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Difficulty: HardCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

During the restoration of the cathedral's east wing, conservators applied a microcrystalline, protective, wax coating, because they wanted to shield the fragile glass from atmospheric moisture.

Which of the following choices best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. microcrystalline, protective wax coating because theyAnswer
  3. C
    microcrystalline, protective, wax coating; because they
  4. D
    microcrystalline, protective wax coating, they

Answer

microcrystalline, protective wax coating because they
The correct option correctly applies the rules for coordinate adjectives and clause boundaries. The adjectives 'microcrystalline' and 'protective' are coordinate adjectives modifying 'coating' because they can be reversed ('protective, microcrystalline') and can be joined by 'and' ('microcrystalline and protective'). Therefore, they must be separated by a comma. Conversely, 'wax' is a cumulative adjective (specifically, a noun modifier) that is closely linked to 'coating'. It cannot be separated from 'coating' by a comma, nor can a comma be placed between 'protective' and 'wax'. Furthermore, no punctuation should separate the independent clause from the following dependent clause starting with the subordinating conjunction 'because'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the relationship between the adjectives 'microcrystalline', 'protective', and 'wax' modifying 'coating'.
'microcrystalline' and 'protective' are coordinate adjectives, whereas 'wax' is a cumulative adjective.
Coordinate adjectives can be reversed or joined by 'and' and must be separated by a comma. Cumulative adjectives cannot be separated by a comma.
2
Determine the correct punctuation to join the independent clause and the dependent clause starting with 'because'.
No punctuation (comma or semicolon) is needed before 'because' in this context.
A dependent clause following an independent clause does not require a comma or semicolon unless necessary to prevent ambiguity.
3
Evaluate the options to select the one that correctly applies both punctuation rules.
The option 'microcrystalline, protective wax coating because they' is the only one that correctly places a comma only between the coordinate adjectives and uses no punctuation before 'because'.
This configuration avoids incorrect commas with cumulative modifiers and prevents clause connection errors like comma splices or fragments.

Key Concept

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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