Our Year 6 SPaG Revision Blaster packs are the perfect way to check children’s knowledge and understanding of the KS2 programme of study for English. The area of grammar, punctuation and spelling covered in this SPaG revision blaster is the use of commas.
The packs are based around the content domains of the Key Stage 2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework. ‘Let’s Recap!’ provides information to revise or reteach an area of grammar, punctuation or spelling covered in Paper 1 of the GPS test followed by ‘Let’s Practise!’ with SATs style questions for the pupils to complete independently or as a class. Three sheets are provided, Revision Blaster 1, 2 and 3. These increase in difficulty, with questions having a greater cognitive load on Revision Blaster 3.
A PowerPoint version of the pack is included, so it can be worked through in groups, or as a whole class.
This primary resource pack includes:
- Let’s Recap PDF and PPT slides
- Let’s Practise worksheet: commas
- Let’s Practise answers
- Let’s Recap PDF sheet
Why are commas used?
A comma is used when writing to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity (when something may have more than one meaning).
Commas in lists
In lists, commas are used to separate the items.
For lunch today I have a sandwich, carrot sticks and an apple.
Separating clauses
Commas are used to separate a subordinate clause from the main clause when it comes at the beginning of a sentence or is inserted in the middle of the main clause.
If you finish your homework, you may go to the park.
You may, if you finish your homework, go to the park.
Commas are also needed after a fronted adverbial.
All of a sudden, the lights went out.
When else is a comma used?
They can also be used to separate names in a sentence when addressing them directly, to separate parenthesis or to punctuate some relative clauses when the information is not essential to the understanding of the sentence (non-defining). These commas help to provide clarity for the reader.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
My grandma, an 89 year-old lady, decided that she wanted to do a skydive!
Grandma’s garden, which was full of roses, was a beautiful sight to see.
Content domains from Key stage 2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework (2016)
G5.5 commas in lists
G5.6a commas to clarify meaning
G5.6b commas after fronted adverbials