16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasyNo comma before a trailing dependent clause

Standard English Conventions practice question

The fans stayed in their seats ____ the final whistle blew.

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

  1. A. seats untilCorrect
  2. B. seats, until
  3. C. seats; until
  4. D. seats. Until

Answer: A. seats until

'until the final whistle blew' is a dependent clause that completes the meaning of the main clause. When such a clause comes at the END of a sentence, no comma separates it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. seats, until
A comma before a trailing dependent clause is usually wrong; the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning.
C. seats; until
A semicolon needs a complete clause on each side, and 'until the final whistle blew' can't stand alone.
D. seats. Until
A period leaves 'Until the final whistle blew' as a fragment.

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