SAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors: Commas for Dependent Clauses
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While I would love to go to the beach with you I have to study instead. No error
you I
While I
love to
study instead
No error
“While I would love to go to the beach with you” is a dependent clause, which means that if it is removed from the sentence, the rest of the sentence (“I have to study instead”) will still be a complete sentence. Because commas are always used to separate a dependent clause from an independent clause when the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma must appear between “with you” and “I have.”
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
“Above all you must remember to conjugate the verbs correctly on tomorrow’s test,” the French teacher said. No error
Above all
tomorrow’s
No error
test,”
the verbs
Here, “Above all” is an introductory phrase and a dependent clause, so it must be followed by a comma. The direct speech is correctly punctuated in the original sentence.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Wherever they go, they can’t seem to find a vacation spot, that suits their needs. No error
spot,
Wherever
go,
can't seem
No error
“Wherever they go” is a dependent clause, so it must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. However, commas generally don’t appear before or after the word “that,” so no comma is necessary there. (Specifically, commas are not generally needed to separate dependent clauses from independent clauses when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.)
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
No error
friend,
police,
ensured
calm and
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.
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
impossible
No error
can’t seem
No matter what I do,
the designer’s
“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.
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
but
end,
boss’s
No error
chose a different and poorly conceived
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”).
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
Harry Houdini
No error
Budapest,
Austria-Hungary,
stunts and
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.”
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The crowd jumped out of their seats and cheered loudly, when the home team scored the game-winning shot at the buzzer. No error.
loudly, when
out of
game-winning
at
No error
The comma between "loudly" and "when" is unnecessary, creating and punctuation error in the sentence.
Select the underlined word or words that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Ever since Joachim quit his last job he has been free to pursue his solo jazz career, and he has actually become quite skilled at improvisation. No error
Ever since Joachim quit his last job
career,
quite skilled
No error
pursue
“Ever since Joachim quit his last job” is a dependent clause, so it should be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma. There is also a comma after “career,” as we’re separating two independent clauses with a conjunction (“and”) and therefore we need a comma before that conjunction.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jane wanted to go parasailing over vacation but then, a fierce storm rolled in and flooded the harbor. No error
vacation but then, a
wanted to
over
and
No error
The placement of the comma in this sentence between "then" and "a" is incorrect. The comma should instead appear between "vacation" and "but" in order to correctly connect the compound sentence's two independent clauses using a comma followed by a conjunction.