16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardNo punctuation between a clause subject and its verb

Standard English Conventions practice question

What the surveyors could not ____ was how the water reached the cellar.

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

  1. A. explainCorrect
  2. B. explain,
  3. C. explain;
  4. D. explain:

Answer: A. explain

The clause "What the surveyors could not explain" is the subject, and no mark separates a subject from its verb.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. explain,
A comma between subject and verb.
C. explain;
A semicolon leaves a fragment before it.
D. explain:
A colon leaves a fragment before it.

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