WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Name: Page 1
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Sentence Interrupters: Part 1
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Section 1
Introduction:
A sentence with interrupting information:
Alan
BEGINNING WITH SECTION
2, this exercise contains
25 questions. Each answer
must be written correctly
to include grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Every
missed answer equals a
minus 4 points.
graduated from Texas Tech.
, the first person in my family to go to college ,
Writers often interrupt their sentences with additional
words of explanation. Although useful to the reader, these
extra words are not necessary to understand the sentence’s
main thought. Interrupters are separated from the rest of
the sentence with commas. Frequently, but not always,
interrupters are inserted into a sentence between its
subject and predicate parts.
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Page 2
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Section 2
Write the dictated sentence on the lines following the first sentence.
The girls whispered secrets to each other. ____________________
_______________________________________________________
____________________
subject
_____________________________
predicate
________________________________________
interrupter
Practice: Rewrite each pair of sentences into a single sentence with an interrupting
phrase. Break the first sentence of each pair between its subject and predicate parts and
insert the extra information. (Graders: This section has 2 questions.)
1. The car was a total wreck. It was a 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix.
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Tony has not been paying attention to his studies. He is thinking about Friday night’s
game.
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Section 3.1
Write the dictated sentence on the lines following the first sentence.
Dr. Freeman promised to return our essays Friday. _______________
_________________________________________________________
____________________
subject
_____________________________
predicate
________________________________________
interrupter
Practice: Rewrite each pair of sentences into a single sentence with an interrupting
dependent clause. Use who as the subordinating word for the first interrupter and which
for the second interrupter. Break the first sentence of each pair of sentences between its
subject and predicate parts and insert the extra information. (Graders: This section has 2
questions.)
1. Ms. Greenwood is an outspoken critic of the TASP test. She teaches English at
Wharton Junior College.
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2. It’s a Wonderful Life has become American’s favorite Christmas movie. It was a failure
with audiences in 1947.
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Page 4
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Section 3.2
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Sentences with “Who” Dependent Clauses:
Scott, who does not have money for a down payment, should consider
leasing a car.
A person who does not have money for a down payment should consider
leasing a car.
Write the dictated note on these lines:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Punctuating Dependent Clauses with Which And That
The book that (which?) I am looking for is out of print.
Most writers follow a pattern when they are trying to decide between the
subordinating words that and which. If the dependent clause is necessary for limiting
or defining a specific noun, “that” is preferred. “Which” is preferred when the
dependent clause gives extra information. Compare the following examples:
The old street lamps that we saw in downtown Frost are valuable museum pieces
now.
The old street lights, which were installed in downtown Frost in the early 1930’s,
are valuable museum pieces now.
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Page 5
Section 4.1
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Two examples in which the date does not interrupt the sentence:
1. Richard is getting married in October in the university’s chapel.
2. Richard is getting married October 2 in the university’s chapel.
The same two sentences with the year inserted into the middle of the sentence as an
interrupter:
1. Richard is getting married in October ________ in the university’s chapel.
2. Richard is getting married October 2 ________ in the university’s chapel.
Practice: Correctly punctuate the dates in the following sentences. (Graders: This section
has 3 questions.)
We are moving on August 12 1994 to North Richland Hills.
__________________________________________________
President Lincoln was assassinated on April 14 1865 in Ford’s Theatre.
________________________________________________________
My grandfather was born June 27 1911 in Fort Worth.
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Page 6
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Section 4.2
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Two examples in which the place does not interrupt the sentence:
1. A friend of mine who lives in Miami introduced me to scuba diving.
2. We are spending three days in Montreal before leaving on a two week tour of
the Northern Rockies.
The same two sentences with the place inserted into the middle of the sentence as an
interrupter.
1. A friend of mine who lives in Miami __________________introduced me to
scuba diving.
2. We are spending three days in Montreal ___________________________
before leaving on a two week tour of the Northern Rockies.
Practice: Correctly punctuate the place names and dates in the following sentences.
If dates or places come in the middle of a sentence, they require two commas. If they
come at the end of the sentence, a single comma is needed. (Graders: This section has 3
questions.)
We are moving to North Richland Hills Texas on August 12.
_______________________________________________________________
President Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. in April,
1865.
_______________________________________________________________
My sister is working in Steamboat Springs Colorado this winter as a ski instructor.
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When a date that includes the year is used in the middle of
a sentence, place commas before and after the numbers.
These commas identify the year as extra information.
When a place name identifying a city and state (or state
and country) is used in the middle of a sentence, the
name of the state (or the name of the country) is set off
with commas as interrupting information. Do not forget
the second comma that comes after these special types of
interrupters.
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Page 7
Section 5
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Directions: Write four sentences that include interrupters. These sentences may be on
any subject you select. Write one sentence with an interrupting phrase, one with an
interrupting clause, one with an interrupting date, and one with a interrupting name.
(Graders: This sections has 4 questions.)
1. Write a sentence with an interrupting phrase.
____________________________________________________________________
2. Write a sentence with an interrupting clause.
____________________________________________________________________
3. Write a sentence with an interrupting date.
____________________________________________________________________
4. Write a sentence with an interrupting place name.
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Directions: If no commas are needed in the brackets, write C (for “correct”) in the blank.
If commas are needed to separate an interrupter from the main idea of the sentence,
write E (for “extra”) in the blank. (Graders: This sections has 11 questions.)
______ 1. The Kinseloe House [
] which had been a landmark in town since the turn
of the century [
] burned last night.
______ 2. George Herman Ruth [
] the most famous baseball player ever [
known to everyone as the “Babe.”
______ 3. The person [
] who spread those rumors [
Continued on Page 8 . . .
] was
] ought to be exposed.
WYSIWYG/Sentence Interrupters (Part One)
Page 8
______ 4. The tuba [
] with its happy, belching sound [
musical instruments.
] is one of my favorite
______ 5. Students [
] who have to pay their own tuition [
appreciation for what college education means.
______ 6. I think [
] don’t you [
could make?
] have an
] that we made the only reasonable choice we
______ 7. The restaurant [
] obviously catering to the health-conscious [
only low-calorie, low-cholesterol dinners.
______ 8. The assassination files [
opened to the public.
] on President John Kennedy [
] served
] may soon be
______ 9. Any instructor [
] who assigns as many papers as Prof. Stein [
should expect students to complain.
]
______ 10. Dr. Tyler [
] like all my professors [
] gave the class a description of
the course and its requirements on the first class day.
______ 11. That lovely girl [
] a registered Democrat [
] makes bad grades.