What kinds of openers show up at this level?

Dependent clauses that start with words like although, because, even though, unless and as soon as, plus long phrases: participial phrases (holding her violin close to her chest), infinitive phrases (to qualify for the state meet) and stacked prepositional phrases (in the back corner of the crowded cafeteria).

Is the comma ever optional?

After a short phrase, some style guides allow you to skip it. After a dependent clause or a long phrase, the comma is expected, and every opener on these sheets is one of those, so each sentence has exactly one right answer.

When does an opener take no comma?

When it is really the subject, as in running the last mile took an hour, or when the sentence is flipped around, as in beyond the hill lay a village. Neither shape appears on these sheets, but both are worth a mention once students have the main rule down.

7th grade commas after introductory phrases

7th grade commas after introductory phrases worksheets

Seventh grade openers are long: full dependent clauses (although the essay was due on Friday, as soon as the final bell rang) and phrases of five words or more, including participial and infinitive phrases (having finished the reading before lunch, to earn a spot on the honor roll). Seventh graders find where the opener ends and put the comma there.

Free printable PDF worksheet.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll fix

Add the missing comma to each sentence.

While the network was down for repairs the class worked from printed packets.
Fixed: While the network was down for repairs, the class worked from printed packets.
When my grandmother moved into the apartment downstairs she brought forty years of photo albums.
Although the recipe calls for fresh basil my aunt always uses dried.

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 7th grade sheet

7th grade sheets draw from 72 sentences, 8 to a page. None of these sentences are on 6th grade sheets.

A few of the sentences, as the answer key corrects them:

If the reading on the scale changes by more than a gram, start the trial over.
Throughout the long rehearsal on Saturday morning, the drummer never missed a beat.
To spot the owls that nest in the barn, you have to arrive before dawn.

Fix it. Add the missing comma to each sentence. 8 sentences to fix per page.
Choose the sentence. Circle the letter of the sentence with the comma in the right place. 6 questions per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Long openers often have a subject and verb of their own, so students stop too early and put the comma inside the opener. Teach them to find the main clause first: the subject and verb that could stand alone as a sentence. The comma goes right before that subject, or right before the command verb in an instruction. For participial openers (exhausted after three overtime periods), add one check. The word right after the comma should name who did the action. If it doesn't, the sentence has a dangling modifier, and that is a different fix.

Watch for: The comma comes at the end of the whole opening phrase, not after its first word. Short openers like 'Yesterday' follow the same rule: Yesterday, we won.

Common questions about 7th grade commas after introductory phrases

What kinds of openers show up at this level?: Dependent clauses that start with words like although, because, even though, unless and as soon as, plus long phrases: participial phrases (holding her violin close to her chest), infinitive phrases (to qualify for the state meet) and stacked prepositional phrases (in the back corner of the crowded cafeteria).
Is the comma ever optional?: After a short phrase, some style guides allow you to skip it. After a dependent clause or a long phrase, the comma is expected, and every opener on these sheets is one of those, so each sentence has exactly one right answer.
When does an opener take no comma?: When it is really the subject, as in running the last mile took an hour, or when the sentence is flipped around, as in beyond the hill lay a village. Neither shape appears on these sheets, but both are worth a mention once students have the main rule down.

7th grade commas after introductory phrases worksheets

The kind of sentences you'll fix

What's on a 7th grade sheet

How to teach this

Common questions about 7th grade commas after introductory phrases

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