SAT Writing : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas for Dependent Clauses

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #292 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Although she studied diligently for her chemistry final exam, there was still fear and doubt in Amy's mind as she walked into the room. No error

Possible Answers:

diligently

No error

as she walked

final exam, 

Although

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

There is no error in this sentence. "Although" is a subordinate conjunction correctly linking an independent clause to a dependent one, "diligently" is an adverb correctly modifying a verb (studied), and "as she walked" correctly indicates an action that occurs simultaneously (to her fear and doubt).

Example Question #293 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

Our friend, before calling the police, ensured that everyone at the scene of the accident was calm and unhurt. No error

Possible Answers:

police,

friend,

ensured

No error

calm and

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

Here, “before calling the police” is an interrupting or parenthetical (dependent) clause and can be removed from the sentence without making a sentence fragment. For this reason, it has to be set apart by commas. No comma is needed before the conjunction (“and”), since it is not breaking up two independent clauses. The sentence is correct as written.

Example Question #294 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

The marketing team spent all month designing an advertising campaign, but in the end, the company chose a different and poorly conceived approach that the boss’s son had created on a whim. No error

Possible Answers:

end,

No error

boss’s

chose a different and poorly conceived

but

Correct answer:

but

Explanation:

Since “the marketing team spent all month coming up with an advertising campaign” and “the company chose a different and poorly conceived approach that the boss’s son had created on a whim” are independent clauses (i.e., complete sentences on their own), a comma must be used before the conjunction (“but”) that joins these two independent clauses. “In the end” is a parenthetical or dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas on both sides (before “but” and before “end”).

Example Question #295 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

Harry Houdini who was born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary, was famous for his death-defying stunts and his unbelievable escape acts. No error

Possible Answers:

Austria-Hungary,

No error

Budapest,

stunts and

Harry Houdini

Correct answer:

Harry Houdini

Explanation:

Here, “Budapest, Austria-Hungary,” is a dependent clause that modifies or describes Houdini, so a comma is needed both before and after the clause. Because dependent clauses contain non-essential information (they can be removed and still leave a complete sentence), they must always be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. Remember, too, that commas are always used between the name of a city and the name of its state or country, as in “Budapest, Austria-Hungary.”

Example Question #296 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

The racehorse, whose owners were disinterested socialites was beloved by jockeys and trainers alike for its sweet temper. No error

Possible Answers:

whose

disinterested socialites

No error

racehorse,

its

Correct answer:

disinterested socialites

Explanation:

In this sentence, “whose owners were disinterested socialites” is a dependent clause describing the racehorse. As with all dependent clauses, this one can be removed and still leave a grammatically complete sentence, so it must be set apart with commas on both sides.

Example Question #297 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

While it would be great if the Argentinian team won the championship I would be happy to see any South American team win. No error

Possible Answers:

it would be great if

While

championship

No error

to see any

Correct answer:

championship

Explanation:

“While it would be great if the Argentinian team won the championship” is a dependent clause, which means that it can be removed from the sentence and still leave a grammatically complete and logical sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause, a comma must be placed between “championship” and “I would.”

Example Question #17 : Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas For Dependent Clauses

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

No matter what I do, I can’t seem to convince the board of directors that achieving the designer’s vision will be impossible, when considering economies of scale. No error

Possible Answers:

the designer’s

No matter what I do,

impossible

can’t seem

No error

Correct answer:

impossible

Explanation:

“No matter what I do” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma; however, “when considering economies of scale” is not a dependent clause in this case, so it shouldn’t be preceded by a comma. It is instead part of the preceding independent clause, and it can’t be removed from the sentence without losing some of the main idea.

Example Question #301 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

Being a weak speller I was not able to score well when it came time to write the inspirational essay; we were given no resources to check our spelling or grammar before we handed in the assignment. No error

Possible Answers:

to score well

Being a weak speller

before we handed in

No error

essay;

Correct answer:

Being a weak speller

Explanation:

“Being a weak speller” is a modifier that describes the narrator of the sentence, and it is a dependent clause. A comma is needed after “speller.” The semicolon is used correctly to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction here.

Example Question #1164 : Identifying Sentence Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

The panel of scientists was fascinated by the rare species of tree frog, which was capable of producing toxins to incapacitate or even kill a full-grown horse, human, or cow. No error

Possible Answers:

human,

frog,

was

full-grown

No error

Correct answer:

No error

Explanation:

In this sentence, “which was capable of producing toxins to incapacitate or even kill a full-grown horse, human, or cow” is a dependent clause. In other words, it is non-essential information that can be removed and still leave a complete sentence; therefore, it is correctly separated from the independent clause with a comma. The items in the list are also correctly punctuated with commas.

Example Question #301 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.

Being an unlikely candidate for governor the woman nevertheless charmed voters with her candor, fervency, and sardonic sense of humor. No error

Possible Answers:

Being an unlikely candidate for governor

nevertheless

candor,

No error

fervency,

Correct answer:

Being an unlikely candidate for governor

Explanation:

Here, “Being an unlikely candidate for governor” is a dependent clause. It relies on the independent clause (the rest of the sentence) for meaning, so it should be separated from that independent clause with a comma after “governor.” The list is punctuated correctly with commas here.

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