The Comma Separating Coordinate Adjectives

Question 1

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

A cold December wind rattled the windows of the small, drafty cabin.

Answer

A cold, December wind rattled the windows of the small, drafty cabin.

Answer

A cold, December wind rattled the windows of the small drafty cabin.

Answer

A cold December wind rattled the windows of the small drafty cabin.

Question 2

Only one version places its commas correctly. Which sentence is it?

Accepted Answer

The tired, restless students filed past the tall brick gym.

Answer

The tired restless students filed past the tall, brick gym.

Answer

The tired restless students filed past the tall brick gym.

Answer

The tired, restless students filed past the tall, brick gym.

Question 3

Which version uses the comma between adjectives correctly?

Accepted Answer

A long, narrow hallway led to a heavy oak door.

Answer

A long narrow hallway led to a heavy oak door.

Answer

A long, narrow hallway led to a heavy, oak door.

Answer

A long narrow hallway led to a heavy, oak door.

Question 4

Choose the sentence with correct comma use between its adjectives.

Accepted Answer

We packed a small red bag for the quick, easy trip.

Answer

We packed a small, red bag for the quick, easy trip.

Answer

We packed a small, red bag for the quick easy trip.

Answer

We packed a small red bag for the quick easy trip.

Question 5

Which sentence punctuates both adjective pairs correctly?

Accepted Answer

The tough football team practiced under a dark, stormy sky.

Answer

The tough, football team practiced under a dark stormy sky.

Answer

The tough football team practiced under a dark stormy sky.

Answer

The tough, football team practiced under a dark, stormy sky.

Question 6

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

She wore an old green shirt to the messy, crowded workshop.

Answer

She wore an old green shirt to the messy crowded workshop.

Answer

She wore an old, green shirt to the messy, crowded workshop.

Answer

She wore an old, green shirt to the messy crowded workshop.

Question 7

Only one version places its commas correctly. Which sentence is it?

Accepted Answer

A damp, chilly morning greeted the hikers on the narrow dirt road.

Answer

A damp, chilly morning greeted the hikers on the narrow, dirt road.

Answer

A damp chilly morning greeted the hikers on the narrow, dirt road.

Answer

A damp chilly morning greeted the hikers on the narrow dirt road.

Question 8

Which version uses the comma between adjectives correctly?

Accepted Answer

The quiet, patient librarian shelved the torn paperback books.

Answer

The quiet patient librarian shelved the torn, paperback books.

Answer

The quiet patient librarian shelved the torn paperback books.

Answer

The quiet, patient librarian shelved the torn, paperback books.

Question 9

Choose the sentence with correct comma use between its adjectives.

Accepted Answer

A bright, sunny afternoon followed three days of gray winter rain.

Answer

A bright sunny afternoon followed three days of gray winter rain.

Answer

A bright, sunny afternoon followed three days of gray, winter rain.

Answer

A bright sunny afternoon followed three days of gray, winter rain.

Question 10

Which sentence punctuates both adjective pairs correctly?

Accepted Answer

He carried a huge cardboard box down the steep, icy steps.

Answer

He carried a huge, cardboard box down the steep, icy steps.

Answer

He carried a huge, cardboard box down the steep icy steps.

Answer

He carried a huge cardboard box down the steep icy steps.

Question 11

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

The fascinating, enjoyable movie ended with a loud drum solo.

Answer

The fascinating enjoyable movie ended with a loud, drum solo.

Answer

The fascinating enjoyable movie ended with a loud drum solo.

Answer

The fascinating, enjoyable movie ended with a loud, drum solo.

Question 12

Only one version places its commas correctly. Which sentence is it?

Accepted Answer

Our new wooden bench faces a wide, calm lake.

Answer

Our new wooden bench faces a wide calm lake.

Answer

Our new, wooden bench faces a wide, calm lake.

Answer

Our new, wooden bench faces a wide calm lake.

Question 13

Which version uses the comma between adjectives correctly?

Accepted Answer

A soft cotton blanket covered the tired, fussy baby.

Answer

A soft, cotton blanket covered the tired, fussy baby.

Answer

A soft, cotton blanket covered the tired fussy baby.

Answer

A soft cotton blanket covered the tired fussy baby.

Question 14

Choose the sentence with correct comma use between its adjectives.

Accepted Answer

The rusty iron gate opened onto a wild, overgrown garden.

Answer

The rusty, iron gate opened onto a wild overgrown garden.

Answer

The rusty iron gate opened onto a wild overgrown garden.

Answer

The rusty, iron gate opened onto a wild, overgrown garden.

Question 15

Which sentence punctuates both adjective pairs correctly?

Accepted Answer

She gave a clear, confident answer to the difficult chemistry question.

Answer

She gave a clear confident answer to the difficult chemistry question.

Answer

She gave a clear, confident answer to the difficult, chemistry question.

Answer

She gave a clear confident answer to the difficult, chemistry question.

Question 16

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

A crowded city bus stopped beside the busy, noisy market.

Answer

A crowded, city bus stopped beside the busy, noisy market.

Answer

A crowded, city bus stopped beside the busy noisy market.

Answer

A crowded city bus stopped beside the busy noisy market.

Question 17

Only one version places its commas correctly. Which sentence is it?

Accepted Answer

The dusty, forgotten attic held a broken glass lamp.

Answer

The dusty forgotten attic held a broken, glass lamp.

Answer

The dusty forgotten attic held a broken glass lamp.

Answer

The dusty, forgotten attic held a broken, glass lamp.

Question 18

Which version uses the comma between adjectives correctly?

Accepted Answer

He pulled on thick wool socks before the long, freezing walk.

Answer

He pulled on thick wool socks before the long freezing walk.

Answer

He pulled on thick, wool socks before the long, freezing walk.

Answer

He pulled on thick, wool socks before the long freezing walk.

Question 19

Choose the sentence with correct comma use between its adjectives.

Accepted Answer

A famous jazz singer performed at the small, elegant theater.

Answer

A famous, jazz singer performed at the small, elegant theater.

Answer

A famous, jazz singer performed at the small elegant theater.

Answer

A famous jazz singer performed at the small elegant theater.

Question 20

Which sentence punctuates both adjective pairs correctly?

Accepted Answer

The steep, rocky trail ended at a still mountain lake.

Answer

The steep rocky trail ended at a still, mountain lake.

Answer

The steep rocky trail ended at a still mountain lake.

Answer

The steep, rocky trail ended at a still, mountain lake.

Question 21

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

Grandpa told a funny, rambling story about a battered electric train.

Answer

Grandpa told a funny rambling story about a battered electric train.

Answer

Grandpa told a funny, rambling story about a battered, electric train.

Answer

Grandpa told a funny rambling story about a battered, electric train.

Question 22

Only one version places its commas correctly. Which sentence is it?

Accepted Answer

The warm, friendly host handed us tall glass mugs.

Answer

The warm, friendly host handed us tall, glass mugs.

Answer

The warm friendly host handed us tall, glass mugs.

Answer

The warm friendly host handed us tall glass mugs.

Question 23

Which version uses the comma between adjectives correctly?

Accepted Answer

A thin plastic straw floated in the sweet, icy drink.

Answer

A thin, plastic straw floated in the sweet icy drink.

Answer

A thin plastic straw floated in the sweet icy drink.

Answer

A thin, plastic straw floated in the sweet, icy drink.

Question 24

Choose the sentence with correct comma use between its adjectives.

Accepted Answer

The nervous, hopeful actor waited beside the heavy velvet curtain.

Answer

The nervous hopeful actor waited beside the heavy velvet curtain.

Answer

The nervous, hopeful actor waited beside the heavy, velvet curtain.

Answer

The nervous hopeful actor waited beside the heavy, velvet curtain.

Question 25

Which sentence punctuates both adjective pairs correctly?

Accepted Answer

We hiked past a tall pine forest into a cool, shady valley.

Answer

We hiked past a tall, pine forest into a cool, shady valley.

Answer

We hiked past a tall, pine forest into a cool shady valley.

Answer

We hiked past a tall pine forest into a cool shady valley.

Question 26

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

The coach's calm, steady voice carried across the empty soccer field.

Answer

The coach's calm steady voice carried across the empty, soccer field.

Answer

The coach's calm steady voice carried across the empty soccer field.

Answer

The coach's calm, steady voice carried across the empty, soccer field.

Question 27

Coordinate adjectives can be reversed or joined by and without changing the meaning. Which phrase below contains a pair that passes that test and needs a comma?

Accepted Answer

a cheerful helpful clerk

Answer

a heavy oak table

Answer

a bright yellow raincoat

Answer

a busy city street

Question 28

Which phrase below needs a comma between its two adjectives?

Accepted Answer

a dark gloomy hallway

Answer

a shiny metal ladder

Answer

a large brick school

Answer

a soft leather chair

Question 29

Apply the reversal-and-and test. Which phrase below contains coordinate adjectives?

Accepted Answer

a fierce loyal dog

Answer

a big yellow bus

Answer

an old stone bridge

Answer

a cold winter morning

Question 30

In which phrase below could the two adjectives be joined by and with no change in meaning?

Accepted Answer

a slow careful climb

Answer

a torn paper napkin

Answer

a sturdy hiking boot

Answer

a famous jazz band

Question 31

Which phrase below is written without a comma it actually requires?

Accepted Answer

a rich creamy soup

Answer

a small tin box

Answer

a fast electric fan

Answer

a green cotton shirt

Question 32

Which phrase below contains coordinate adjectives rather than cumulative ones?

Accepted Answer

a bold surprising ending

Answer

a long gravel driveway

Answer

a huge glass window

Answer

a quiet mountain village

Question 33

Which phrase below contains cumulative adjectives that must not take a comma?

Accepted Answer

a heavy iron skillet

Answer

a long tiring drive

Answer

a bright cheerful room

Answer

a damp musty basement

Question 34

Three of these phrases are missing a required comma. Which phrase is correct without one?

Accepted Answer

a red plastic sled

Answer

a kind generous neighbor

Answer

a loud crowded cafeteria

Answer

a smooth polished surface

Question 35

In which phrase below would a comma between the adjectives be wrong?

Accepted Answer

a small silver key

Answer

a strange unsettling noise

Answer

a warm sunny beach

Answer

a dull repetitive chore

Question 36

Which phrase below fails the reversal-and-and test and therefore takes no comma?

Accepted Answer

an old tennis racket

Answer

a sharp bitter taste

Answer

a wide empty parking lot

Answer

a tense quiet moment

Question 37

Which phrase below should stay exactly as it is, with no comma added?

Accepted Answer

a new paper airplane

Answer

a brave stubborn captain

Answer

a neat orderly desk

Answer

a fresh clean scent

Question 38

Read this sentence: She hung a bright, wooden wreath on the front door. The comma correctly separates coordinate adjectives.

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 39

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

He bought a new leather wallet before his long, exciting trip.

Answer

He bought a new, leather wallet before his long, exciting trip.

Answer

He bought a new, leather wallet before his long exciting trip.

Answer

He bought a new leather wallet before his long exciting trip.

Question 40

Read this sentence: They repaired the old stone wall behind the barn. No comma is needed between old and stone.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

The Comma Separating Coordinate Adjectives

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

The Comma Separating Coordinate Adjectives

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner