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Difficulty: EasyCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

Before the spacecraft launched into orbit, engineers conducted several safety tests on the primary booster rockets.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    orbit; engineers
  3. C
    orbit. Engineers
  4. D
    orbit, and engineers

Answer

The correct choice is the original phrasing, which uses a comma to properly separate the introductory dependent clause from the main independent clause.
The sentence begins with the dependent clause 'Before the spacecraft launched into orbit,' which functions as an introductory adverbial clause. According to standard punctuation rules, an introductory dependent clause must be followed by a comma when it precedes the independent main clause. The original sentence correctly applies this rule.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the boundary of the introductory clause in the sentence.
The clause 'Before the spacecraft launched into orbit' is an introductory dependent clause because it begins with the subordinating conjunction 'Before'.
Determining clause types is necessary to apply correct punctuation rules.
2
Evaluate the punctuation needed to connect the introductory dependent clause to the main independent clause.
A comma is required immediately after the introductory clause to transition to the main subject and verb ('engineers conducted').
Introductory dependent clauses must be followed by a comma when they precede the main clause.
3
Assess the options to find the correct punctuation mark.
The original punctuation (comma) is correct, while semicolons, periods, or coordinating conjunctions create fragment errors.
Choosing the option that preserves grammatical correctness.

Key Concept

Introductory dependent clauses must be followed by a comma when they precede the main independent clause.
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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