Grammar and punctuation
Grade 5 · English
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Introductory phrases and commas
Find fronted adverbials and put the comma in the right place. A free Grade 5 grammar game with a printable game and worksheet.
Play Introductory phrases and commas
Learning about grammar and punctuation
In this Grade 5 english collection, you can practice Introductory phrases and commas. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Read the example together before playing independently. Ask your child to explain a choice and try a new example afterwards. Match the task to what your child has already learned; grade suggestions are a starting point.
Ask: “Which part of the word or sentence helped you?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Introductory phrases and commas
An adverbial is a word or phrase that tells us more about a verb: when, where or how something happened. A fronted adverbial is simply an adverbial that has been moved to the front of the sentence, before the main clause. 'Later that day, I heard the bad news' starts with the fronted adverbial 'Later that day'. Fronted adverbials help writers vary how their sentences begin, so writing does not always start with 'I' or 'The'.
Try an example: Which sentence has the comma in the right place?
The fronted adverbial is 'After lunch' (it tells us when). The comma goes after lunch: 'After lunch, we went to the library.'
Show the answer
After lunch, we went to the library.
What to look out for
Putting the comma inside the adverbial (After, lunch we went…). Underline the whole adverbial first, then put the comma after the last underlined word.
Practice away from the screen
- Take a simple sentence such as 'We ate pizza' and take turns adding a fronted adverbial: 'On Friday night, we ate pizza.'
Curriculum connections
Introductory phrases and commas
Supports part of Common Core L.5.2.b. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.
Common Core connection: L.5.2.b. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with grammar and punctuation?
Start with Introductory phrases and commas. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.