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Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

Although the researchers spent months analyzing the ancient, weathered manuscript, they could not decipher the final chapter.

Which choice is the best version of the underlined portion?

  1. ancient, weathered manuscript, theyAnswer
  2. B
    ancient, weathered, manuscript they
  3. C
    ancient weathered manuscript, they
  4. D
    ancient, weathered manuscript; they

Answer

The correct option is 'ancient, weathered manuscript, they', which properly places a comma between the coordinate adjectives and uses a comma to separate the introductory dependent clause from the main clause.
The correct option properly places a comma between the coordinate adjectives 'ancient' and 'weathered' because they both independently modify the noun 'manuscript.' It also correctly places a comma after the word 'manuscript' to separate the introductory dependent clause from the main independent clause that follows.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine if 'ancient' and 'weathered' are coordinate adjectives.
Since 'ancient and weathered manuscript' and 'weathered, ancient manuscript' are both grammatically correct and convey the same meaning, they are coordinate adjectives and must be separated by a comma. No comma should separate the final adjective 'weathered' from the noun 'manuscript.'
Coordinate adjectives independently modify the same noun and require a comma between them.
2
Identify the clause boundary and structure.
The sentence begins with the subordinating conjunction 'Although,' establishing an introductory dependent clause that ends at 'manuscript.' The main clause 'they could not decipher...' is independent.
Recognizing clause boundaries is necessary to determine the correct punctuation between clauses.
3
Select the punctuation that correctly connects the dependent clause to the independent clause.
A comma must be placed after 'manuscript' to separate the introductory clause. Using a semicolon here is incorrect because a semicolon can only separate two independent clauses, and using one here results in a fragment.
Introductory dependent clauses must be followed by a comma before the independent clause.

Key Concept

Punctuation rules for coordinate adjectives and introductory dependent clauses
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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