Question 3 • CA-Common Core English Language Arts 11 B
Select the two sentences that correctly use commas to join independent clauses.Reading books is lots of fun but I also love playing football with friends.I like pizza, but my sister would rather eat egg rolls.My Saturday was spent at the museum and, I do not regret it.Life is unpredictable, I never know what will happen next.Marianne is always practicing her clarinet, and I love to hear the music she plays.
Answer
A
Reading books is lots of fun but I also love playing football with friends.
B
I like pizza, but my sister would rather eat egg rolls.
C
My Saturday was spent at the museum and, I do not regret it.
D
Life is unpredictable, I never know what will happen next.
E
Marianne is always practicing her clarinet, and I love to hear the music she plays.
Explanation
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction such as “but” or “and” when it joins two independent clauses. In B, “I like pizza” and “my sister would rather eat egg rolls” can each stand alone, so the comma before “but” is correct. In E, both “Marianne is always practicing her clarinet” and “I love to hear the music she plays” are independent clauses, so the comma before “and” is correct. A is missing a comma before “but,” C places the comma incorrectly, and D joins two independent clauses with only a comma.
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