SAT Writing › Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas for Dependent Clauses
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Although many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
Although many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert, only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
Although, many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
Although many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert; only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
Although, many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert, only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
Although many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers.
“Although many species of cacti are native to the Sonoran desert” is a dependent clause, and “only one variety has distinctive bright blue flowers” is an independent clause. Dependent clauses must be separated from independent clauses with commas.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
As soon as my sister leaves the house I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
As soon as my sister leaves the house, I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
As soon as: my sister leaves the house, I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
As soon as: my sister leaves the house I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
As soon as my sister leaves the house; I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
As soon as my sister leaves the house I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party.
“As soon as my sister leaves the house” is a dependent clause, and “I’m going to have to frost the cake for her surprise party” is an independent clause. Dependent clauses must always be separated from independent clauses with commas.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money. He has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money, he has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money. He has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money; he has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money: he has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
Since Gerald doesn’t have enough money he has to take a second job cleaning bathrooms.
“Since” is a key word that indicates a dependent clause. Because we have one dependent clause appearing in front of one independent clause, we need to separate the two with a comma.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest, as she only recently began lessons and isn’t a confident diver yet.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest, as she only recently began lessons and isn’t a confident diver yet.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest; as she only recently began lessons and isn’t a confident diver yet.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest; as, she only recently began lessons and isn’t a confident diver yet.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest, as she only recently began lessons, and isn’t a confident diver yet.
Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest as she only recently began lessons, and isn’t a confident diver yet.
The original sentence is correct as written. “Lucy shouldn’t enter the scuba diving contest” is an independent clause, and “as she only recently began lessons and isn’t a confident diver yet” is a dependent clause, so they need to be separated with a comma. Note that it is incorrect to use a semicolon to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause; semicolons are used to separate two independent clauses.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Unless she passes the final exam on Shakespeare; she’s going to fail the class.
Unless she passes the final exam on Shakespeare, she’s going to fail the class.
Unless, she passes the final exam on Shakespeare; she’s going to fail the class.
Unless she passes the final exam, on Shakespeare, she’s going to fail the class.
Unless she passes the final exam on Shakespeare she’s going to fail the class.
Unless she passes the final exam on Shakespeare; she’s going to fail the class.
“Unless she passes the final exam on Shakespeare” is a dependent clause, and “she’s going to fail the class” is an independent clause. Dependent clauses must always be separated from independent clauses with commas. Note that it is always incorrect to use a semicolon to separate a dependent clause from and independent clause. Semicolons are used to separate two independent clauses.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
As someone who used to participate in equestrian competitions: I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
As someone who used to participate in equestrian competitions, I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
As someone who used to participate in equestrian competitions; I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
As someone, who used to participate in equestrian competitions I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
As someone, who used to participate in equestrian competitions, I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
As someone who used to participate in equestrian competitions: I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding.
“As someone who used to participate in equestrian competitions” is a dependent clause, and “I certainly understand the draw of horseback riding” is an independent clause. Dependent clauses must always be separated from independent clauses with commas. A dependent clause may follow a colon, but the colon must be preceded by an independent clause.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years and ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years so ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities.
The sentence in the question is a compound sentence, one that joins two complete thoughts to show their relationship to each other. While the conjunction "as" connects the two parts, it also needs a comma to join the two thoughts together correctly. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The issue proved to be a hot topic for years, as ten years later it was still being debated in leading universities."
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Before the ants arrive we should eat the picnic, that Laura packed.
Before the ants arrive, we should eat the picnic that Laura packed.
Before the ants arrive we should eat the picnic that Laura packed.
Before the ants arrive we should eat the picnic, that Laura packed.
Before the ants arrive, we should eat the picnic, that Laura packed.
Before the ants arrive; we should eat the picnic that Laura packed.
There is no comma before “that,” since the word “that” usually indicates information that essential to the sense of the clause and therefore is rarely preceded by a comma.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The budding writer was confident in her ability to write plays and poems but she wasn't sure she would be able to write a novel.
but she
No error
budding
sure she
a novel
Since "but she wasn't sure she would be able to write a novel" is a dependent clause (composed of a conjunction, a subject, and a verb), there needs to be a comma before the conjunction "but" in order to seperate it from the independent clause.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Beginning many years ago the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.
Beginning many years ago, the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.
Beginning many years ago: the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition, for campers at Lake Susanna.
Beginning many years ago: the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.
Beginning many years ago the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.
Beginning many years ago; the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.
“Beginning many years ago” is a dependent introductory clause that modifies the main independent clause here: “the crawdad boil had become a much-loved annual tradition for campers at Lake Susanna.” The two clauses in the example sentence need to be separated with a comma.