Commas in Complex Sentences Worksheet Pack for Year 6

If you’ve ever marked a collection of student writing and noticed commas popping up in random places, you’re certainly not alone! Teaching students where commas belong in complex sentences can be surprisingly challenging. Many students know that commas are important, but they’re often unsure exactly where they should be placed and why they are needed.

This commas in complex sentences worksheet pack has been created by our team to teach your students this very skill! Through a variety of structured activities, students will learn exactly where commas should be placed in different types of complex sentences.

There are eight different worksheets featured in this pack. Students will practise a variety of skills, such as:

• Adding commas in the correct place in complex sentences
• Analysing whether comma usage in complex sentences is correct or incorrect
• Writing complex sentences with correct comma placement
• And more!

This resource downloads as a black-and-white PDF or editable Google Slides file. The download also includes an answer key to make marking the worksheets fast and easy. 

This comprehensive resource will not only cut down your planning time, but will also help your students gain a solid understanding of comma placement in complex sentences. 

Teach Using Commas in Complex Sentences Throughout Your English Lessons

This versatile resource can be used in multiple ways across your English program to teach your students about using commas in complex sentences. Here are some suggestions from our team to get you started:

• Explicit Teaching – Choose particular worksheets from the pack to project on a screen. Use these to model how complex sentences are structured and how this affects comma placement. Analysing examples together as a class sets students up for greater success when it comes time to work independently.
• Differentiated Literacy Groups – Place students in small groups. Provide targeted worksheets to students who require extra consolidation of sentence structure and punctuation concepts, while allowing more confident students to extend their skills through more complex activities.
• Independent Practice or Homework – Assign individual worksheets following a lesson to reinforce newly taught concepts and provide opportunities for students to apply their learning independently. Alternatively, send worksheets home for additional revision and practice.

Download to Start Teaching When to Use a Comma in a Complex Sentence

Ready to give your students focused practice with one of the most commonly misunderstood punctuation skills? Use the Download button above to access eight ready-to-use worksheets that can be printed and used immediately in your classroom. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

As this resource contains answers, you may wish to print one copy only, then remove the answer sheet before making further copies.

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this worksheet pack double-sided.

This resource was created by Tanya Bailey, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Teaching Students Where to Put Commas in Complex Sentences

If you’re looking for more engaging resources for teaching your students where to put commas in complex sentences, you’ve come to the right place! Click below to explore more teacher-created gems to complement your English planning.

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Escape from Comma Castle with an exciting Virtual Escape Room Game for Year 5 and 6.

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Comma Football Review Game

Play Comma Football Review, an engaging comma game to help your students practise using commas in a series and when separating clauses.