Comma quiz for non-essential elements

This quiz focuses on commas used with non-essential parenthetical elements. Be sure to read the article Test Your Comma Skills first. Then, choose the sentence with correct comma placement. Only one sentence in each item is correct.

1. Here comes the rain again.

The clouds, rolled in, darkening the sky.

The clouds rolled in darkening the sky.

The clouds rolled in, darkening, the sky.

The clouds rolled in, darkening the sky.

2. Raindrops keep falling on my head.

Random raindrops, some as large as golf balls soon fell hard and fast.

Random raindrops, some as large as golf balls, soon fell hard and fast.

Random raindrops, some as large as golf balls soon fell hard, and fast.

Random raindrops, some as large as golf balls, soon fell, hard and fast.

3. That’s not a fiddler on the roof.

The rain heavier than I had ever seen it, pounded the roof without mercy.

The rain heavier, than I had ever seen it, pounded the roof without mercy.

The rain, heavier than I had ever seen it, pounded the roof without mercy.

The rain heavier than I had ever seen it pounded the roof, without mercy.

4. Strange fascination.

Before long, strange, objects fell from the sky.

Before long strange objects, fell from the sky.

Before, long strange objects fell from the sky.

Before long, strange objects fell from the sky.

5. Looks like riders on the storm.

The entities were as it turned out, cats and dogs.

The entities, were as it turned out, cats and dogs.

The entities were, as it turned out, cats, and dogs.

The entities were, as it turned out, cats and dogs.

6. When it’s raining cats and dogs.

The cats and dogs, yelping with joy as they landed, scattered into the forest.

The cats and dogs, yelping with joy, as they landed scattered into the forest.

The cats and dogs, yelping with joy as they landed scattered, into the forest.

The cats and dogs yelping, with joy as they landed, scattered into the forest.

7. Was I losing my religion?

Eyes, big as saucers, I feared for my sanity.

Eyes big as saucers I feared, for my sanity.

Eyes big as saucers, I feared for my sanity.

Eyes big as saucers I feared for my sanity.

8. With a little help from my friends.

A friend told me it’s just raining cats and dogs, as usual.

A friend, told me it’s just raining cats and dogs, as usual.

A friend told me, it’s just raining cats and dogs as usual.

A friend told me it’s just raining, cats and dogs, as usual.

9. Relax, don’t do it.

Reassured I looked out the window, again.

Reassured, I looked out the window again.

Reassured, I looked, out the window again.

Reassured I looked out the window again.

10. Take me to the river.

The deluge running in rivers, over the yard and street, had only got worse.

The deluge running in rivers over the yard and street had only got worse.

The deluge running in rivers over the yard, and street, had only got worse.

The deluge, running in rivers over the yard and street, had only got worse.

11. Sit tight, take hold, thunder road!

Thunder booming I moved, away from the window, and sat down.

Thunder, booming, I moved away from the window and sat down.

Thunder booming I moved away from the window, and sat down.

Thunder booming, I moved away from the window and sat down.

12. Lights, camera, action.

White light, filling the room like a camera flash, blinded me.

White light filling the room, like a camera flash, blinded me.

White light filling the room, like a camera flash blinded me.

White light, filling the room like a camera flash blinded me.

13. Was it burning down the house?

A split-second, later a violent explosion shook the walls.

A split-second later, a violent explosion, shook the walls.

A split-second later, a violent explosion shook the walls.

A split-second later a violent explosion shook the walls.

14. Struck by lightning.

Lightning as anyone can guess, had struck something.

Lightning as anyone can guess, had struck, something.

Lightning, as anyone can guess, had struck something.

Lightning, as anyone can guess had struck, something.

15. Je sais pas.

But I didn’t know what, exactly had been hit.

But I didn’t know what, exactly, had been hit.

But, I didn’t know what, exactly had been hit.

But I didn’t know, what exactly had been, hit.

16. It’s a tree by the river.

As I found out the lightning, had struck a tall pine tree just up the road.

As I found out, the lightning had struck a tall pine tree just up the road.

As I found out the lightning had struck, a tall, pine, tree just up the road.

As I found out, the lightning had struck a tall, pine, tree, just up the road.

17. Lightning strikes tall, tall trees.

Other trees, all of them enormous pines, were hit by lightning during recent storms.

Other trees, all of them enormous pines were hit, by lightning during recent storms.

Other trees, all of them, enormous pines were hit by lightning during recent storms.

Other trees, all of them enormous pines, were hit by lightning, during recent storms.

18. Jack the Ripper must have visited.

If you look, closely, you can see long strips of bark ripped from these trees.

If you look closely, you can see long strips of bark, ripped from these trees.

If you look closely, you can see long, strips of bark, ripped from these trees.

If you look closely, you can see long strips of bark ripped from these trees.

19. Looks like the devil put dinosaurs here.

The trees, some reaching heights of 100 feet or more, appear to be clawed by enormous wild animals.

The trees, some reaching heights of 100 feet or more appear to be clawed, by enormous wild animals.

The trees, some reaching heights, of 100 feet or more, appear to be clawed by enormous wild animals.

The trees some reaching heights of 100 feet or more, appear to be clawed, by enormous wild animals.

20. Be careful with that ax, Eugene.

Already, somewhat cautious, I’ll never go outside during a storm again.

Already somewhat cautious, I’ll never go outside during a storm again.

Already somewhat cautious I’ll never go outside, during a storm, again.

Already somewhat cautious I’ll never, go outside during a storm, again.

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