16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumNo comma between a verb and its object

Standard English Conventions practice question

The islanders keep ____ a boat on each side of the causeway, in case the tide catches them.

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

  1. A. two boats,Correct
  2. B. two boats
  3. C. two boats;
  4. D. two boats —

Answer: A. two boats,

'A boat on each side' explains 'two boats' as an appositive and takes a comma; no mark goes between 'keep' and 'two boats'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. two boats
Without a comma, 'two boats a boat' runs together.
C. two boats;
A semicolon can't introduce an appositive.
D. two boats —
A dash could work alone, but the appositive is closed by a comma, which needs a matching comma.

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