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Difficulty: EasyRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Volcanic lava cools rapidly to form obsidian. This process happens so quickly that crystals cannot form, the material becomes a smooth glass. For centuries, people have used this sharp stone to craft tools and weapons.

Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. form, and the materialAnswer
  3. C
    form; because the material
  4. D
    form. Because the material

Answer

form, and the material
The correct answer correctly joins the two independent clauses using a comma followed by the coordinating conjunction 'and'. This resolves the comma splice present in the original sentence without creating any new errors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause structure of the sentence.
The sentence contains two independent clauses: 'This process happens so quickly that crystals cannot form' and 'the material becomes a smooth glass'.
Determining if the clauses are independent or dependent is necessary to apply the correct punctuation rules.
2
Analyze the connection between the two independent clauses.
The original sentence separates the two clauses with only a comma, which creates a comma splice.
Independent clauses cannot be joined by a comma alone; they require a semicolon, a period, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
3
Select the option that resolves the comma splice grammatically.
The option adding the coordinating conjunction 'and' after the comma correctly links the two independent clauses.
A comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) is a standard way to join two independent clauses.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting comma splices by using coordinating conjunctions.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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