16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardNo comma in a compound predicate

Standard English Conventions practice question

The committee reviewed the proposal ____ approved it without changes.

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

  1. A. proposal and approvedCorrect
  2. B. proposal, and approved
  3. C. proposal; and approved
  4. D. proposal, approved

Answer: A. proposal and approved

One subject, 'the committee', does two things: reviewed and approved. Two verbs sharing a subject are joined by 'and' with no comma, because 'approved it without changes' isn't a separate sentence.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. proposal, and approved
A comma before 'and' is for joining two COMPLETE sentences. 'approved it without changes' has no subject of its own, so no comma.
C. proposal; and approved
A semicolon needs a complete clause on each side; 'and approved it without changes' isn't one.
D. proposal, approved
A comma with no conjunction leaves the two verbs awkwardly listed. They need 'and' between them.

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