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Difficulty: HardCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

To determine the composition of the ancient basaltic flow, the volcanologist gathered several dense, dark, obsidian fragments, and she sent them to the laboratory for isotopic analysis.

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

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    dense, dark obsidian fragments, she sent them
  3. C
    dense, dark, obsidian fragments; sending them
  4. dense, dark obsidian fragments, and she sent themAnswer

Answer

The correct option is the one that punctuates the coordinate adjectives as 'dense, dark obsidian fragments' and joins the clauses with ', and she sent them'.
The correct choice properly coordinates the adjectives 'dense' and 'dark' with a comma, while correctly omitting a comma before the noun adjunct 'obsidian'. Additionally, it uses a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect the two independent clauses: 'the volcanologist gathered...' and 'she sent them...'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the coordinate adjectives modifying the noun phrase 'obsidian fragments'.
The adjectives 'dense' and 'dark' are coordinate because they can be reversed ('dark, dense') and can be joined by 'and' ('dense and dark'). A comma is required between them. However, 'obsidian' acts as a noun adjunct modifying 'fragments', so no comma should separate 'dark' from 'obsidian'. Thus, the phrase must be written as 'dense, dark obsidian fragments'.
To ensure correct comma placement between coordinate adjectives and to avoid separating a final adjective/noun adjunct from the noun it modifies.
2
Identify the clause boundary and structure following the noun phrase.
The sentence consists of two independent clauses: 'the volcanologist gathered several...' and 'she sent them to the laboratory...'.
To determine what punctuation or conjunction is needed to join them legally without creating a run-on or comma splice.
3
Select the appropriate punctuation and conjunction to link the independent clauses.
The two clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and'. A comma must precede 'and' when linking two independent clauses. Therefore, ', and she sent them' is correct.
To conform to the rules of joining independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.

Key Concept

Identifying coordinate adjectives (which require commas) versus cumulative adjectives or noun adjuncts (which do not), and correctly punctuating boundaries between independent clauses using coordinating conjunctions.
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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