Standard English ConventionsHardNo comma before a restrictive participial phrase
Standard English Conventions practice question
The cottages ____ nearest the shore were the first to be evacuated.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. standingCorrect
- B. , standing
- C. standing,
- D. ; standing
Answer: A. standing
'Standing nearest the shore' identifies which cottages, so no commas.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. , standing
- A comma would make the phrase nonessential, implying all cottages were evacuated first.
- C. standing,
- A comma after 'standing' cuts the phrase in two.
- D. ; standing
- A semicolon can't introduce a participial phrase.
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