”
- Use a comma when speaking to someone by name
- Use a pair of commas around extra information
Four everyday jobs
Lists: apples, pears and plums. Openers: After lunch, we played. Names: Mum, can I go out? Extra information: My brother, who is seven, loves football.
Some people also put a comma before “and” in a list (apples, pears, and plums). Both ways are correct — just pick one and stick to it.
Commas change meaning
“Let’s eat, Grandma!” invites Grandma to dinner. “Let’s eat Grandma!” is a very different idea. Reading a sentence aloud and listening for the pause is a good test.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which is punctuated correctly?
- She packed a hat a towel and, sunscreen.
- She, packed a hat a towel and sunscreen.
- She packed a hat, a towel and sunscreen.
- She packed, a hat a towel and sunscreen.
Show answer
Answer: She packed a hat, a towel and sunscreen.. A comma goes between the things in the list.
2. Which is punctuated correctly?
- Paris France,
- Paris ,France
- Paris, France
- , Paris France
Show answer
Answer: Paris, France. A comma separates a city from its country.
3. Which is punctuated correctly?
- We saw lions, tigers and bears.
- We, saw lions tigers and bears.
- We saw lions tigers and, bears.
- We saw, lions tigers and bears.
Show answer
Answer: We saw lions, tigers and bears.. Each animal in the list is separated by a comma.
Tips for grown-ups
- Read aloud together and take a tiny breath at every comma.
- Write a shopping list as a sentence and put the commas in.
- Collect funny examples where a missing comma changes the meaning.