SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas
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Example Questions
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
situation:
children,
No error
adults
Your
adults
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
vacation but then, a
and
No error
wanted to
over
vacation but then, a
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.
No error
at
out of
game-winning
loudly, when
loudly, when
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.
always said
threw
swimmer his
Although
No error
swimmer his
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.
While
your right
began I
No error
about
began I
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.
Example Question #295 :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.
Althoughshe studieddiligentlyfor her chemistryfinal exam,there was still fear and doubt in Amy's mindas she walkedinto the room.No error
final exam,
diligently
Although
No error
as she walked
No error
There is no error in this sentence. "Although" is a subordinate conjunction correctly linking an independent clause to a dependent one, "diligently" is an adverb correctly modifying a verb (studied), and "as she walked" correctly indicates an action that occurs simultaneously (to her fear and doubt).
Example Question #296 :Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Ourfriend,before calling thepolice,ensuredthat everyone at the scene of the accident wascalm andunhurt.No error
ensured
police,
friend,
No error
calm and
No error
Here, “before calling the police” is an interrupting or parenthetical (dependent) clause and can be removed from the sentence without making a sentence fragment. For this reason, it has to be set apart by commas. No comma is needed before the conjunction (“and”), since it is not breaking up two independent clauses. The sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #297 :Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
The marketing team spent all month designing an advertising campaign,butin theend,the companychose a different and poorly conceivedapproach that theboss’sson had created on a whim.No error
boss’s
end,
but
chose a different and poorly conceived
No error
but
Since “the marketing team spent all month coming up with an advertising campaign” and “the company chose a different and poorly conceived approach that the boss’s son had created on a whim” are independent clauses (i.e., complete sentences on their own), a comma must be used before the conjunction (“but”) that joins these two independent clauses. “In the end” is a parenthetical or dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas on both sides (before “but” and before “end”).
Example Question #298 :Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Harry Houdiniwho was born inBudapest,Austria-Hungary,was famous for his death-defyingstunts andhis unbelievable escape acts.No error
No error
Austria-Hungary,
Harry Houdini
Budapest,
stunts and
Harry Houdini
Here, “Budapest, Austria-Hungary,” is a dependent clause that modifies or describes Houdini, so a comma is needed both before and after the clause. Because dependent clauses contain non-essential information (they can be removed and still leave a complete sentence), they must always be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. Remember, too, that commas are always used between the name of a city and the name of its state or country, as in “Budapest, Austria-Hungary.”
Example Question #299 :Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Theracehorse,whoseowners weredisinterested socialiteswas beloved by jockeys and trainers alike foritssweet temper.No error
whose
No error
racehorse,
disinterested socialites
its
disinterested socialites
In this sentence, “whose owners were disinterested socialites” is a dependent clause describing the racehorse. As with all dependent clauses, this one can be removed and still leave a grammatically complete sentence, so it must be set apart with commas on both sides.
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