16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardNo comma in a long compound predicate

Standard English Conventions practice question

The committee reviewed the applications over three ____ chose none of them.

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

  1. A. evenings andCorrect
  2. B. evenings, and
  3. C. evenings; and
  4. D. evenings, and it

Answer: A. evenings and

"reviewed … and chose" share one subject, so no comma goes before "and".

Why the other answers are wrong

B. evenings, and
A comma before "and" is for two complete clauses.
C. evenings; and
A semicolon needs a complete sentence after it.
D. evenings, and it
"and it chose" makes a second clause, which would then need the comma but changes the structure needlessly.

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