I'm HORRIFIED - Grammar Quiz

[preciousjeni]

Check out Sylvan Learning Center's Grammar Quiz:

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/depart...d=146&GT1=6065

Number 9 has no answer:


Choose the grammatically correct option.

a) Cats and dogs make good pets. Dogs are loyal and cats are clean.
b) Cats and dogs make good pets. Cats are clean and dogs are loyal.
c) Cats and dogs make good pets because they're clean and loyal.

Corrections:

a) Not parallel
b) Parallel - however the second sentence is a run-on as it is missing a comma. It should read:

Cats are clean, and dogs are loyal.

c) Missing a comma before "because"


-I called Sylvan and left a message. How HORRIBLE!

[Firehouse]

Wrong. "B" is the correct answer. The sentence is too short for a comma; it would be a choppy read. Sorry.

[Munchkin03]

All three sentences are terrible.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Firehouse
Wrong. "B" is the correct answer. The sentence is too short for a comma; it would be a choppy read. Sorry.

They are two independent sentences. That's the problem. If they had picked another example, it would have been better.

ETA:

Emphasis added...

Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base."

Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma, as it is always correct in this situation.

http://cctc2.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

If they're going to put a grammar quiz together, they could at least make it fully accurate.

[GeorgiaGirl]

I agree that the answer would be B. Using a comma before the word "and" is optional. The sentence is not a run on.

The reason that C is incorrect has nothing to do with commas. The only reason that that sentence would need a comma would be if it were reversed and read "Because they are clean and loyal, cats and dogs make good pets." The reason that the answer is incorrect is because it does not specify that cats are clean and dogs are loyal.

[sugar and spice]

Anytime you join two complete sentences together with "and," technically (to be grammatically correct) you need to put a comma before the "and" no matter how short the sentences are.

However, it's incorrect that you need a comma before "because" in the third sentence. Still, while that sentence is the most grammatically correct, it's the one with the murkiest meaning, because it implies that dogs and cats are both clean and loyal.

The moral of the story is this: write for clarity of meaning, not grammar. Writing that sacrifices clarity for grammar just gets awkward and confusing. And yes, I am an English major. . . .

[Firehouse]

Don't agree with Sugar & Spice that a hard and fast rule applies, but she is absolutely right in advising to write for clarity. Write the way you want the reader to see it/hear it.

[NinjaPoodle]

Well, whatever the rules are for #9, I got 10 of 10

[DGMarie]

I agree with GeorgiaGirl. B is the obvious answer. I find that most people want to use commas way more than are necessary. People go into comma comas.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by NinjaPoodle
Well, whatever the rules are for #9, I got 10 of 10

Congrats Girl!