EnglishGrammar & PunctuationAges 9–10
Commas to avoid ambiguity
Use commas to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity in sentences where the absence of a comma could cause misreading
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Use a comma to stop a reader taking the wrong meaning.
Use a comma to stop a reader taking the wrong meaning.
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Check understanding
- Insert a comma to prevent ambiguity, e.g. 'Let's eat, Grandma' vs 'Let's eat Grandma' or 'Most of the time, travellers worry about their bags'
- Identify sentences where a missing comma changes the meaning and explain the two possible readings
- Use commas after introductory elements (adverbial phrases, subordinate clauses) to prevent misreading of the main clause
“Can your child explain why "Let's eat, Grandma" and "Let's eat Grandma" mean very different things — and use that kind of comma in their own writing to avoid confusion?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Grammar & Punctuation
- Age range
- Ages 9–10
Standards
uk-nc-2013:Eng.App2.Y5.Punc.2uk-nc-2013:Eng.UKS2.Write.VGP.2a