Question

identify the sentence with correct comma usage.
the report, was thorough well-researched and convincing.
the professor who teaches calculus, is retiring next year.
after dinner, we went to the theater, and then to a coffee shop.
the student asked, if she could resubmit her essay.

Explanation:

• Analyze the orange sentence: "The report, was thorough well - researched and convincing." The comma here is incorrect as it splits the subject "The report" from its predicate "was...", creating a comma splice error.
• Analyze the blue sentence: "The professor who teaches calculus, is retiring next year." The relative clause "who teaches calculus" is essential to identify the professor, so no comma should be placed between "professor" and the clause. The comma here is incorrect.
• Analyze the green sentence: "After dinner, we went to the theater, and then to a coffee shop." The first comma after "After dinner" is used to separate the prepositional phrase from the main clause, and the second comma is used to separate the two parts of the compound predicate "went to the theater" and "then to a coffee shop" correctly.
• Analyze the red sentence: "The student asked, if she could resubmit her essay." When "if" introduces a subordinate clause as part of a direct question, no comma should be used before "if". The comma here is incorrect.

Answer:

The green - colored sentence: "After dinner, we went to the theater, and then to a coffee shop."