Teach the Comma After Introductory Phrase Rule with Confidence

We’ve all had students who struggle with correct punctuation usage. Some use too many punctuation marks, others not enough… Then there are those students who’ll pop a punctuation mark in all the wrong places!

Understanding how to correctly place a comma after an introductory phrase is an essential part of building strong sentence structure and clear communication in student writing. To help your students review and practice this important skill, Teach Starter has created this set of seven unique worksheets. Each worksheet features a variety of sentence types that begin with introductory phrases, giving students repeated exposure and meaningful opportunities to add commas in the correct place.

The worksheet pack features a variety of activity types, such as:

• Choose whether the sentence punctuation is correct or incorrect.
• Identify the introductory phrases in sentences.
• Rewrite the sentences with the correct usage of an introductory comma.
• Combine phrases and independent clauses to create a sentence.
• Finish the sentences that begin with an introductory phrase.

This comma after an introductory phrase worksheet pack downloads as an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides file. Answers are included in both file options.

Understanding Commas After Introductory Phrases

If you’re new to teaching comma use after introductory phrases, never fear! Here’s a super quick overview to help get you up to speed:

1. Setting the stage – Think of introductory phrases as setting the stage for a sentence. They provide background information, transitions or context before the main part of the sentence begins.
2. Time to pause – Like all commas, commas after an introductory phrase give the reader a chance to pause. They help readers separate the introductory element from the main clause for clarity and fluency.
3. Multiple types – Not all introductory phrases are created equal! There are several different types, such as prepositional phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and adverbial phrases.

A general rule of thumb to teach your students is this: If a sentence starts with extra information that leads into the main point, use a comma after it!

Download This Commas and Introductory Phrases Worksheet Pack 

Accessing this comma worksheet pack is simple. Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access the quick-print PDF or the editable Google Slides version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to copy the Google Slides version to your personal drive before accessing it.)

As this resource contains answer sheets, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file. Then, remove the answer sheets and make photocopies of the worksheets as required.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Exploring Comma Usage

Comma usage is a comprehensive topic, but the Teach Starter team have you covered! Click below to explore more worksheets, activities and tasks to use in your punctuation lessons on commas.

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Commas After Introductory Phrases Interactive Activity

Reinforce student understanding of commas after introductory phrases with this interactive resource designed to boost confidence through hands-on practice.

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5th Grade Comma Worksheets

Use our 5th Grade Comma Worksheets to practice using commas in a series, dates, titles, compound sentences, and more!