Is the following sentence missing semicolons or commas? If so, where?: A draft of my first essay is due on Monday I also need to read the second chapter of the textbook.
1 Answer
Mar 25, 2016
A semicolon is needed between the independent clauses: "A draft of my first essay is due on Monday; I also need to read the second chapter of the textbook."
Explanation:
In this sentence, we have two independent clauses. These are basically sentences that could stand alone--that is, it would be perfectly acceptable to say:
A draft of my first essay is due on Monday. I also need to read the second chapter of the textbook.
However, when independent clauses are very closely linked, it is possible to link two of them with a semicolon.
Thus, the following sentence is acceptable:
A draft of my first essay is due on Monday; I also need to read the second chapter of the textbook.
