Question

Read the following unpunctuated lines from “The Open Road” by Walt Whitman and answer the question.

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them I am filled with them and
I will fill them in return.

Which of the following correctly chows the underlined subject(s) and verb(s) and correctly punctuates the independent clauses?

(I swear) it is impossible for me to get rid of them
(I am filled) with them, and I will fill them in return.

I swear it is impossible for (me to get) rid of them;
(I am filled) with them and I will fill them in return

(I swear it is) impossible for me to get rid of them;
(I am filled) with them, and (I will fill) them in return.

I swear (it is) impossible for me to get rid of them, I am filled with them; and (I will fill) them in return.

Answer 1

(I swear it is) impossible for me to get rid of them;

(I am filled) with them, and (I will fill) them in return.

These two lines have three independent clauses. The first contains the subject (I) with the verb (swear) and the subject (it) with the verb (is). When connecting two independent clause without a conjunction, a semi-colon (;) must be used. The second independent clause has the subject (I) and the verb phrase (am filled). It is joined to the third independent clause with a comma and conjunction. The third independent clause has the subject (I) and the verb phrase (will fill).