Worked examples
Two examples
Example 1
I called the office ______ answered.Choices: twice, nobody / twice, but nobody / twice nobody
- Two complete sentences: I called the office twice / nobody answered.
- A comma alone between them is a comma splice. A comma before but is one of the five repairs.
- But fits: you expect someone to answer, and nobody did.
Answer: I called the office twice, but nobody answered.
Example 2
I wanted to ______ I had to work.Choices: go, however / go; however, / go however,
- Two complete sentences: I wanted to go / I had to work.
- However is not one of the seven joining words, so a comma before it is not enough.
- Between two sentences, however takes a semicolon before it and a comma after it.
Answer: I wanted to go; however, I had to work.
Where this is taught: Sentences: Start Here, Part 3: Run-ons and comma splices
More practice: Quiz 33, Run-ons · In your Kaplan book: Unit 1, Chapter 4, Lesson 3, “Run-Ons and Comma Splices”
The drill
Ten questions
How many:
In each sentence, open the drop-down and choose the words that make the sentence correct, the way the GED test asks. A few questions ask you to tap a whole sentence instead. Then press Check my answers at the bottom.In each sentence, circle the choice in the brackets that makes the sentence correct; where whole sentences are given, circle one. The answer key, with the reasoning, is on the last page.