Question #N134
The novel, which was written in the late nineteenth century, is a coming-of-age story that explores the relationship between a young man and his family. The man struggles to find his place in the world as he navigates the challenges of growing up. What is the most likely reason why the writer uses a semicolon in this sentence?
The semicolon in this sentence is most likely used to
A. separate two independent clauses.
B. set off a nonessential phrase.
C. indicate a pause or a break in thought.
D. introduce a list of items.
Correct Answer is: A
The semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence. The sentence before the semicolon is a complete sentence, and the sentence after the semicolon is also a complete sentence. Therefore, the semicolon is used to separate the two independent clauses.