16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardComma before a trailing participial phrase

Standard English Conventions practice question

The river burst its banks on ____ flooding the lower town.

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

  1. A. Tuesday,Correct
  2. B. Tuesday;
  3. C. Tuesday. Flooding
  4. D. Tuesday, and flooding

Answer: A. Tuesday,

A participial phrase that adds a result is set off with a comma.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Tuesday;
A semicolon needs a complete sentence after it.
C. Tuesday. Flooding
"Flooding the lower town" is not a sentence.
D. Tuesday, and flooding
"and flooding the lower town" has no verb to pair with "burst".

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