Varied Fluency

Step 2: Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity

National Curriculum Objectives:

English Year 5: (5G5.6a) Using commas to clarify meaning or avoid ambiguity in writing

Differentiation:
Developing Questions to support recognising commas to avoid ambiguity within single
clause sentences with commas used for the same purpose within a sentence (e.g.
commas in a list).
Expected Questions to support recognising commas to avoid ambiguity within single and
multi-clause sentences with more than one comma.
Greater Depth Questions to support recognising commas to avoid ambiguity within multi-
clause sentences which include additional parenthesis.

Varied Fluency – Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity – Teaching Information

 Recognising Commas to Avoid Recognising Commas to Avoid
Ambiguity Ambiguity
1a. Tick the things that Katie likes, 1b. Tick Hugo’s favourite drinks,
according to this sentence. according to this sentence.

Katie likes knitting children, and her Hugo’s favourite drinks are orange,
dog. squash and cola.

knitting squash

knitting children orange

children orange squash

her dog cola

D VF D VF

2a. True or false? According to this 2b. True or false? According to this
sentence, Dad has been told to draw. sentence, mum needs to leave.

We’ve been told to draw Dad. Hurry up and leave, mum.

D VF D VF

3a. Add a comma to show that Suzie was 3b. Add a comma to show Pete was
covered with glitter. dripping with water.

Suzie looked at the painting Pete walked past a tree dripping

covered with glitter. with water.
D VF D VF

4a. Which comma could be removed to 4b. Which comma could be removed to
change the meaning of the sentence? change the meaning of the sentence?

A A

My favourite flavours are milk, Mary doesn’t really like tomatoes,

chocolate, toffee and strawberry. orange, sprinkles or bread.

B B

D VF D VF

Varied Fluency – Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity – Year 5 Developing

 Recognising Commas to Avoid Recognising Commas to Avoid
Ambiguity Ambiguity
5a. Tick the things that Michelle likes, 5b. Tick Lucy’s favourite foods, according
according to this sentence. to this sentence.

A world-renowned author, Having a sweet tooth, Lucy’s

Michelle, likes cooking, giraffes, favourite foods are chocolate
reading and mountain climbing. sandwiches and French toast.

Cooking Chocolate sandwiches

Giraffes Chocolate

Cooking giraffes Sandwiches

E VF E VF

6a. True or false? According to this 6b. True or false? According to this
sentence, my brother is called Harry. sentence, Chris needs to hurry up.

In answer to your question, I love If you want to have to some

my brother, Harry Potter and pudding, you’ll have to hurry up
playing scrabble in the afternoons. and eat, Chris.
E VF E VF

7a. Add a comma to change the 7b. Add a comma to change the
meaning of this sentence. meaning of this sentence.

Last week, the dog buried a doll Yesterday, Julie rode a bicycle
wearing a red ribbon. covered in paint for charity.
E VF E VF

8a. Which comma could be removed to 8b. Which comma could be removed to
change the meaning of the sentence? change the meaning of the sentence?

A B A B

Today, once we all settle down, we Later, you need to buy caramel,

will learn to cut and paste, kids. ice-cream and sprinkles, Ewan.

C C

E VF E VF

Varied Fluency – Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity – Year 5 Expected

 Recognising Commas to Avoid Recognising Commas to Avoid
Ambiguity Ambiguity
9a. Tick the things that Susan likes, 9b. Tick the things that Kyle loves,
according to this sentence. according to this sentence.

Alongside writing her thrilling debut novel Kyle (an art fanatic) loves painting,
– A Moment in Time – Susan likes cooking portraits and photography, particularly
snails, and her cat, Sadie, who is usually action shots of his favourite musicians,
found sleeping peacefully under Katie’s The Tall Steves.
writing desk.

Cooking snails Painting portraits

Cooking Painting

Her cat Portraits

GD VF GD VF

10a. True or false? According to the 10b. True or false? According to the
sentence below, I don’t like silver bowls. sentence below, Roo was waving a flag.

Unlike Sierra (my best friend), I really On her way home from school, Roo (my
dislike ornate figurines, silver plates and sister) walked past a woman waving a
bowls, especially in the living room. huge multicoloured flag above her head.

GD VF GD VF

11a. Add a comma to change the 11b. Add a comma to change the
meaning of this sentence. meaning of this sentence.
Unlike his dad, Frank (an amateur On his way home from work, Jason drove
mechanic) loves fixing cars and bikes. past a little old lady wearing an orange
hat (with a blue peak).
GD VF GD VF

12a. Which comma could be removed to 12b. Which comma could be removed to
change the meaning of the sentence? change the meaning of the sentence?
A A B C

“Please buy coffee, ice-cream “We don’t hit, Luke,” snapped the tall,
B C

and doughnuts, Katie,” said mum (a thin scout leader (for the tenth time that
D D

small woman), smoothing her dress. night), attempting to end the game.

GD VF GD VF

Varied Fluency – Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity – Year 5 Greater Depth

 Varied Fluency Varied Fluency
Recognising Commas to Avoid Recognising Commas to Avoid
Ambiguity Ambiguity

Developing Developing
1a. knitting children; her dog 1b. squash; orange; cola
2a. False; they’ve been told to draw Dad. 2b. True
3a. Between painting and covered 3b. Between tree and dripping
4a. A 4b. B

Expected Expected
5a. Cooking; giraffes 5b. Chocolate sandwiches
6a. False; Harry Potter is one of the things 6b. True
he loves. 7b. Between bicycle and covered
7a. Between doll and wearing 8b. B
8a. C

Greater Depth Greater Depth

9a. Cooking snails; her cat 9b. Painting; portraits
10a. True 10b. False; the woman was waving the
11a. Between cars and and flag.
12a. A 11b. Between lady and wearing
12b. A

Varied Fluency – Recognising Commas to Avoid Ambiguity ANSWERS