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Difficulty: EasyCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

The members of the drama club worked tirelessly to prepare for opening night. Although the actors were nervous about performing in front of a live audience, they delivered their lines perfectly, and the show received a standing ovation.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. audience, they delivered their lines perfectly, and the showAnswer
  2. B
    audience; they delivered their lines perfectly, and the show
  3. C
    audience, they delivered their lines perfectly, the show
  4. D
    audience they delivered their lines perfectly, and the show

Answer

The correct option is the one that uses a comma after the word 'audience' and keeps the comma and coordinating conjunction before 'the show'.
The correct choice properly uses a comma to set off the introductory dependent clause starting with 'Although' and another comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect the two independent clauses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the types of clauses in the sentence.
The clause beginning with 'Although' is a dependent clause, whereas 'they delivered their lines perfectly' and 'the show received a standing ovation' are independent clauses.
Understanding clause boundaries helps determine the correct punctuation needed to connect them.
2
Apply the rule for introductory dependent clauses.
A comma must be placed after the introductory clause ending with the word 'audience'.
An introductory dependent clause that precedes an independent clause must be set off with a comma.
3
Apply the rule for connecting two independent clauses.
A comma must be placed before the coordinating conjunction 'and' before the clause starting with 'the show'.
When joining two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction like 'and', a comma must precede the conjunction.

Key Concept

Punctuation of introductory dependent clauses and joining of independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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