SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas for Dependent Clauses

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1149 :Identifying Sentence Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Although heinitiallyrefused to go to the cinema, James finally saw themovie, thathis friendshad recommended.No error

Possible Answers:

refused to go to the cinema

movie, that

Although he

No error

had recommended

Correct answer:

movie, that

Explanation:

Commas, gramatically speaking, should never be used before or after the word "that." The correct sentence would have: "James finally saw the movie that his friends . . ."

"Had recommended" could be changed to "recommended", for the sake of simplicity, but the comma error is more flagrant.

Example Question #1150 :Identifying Sentence Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Joey willreluctantlyeat broccoli andspinach but他最喜欢的绿色蔬菜arepeas and青豆.No error

Possible Answers:

青豆

spinach but

are

reluctantly

No error

Correct answer:

spinach but

Explanation:

The sentence consists of two independent clauses ("Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach" and "his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans") joined by a coordinating conjunction, "but." (Other coordinating conjunctions can include "and," "or," "nor," "yet," "so," and "for.") When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma is required after the first clause immediately before the conjunction. The corrected sentence would read, "Joey will reluctantly eat broccoli and spinach, but his favorite green vegetables are peas and green beans."

Example Question #1 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

While Iwouldlove togo to the beach withyou Ihave tostudy instead.No error

Possible Answers:

study instead

While I

No error

you I

love to

Correct answer:

you I

Explanation:

“While I would love to go to the beach with you” is a dependent clause, which means that if it is removed from the sentence, the rest of the sentence (“I have to study instead”) will still be a complete sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause when the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma must appear between “with you” and “I have.”

Example Question #2 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Wherevertheygo,theycan’t seemto find a vacationspot,that suits their needs.No error

Possible Answers:

Wherever

can't seem

go,

No error

spot,

Correct answer:

spot,

Explanation:

“Wherever they go” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. However, commas generally don’t appear before or after the word “that,” so no comma is necessary there. (Specifically, commas are not generally needed to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.)

Example Question #3 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Being a strong mathstudentChris didn’t understand hisclassmates’confusion withprime numbers,logarithms,or exponents.No error

Possible Answers:

No error.

logarithms,

student

prime numbers,

classmates'

Correct answer:

student

Explanation:

“Being a strong student” is a modifier that describes “Chris,” so a comma is needed to separate the two. The three items in the list are properly punctuated with commas, and since "classmates" is plural, the correct possessive is "classmates’."

Example Question #4 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

Select the underlined word or words that need to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may not contain an error.

Here’s thesituation:yourdog isn’t properly trained to be aroundchildren,adultsor other animals.No error

Possible Answers:

situation:

children,

No error

adults

Your

Correct answer:

adults

Explanation:

Because “Here’s the situation” is an independent clause introducing another independent clause, a colon is the correct punctuation mark to use to separate them. A comma is required after “adults,” though, since it’s an item in a list.

Example Question #291 :Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Janewanted togo parasailingovervacation but then, afierce storm rolled inandflooded the harbor.No error

Possible Answers:

vacation but then, a

and

No error

wanted to

over

Correct answer:

vacation but then, a

Explanation:

The placement of the comma in this sentence between "then" and "a" is incorrect. The comma should instead appear between "vacation" and "but" in order to correctly connect the compound sentence's two independent clauses using a comma followed by a conjunction.

Example Question #292 :Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The crowd jumpedout oftheir seats and cheeredloudly, whenthe home team scored thegame-winningshotatthe buzzer.No error.

Possible Answers:

No error

at

out of

game-winning

loudly, when

Correct answer:

loudly, when

Explanation:

The comma between "loudly" and "when" is unnecessary, creating and punctuation error in the sentence.

Example Question #293 :Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

AlthoughDanny was not the bestswimmer hisfriendsalways saidhethrewthe best pool parties.No error.

Possible Answers:

always said

threw

swimmer his

Although

No error

Correct answer:

swimmer his

Explanation:

The sentence requires a comma after "swimmer" in order to correctly join its dependent and independent clauses ("Although Danny was not the best swimmer" and "his friends always said he threw the best pool parties").

Example Question #131 :Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

WhileI don't agree with your opinionabouthow life on Earthbegan Ido respectyour rightto believe it.No error.

Possible Answers:

While

your right

began I

No error

about

Correct answer:

began I

Explanation:

The sentence consists of two separate clauses ("While I don't agree with your opinion about how life on Earth began" and "I do respect your right to believe it"); therefore, the sentence requires a comma after "began" to properly separate the clauses.

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