Question #N519
The musician, who was born in a small town, has traveled extensively and performed in many countries. But the musician has never forgotten the small town where he grew up, and he often returns to visit his family and friends.
Which choice best combines the sentences at the underlined portion to create a grammatically correct and stylistically effective sentence?
A. the musician has never forgotten the small town where he grew up, and he often returns to visit his family and friends.
B. the musician has never forgotten the small town where he grew up; he often returns to visit his family and friends.
C. the musician has never forgotten the small town where he grew up, often returning to visit his family and friends.
D. the musician has never forgotten the small town where he grew up, because he often returns to visit his family and friends.
Correct Answer is: C
The best way to combine the two sentences is by using a comma and an adverb, which creates a smooth and concise sentence. Choice A leaves the sentence unnecessarily long and repetitive. Choice B uses a semicolon, which is an acceptable but less common punctuation mark for combining these sentences. Choice D is incorrect because the use of "because" creates a illogical relationship between the two clauses.