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Question

Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

Although subterranean mycorrhizal networks transport vital nutrients between canopy trees, forest ecologists still struggle to map these fragile complex fungal threads, for their delicate structures break down rapidly when exposed to air.

Which of the following choices produces a grammatically correct sentence that properly uses commas?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    fragile, complex, fungal threads for their delicate structures break down rapidly
  3. fragile, complex fungal threads, for their delicate structures break down rapidlyAnswer
  4. D
    fragile, complex fungal threads; for, their delicate structures break down rapidly

Answer

The correct choice is the option that places a comma between 'fragile' and 'complex', leaves 'fungal' unseparated, and includes a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'for'.
The correct answer accurately separates the coordinate adjectives 'fragile' and 'complex' with a single comma, refrains from putting a comma before the cumulative adjective 'fungal', and correctly places a comma prior to the coordinating conjunction 'for', which joins two complete independent clauses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the adjectives preceding 'threads' to determine coordinate versus cumulative relationship.
'Fragile' and 'complex' are coordinate adjectives modifying 'fungal threads' (testable by reversing them: 'complex, fragile fungal threads' or inserting 'and': 'fragile and complex'), requiring a separating comma. 'Fungal' is a cumulative adjective directly classifying 'threads', so no comma belongs between 'complex' and 'fungal'.
Coordinate adjectives independently modify the noun and require a comma, whereas cumulative adjectives build upon each other without punctuation.
2
Analyze the clause structure surrounding the conjunction 'for'.
'forest ecologists still struggle to map these fragile, complex fungal threads' and 'their delicate structures break down rapidly when exposed to air' are both independent clauses.
When two independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), a comma must precede the conjunction.

Key Concept

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives and Coordinating Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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