16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardNo punctuation after was before a compound complement

Standard English Conventions practice question

What the inspector found ____ a leaking pipe and a missing fuse.

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

  1. A. wasCorrect
  2. B. was,
  3. C. was;
  4. D. was:

Answer: A. was

The verb was is followed directly by what was found.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. was,
A comma separates the verb from its complement.
C. was;
A semicolon leaves a fragment after it.
D. was:
A colon does not follow a verb like this.

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