16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumComma after an opening 'since' clause

Standard English Conventions practice question

Since the ferry no longer ____ the islanders shop by boat once a week.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. runs,Correct
  2. B. runs;
  3. C. runs
  4. D. runs, so

Answer: A. runs,

A dependent clause opening the sentence takes a comma.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. runs;
A semicolon needs an independent clause before it.
C. runs
No boundary after the opener.
D. runs, so
'So' after 'since' doubles the causation.

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