Question

Read the following sentences.

Sentence 1: In the middle of the block stands a sign, Larry.
Sentence 2: The rain rarely leaks around the window, under the door, or through the crack.
Sentence 3: She was born in Greenwood Springs, Mississippi on May 2, 1992.
Sentence 4: Yes, we visited our cousin Inez for a week.
Which of the following correctly states which sentence above needs a comma to be correct? *
A. Sentence 1 needs a comma for an introductory prepositional phrase.
B. Sentence 2 needs a comma for an interrupter.
C. Sentence 3 needs a comma to separate items in an address.
D. Sentence 4 needs a comma for an appositive.

Answer 1

The sentence needing a comma for correctness is Sentence 3(option c), which requires a comma after 'Mississippi' to separate the elements of the address.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentence that needs a comma to be correct is Sentence 3: She was born in Greenwood Springs, Mississippi on May 2, 1992. To be grammatically correct, a comma needs to be added after the state to separate the elements of the address. The corrected sentence should read: She was born in Greenwood Springs, Mississippi, on May 2, 1992.

Choices A, B, and D do not require additional commas based on the rules of comma usage described:

• Sentence 1 does not need a comma because the introductory phrase is not present.
• Sentence 2 does not contain an interrupter that would necessitate a comma.
• Sentence 4 does not have an appositive phrase that would require commas.

It's essential to use commas correctly to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity in writing. The use of a comma to separate items in addresses, dates, and lists follows general academic conventions and helps readers understand the sentence's structure and information flow.