Which sentence incorrectly uses a comma?

Question

We had to decide among steak, lobster, and pork roast.
Before we could enter the building, we had to show our badges.
The car that was used as a demonstration in the race, is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.
The tree, which has been part of the community for more that 75 years, was struck by lightning.

Answer 1

3rd!

Answer 2

Some grammar books would say the comma after lobster is not needed because the word "and" makes it redundant.

Others would say that the sentence uses what is called in grammar "a series" and therefore a comma before the word "and" is necessary.

However, I would say the first sentence is correct because the comma with the word and is the more common usage.

The sentence with the mistake is the third sentence.

The word "that" requires no commas, so the comma after the word "race" is incorrect.

However, it is a bit tricky because if the sentence read: The car which was used......" The word "which" always requires a comma.

So the rules for commas are regarding "that" and "which"

that - no comma needed,

which - use a comma.

I won't bore you with the reason why "which" should probably be used in place of the word "that." We'll assume it's correct and the word "that" doesn't need a comma.

Answer 3

The 1st sentence should be: We had to decide among steak, lobster and pork roast. (no comma before 'and').
The 3rd sentence should be: The car that was used as a demonstration in the race is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.

Answer 4

The car that was used as a demonstration in the race is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.

Answer 5

The car that was used as a demonstration in the race, is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.

No comma needed.

Answer 6

In the first sentence, the old way was to use commas in a list like this, the preferred way now is to take outthat comma before the and.

The scond sentence uses the comma correctly to denote a pause, but it would still be correct without it.

The comma after "race" in the 3rd sentence should NOT be there.

The 2 commas in the last sentence are correct, as they set off a "parenthetical phrase". The sentence would still make sense if this "extra information" between the commas was removed altogether.

THis help?

Answer 7

The car that was used as a demonstration in the race is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.

Answer 8

3rd. If it was "The car, used as a demonstration in the race, is owned by Cambridge Motor Co," that would be correct, but the sentence isn't written like that.

Answer 9

#3 does not need a comma.

#1 is correct:
"Put commas between items in a list. When giving a short and simple list of things in a sentence, the last comma (right before the conjunction–usually and or or) is optional, but it is never wrong. If the items in the list are longer and more complicated, you should always place a final comma before the conjunction.

Answer 10

The comma splice, which is perhaps one of the most common punctuation errors in student writing

Here are examples of comma splices, with suggested corrections.

1. Mary kissed Henry, then, for no apparent reason, she slapped him.
This is not utterly confusing, but it is technically incorrect and appears overloaded with commas. We do need commas around for no other reason because it is an interrupting phrase in the clause then . . . she slapped him. However, since then is not a coordinating conjunction but a transitional adverb, we should insert a semicolon: Mary kissed Henry; then, for no apparent reason, she slapped him. The stronger stop provided by the semicolon clearly shows that then belongs with the second clause, not the first. (Yes, we could also use a period, capitalize then, and create two sentences.)

Answer 11

The case of the bogus comma cracked: It was Miss Marple, in the library, with the semicolon. :-D

The car that was used as a demonstration in the race, is owned by Cambridge Motor Co.