Question

which sentence needs a comma after a dependent clause? select the best answer.

before you begin to mix your ingredients arrange all the materials you need on the counter. preheat the oven so that it can reach the proper temperature by the time the batter is prepared. coat the cake pan with butter and flour and place a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.

answer

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before you begin to mix your ingredients arrange all the materials you need on the counter. preheat the oven so that it can reach the proper temperature by the time the batter is prepared. coat the cake pan with butter and flour and place a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Dependent Clauses and Commas
Connecting incomplete thoughts to main ideas.

Step 1: Identify the sentences in the passage

Let's break down the provided text into its individual sentences:

1. "Before you begin to mix your ingredients arrange all the materials you need on the counter."
2. "Preheat the oven so that it can reach the proper temperature by the time the batter is prepared."
3. "Coat the cake pan with butter and flour and place a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan."

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Step 2: Analyze each sentence for dependent clauses

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought on its own. It often starts with a subordinating conjunction (like before, because, although, if, when).

When a dependent clause starts a sentence, it must be followed by a comma to separate it from the independent clause (the main complete thought).

• Sentence 1: "Before you begin to mix your ingredients arrange all the materials you need on the counter."
• Dependent clause: "Before you begin to mix your ingredients" (starts with the subordinating conjunction "Before").
• Independent clause: "arrange all the materials you need on the counter."
• Analysis: Because the dependent clause comes first, it needs a comma right after it (after the word "ingredients").

• Sentence 2: "Preheat the oven so that it can reach the proper temperature by the time the batter is prepared."
• Analysis: This sentence starts with an independent clause ("Preheat the oven"). No introductory dependent clause comma is needed.

• Sentence 3: "Coat the cake pan with butter and flour and place a circle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan."
• Analysis: This is a compound sentence joining two independent commands. No introductory dependent clause is present.

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Step 3: Select the target sentence

The sentence that needs a comma after its introductory dependent clause is the first sentence.

Answer:

Before you begin to mix your ingredients arrange all the materials you need on the counter.

(The comma should be placed after the word ingredients)