Commas/Semicolons
1. After finishing the assignment the students turned it in.
A) NO CHANGE
B) assignment, the
C) assignment; the
D) assignment: the
B) assignment, the
10. The reason why she left was because she was tired.
A) NO CHANGE
B) The reason why she left was she was tired.
C) She left because she was tired.
D) Because she was tired is why she left.
C) She left because she was tired.
13. She studied for hours. _______, she failed the test.
A) Therefore
B) However
C) For example
D) Similarly
B) However
In the novel, the protagonist struggled with isolation and ultimately discovers the value of friendship.
A) NO CHANGE
B) struggles
C) struggled
D) is struggling
B) struggles
23. Maria and her friend goes to the gym every day.
A) NO CHANGE
B) go
C) going
D) gone
B) go
2. My sister who lives in Dallas is visiting next week.
A) NO CHANGE
B) sister, who lives in Dallas is
C) sister who lives in Dallas, is
D) sister, who lives in Dallas, is
D) sister, who lives in Dallas, is
Due to the fact that the meeting was postponed, it was rescheduled for a later time.
A) NO CHANGE
B) Because the meeting was postponed, it was rescheduled later.
C) The meeting was postponed due to the fact it was rescheduled.
D) Since the meeting was postponed, it was postponed for later.
B) Because the meeting was postponed, it was rescheduled later.
The team trained intensely for months. _______, they did not win the championship.
A) Consequently
B) Similarly
C) However
D) For example
A) However
17. The novel describes a hero who fought for justice and protects the weak.
A) NO CHANGE
B) fights
C) fighting
D) will fight
B) fights
25. After reviewing the data; the scientist published her findings.
A) NO CHANGE
B) data,
C) data
D) data:
B) data,
The weather was cold, we decided to stay inside.
A) NO CHANGE
B) cold; we
C) cold and we
D) cold: we
B) cold; we
12. The final outcome was completely finished.
A) NO CHANGE
B) final outcome was finished
C) outcome was completely finished
D) outcome was finished
D) outcome was finished
The experiment appeared successful. _______, further analysis revealed significant errors in the data.
A) Therefore
B) In addition
C) However
D) For example
C) However
Each of the participants must submit their application by Friday.
A) NO CHANGE
B) his or her
C) its
D) our
B) his or her
“Each” is singular → pronoun must be singular.
The group of volunteers, including the team leaders, are organizing the event.
A) NO CHANGE
B) is
C) were
D) have been
B) is
4. I wanted to go to the concert; but I didn’t buy a ticket.
A) NO CHANGE
B) concert, but
C) concert but
D) concert: but
B) concert, but
1. The unexpected surprise shocked everyone in the room.
A) NO CHANGE
B) unexpected surprise shocked everyone
C) surprise shocked everyone
D) completely unexpected surprise shocked everyone
C) surprise shocked everyone
3. The instructions were confusing. _______, many students asked for clarification.
A) For example
B) As a result
C) Meanwhile
D) Instead
B) As a result
19. When Sarah met with Emily, she was nervous.
A) NO CHANGE
B) Sarah was nervous.
C) Emily were nervous.
D) They was nervous.
B) Sarah was nervous.
The lecture was long, many students struggled to stay focused.
A) NO CHANGE
B) long; many
C) long and many
D) long: many
B) long; many
Two complete sentences → need semicolon.
5. She loves reading; her brother prefers sports.
A) NO CHANGE
B) reading, her
C) reading: her
D) reading and her
A) NO CHANGE
2. She repeated the same mistake again.
A) NO CHANGE
B) repeated the same mistake
C) repeated the mistake again
D) repeated the mistake
D) repeated the mistake
4. The company lowered its prices. _______, sales increased dramatically.
A) However
B) For instance
C) Consequently
D) Likewise
C) Consequently
When Jason spoke to Marcus, he seemed frustrated.
A) NO CHANGE
B) Jason seemed frustrated.
C) Marcus seemed frustrated.
D) They seemed frustrated.
B) Jason seemed frustrated.
He had many goals: he wanted to graduate early.
A) NO CHANGE
B) goals; he wanted
C) goals, he wanted
D) goals and he wanted
B) goals; he wanted
A colon must follow a complete sentence AND introduce explanation.
“Many goals” isn’t specific enough — semicolon works better between two complete sentences.