Comma vs semicolon

Question

I was practicing semicolon vs comma but these three were wrong. Would anyone please explain why my answer options were wrong? This will help me to overcome mistakes in comma vs semicolon.

1- I’d like to buy a ______ a drum, cymbals, and a stool for my drum ______ and an Irish flute.

A- mandolin, kit,
B- mandolin; kit;

My answer to first question was A but it was incorrect. What I understand it's separate items so comma should be there instead of semicolon.

2- I wonder if this movie theater sells cheap ______ most of the time it's really expensive.
A- candy,
B- candy;

My answer to second question was A but it was incorrect because second clause is not independent clause.

3- When we get to the baseball ______ will you buy me some peanuts?

A-game;
B-game,

My answer to third question was B, but it was incorrect. I think these are two independent clauses.

Thank you

Terryxpress · Accepted Answer

Where did you find this test? Dreadful!

1- I’d like to buy a mandolin, a drum, cymbals, a stool for my drum kit, and an Irish flute.

I wonder if this movie theatre sells cheap candy. Most of the time it's really expensive.

When we get to the baseball game, will you buy me some peanuts?

GPY · Answer

englishlearner231- I’d like to buy a ______ a drum, cymbals, and a stool for my drum ______ and an Irish flute. A- mandolin, kit, B- mandolin; kit;My answer to first question was A but it was incorrect. What I understand it's separate items so comma should be there instead of semicolon.

If you write it with a comma then it reads as if the mandolin is "for my drum kit", but a mandolin is actually a kind of stringed instrument and would not be part of a drum kit.

englishlearner232- I wonder if this movie theater sells cheap ______ most of the time it's really expensive. A- candy, B- candy; My answer to second question was A but it was incorrect because second clause is not independent clause.

It is incorrect because the second clause is an independent clause. You cannot join independent clauses with just a comma.

englishlearner233- When we get to the baseball ______ will you buy me some peanuts? A-game; B-game,My answer to third question was B, but it was incorrect. I think these are two independent clauses.

If you thought they were two independent clauses then you should not have chosen B. In fact, they are not independent clauses, and therefore B is correct.

Comma vs semicolon

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions