IXL | Commas with compound and complex sentences

Correct the text by inserting one comma.

In 1878, a senator introduced a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote but it would be forty-two more years before women could actually do so.

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question

Correct the text by inserting one comma.

Until the mid-nineteenth century the U.S. Army shipped in camels to serve as pack animals in the American West.

key idea

In a compound sentence, use a comma before the coordinating conjunction that joins the two independent clauses. Examples of coordinating conjunctions are and, or, but, and so.

We saw a flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard the rumble of thunder.

In a complex sentence, if a dependent (or subordinate) clause comes before an independent (or main) clause, use a comma after the dependent clause. A dependent clause is one that starts with a subordinating conjunction, such as after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, or while.

If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.

solution

This is a complex sentence in which a dependent clause comes before an independent clause. You can tell because the first clause starts with a subordinating conjunction, until. Use a comma after the dependent clause.

Until the mid-nineteenth century, the U.S. Army shipped in camels to serve as pack animals in the American West.

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