Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumComma with a coordinating conjunction
Standard English Conventions practice question
The hikers reached the summit before noon ____ they decided to rest there for an hour.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. noon, they
- B. noon, so theyCorrect
- C. noon so, they
- D. noon; so, they
Answer: B. noon, so they
Two complete sentences are being joined. A comma followed by a coordinating conjunction — here 'so' — is one of the standard ways to do that: 'noon, so they decided'.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. noon, they
- A comma on its own can't hold two complete sentences together. That's a comma splice; it needs a conjunction after the comma or a stronger mark instead of it.
- C. noon so, they
- The comma goes BEFORE the conjunction that joins the clauses, not after it. 'noon so, they' splits the conjunction from the clause it introduces.
- D. noon; so, they
- A semicolon already does the joining, so adding 'so' on top of it is redundant, and the comma after 'so' has no job to do.
More Standard English Conventions questions
- Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The collection of… - Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The company annou… - Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? After the storm f… - Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? There ____ severa… - Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Over the past dec… - Easy–Medium
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.