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Difficulty: HardCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

Before the gala, the curator carefully arranged the fragile, ancient, manuscripts, and she polished the brass display cases, that would house the new exhibit.

Which choice represents the correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. fragile, ancient manuscripts, and she polished the brass display casesAnswer
  3. C
    fragile ancient manuscripts; polishing the brass display cases
  4. D
    fragile, ancient manuscripts, she polished the brass display cases

Answer

The correct choice is the one that places a comma only between the coordinate adjectives 'fragile' and 'ancient' and uses a comma with a coordinating conjunction to link the independent clauses without any misplaced commas around the restrictive clause.
The correct choice uses a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'fragile' and 'ancient' to show they modify the noun 'manuscripts' equally, while correctly omitting a comma between the final adjective and the noun. It also uses a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'and' to properly separate two independent clauses, and avoids placing a comma before the restrictive relative clause starting with 'that'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the relationship between the adjectives 'fragile' and 'ancient' modifying 'manuscripts'.
They are coordinate adjectives because they can be reversed ('ancient, fragile manuscripts') and can be joined with 'and' ('fragile and ancient manuscripts'). Thus, a comma must separate them, but no comma should separate 'ancient' from the noun 'manuscripts'.
To apply coordinate adjective punctuation rules correctly.
2
Determine the boundary between the two main clauses: 'the curator carefully arranged the fragile, ancient manuscripts' and 'she polished the brass display cases'.
Since both clauses are independent, they must be separated by either a semicolon or a comma combined with a coordinating conjunction like 'and'.
To avoid comma splices or run-on sentences.
3
Check the punctuation before the relative clause 'that would house the new exhibit'.
The relative clause is restrictive (essential to identify which display cases are meant), so it should not have a comma before it.
To follow standard punctuation rules for restrictive clauses.

Key Concept

Punctuation of coordinate adjectives, independent clauses, and restrictive clauses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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