Conventions of Composition Rule 1 Practice

1. Wrong: His parents gave him everything so he ended up spoiled.

Better: His parents gave him everything, so he ended up spoiled.

Explained: From "His" to "everything" and from "he" to "spoiled" are each complete sentences, so the conjunction "so" needs to be preceded by a comma.

2. Already correct: They helped out when they could and where they could.

Explained: "when they could" and "where they could" comprise a compound predicate, so no comma is needed in this sentence.

3. Wrong: I read the assignment and my teacher gave a quiz on it.

Better: I read the assignment, and my teacher gave a quiz on it.

Explained: Before and after the and are both independent clauses, so a comma is needed with the and.

4. Wrong: Ryan had rejected the offer twice yet Jaime kept asking her.

Better: Ryan had rejected the offer twice, yet Jaime kept asking her.

Explained: The second clause has a new subject and new predicate, so both clauses are independent.

5. Wrong: Richard should study on his own or Pattie can teach him the rules.

Better: Richard should study on his own, or Pattie can teach him the rules.

Explained: The two clauses are both independent in this compound sentence, so a comma is needed.