16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardNonrestrictive clause inside a subject

Standard English Conventions practice question

The committee's report, ____ was read by almost no one.

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

  1. A. which ran to four hundred pages,Correct
  2. B. which ran to four hundred pages
  3. C. that ran to four hundred pages,
  4. D. ran to four hundred pages,

Answer: A. which ran to four hundred pages,

The "which" clause is nonessential and is closed by a comma before the main verb.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. which ran to four hundred pages
The clause is opened but not closed.
C. that ran to four hundred pages,
"that" clauses do not take commas, and the opening comma is already there.
D. ran to four hundred pages,
Two verbs with one subject and a stray comma: a run-on.

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