English help

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

In the sentense below, would it be incorrect to use a comma after sharp? I think it is, but the answer says that a comma after sharp is needed.
“The group of bikers in sharp, neon green jerseys waved at us.”

For coordinating adjectives is a comma used if “and” can be inserted and the sentense makes sense, even if the sentense would not make sense if the two adjectives were reversed. Or is a comma only used if the adjectives can be interchanged in order AND the sentense makes sense when “and” can be placed between the adjectives.

2

Is the question asking specifically about the comma?

3

Yes

4

Can you post the whole question and all of the answers, word for word? It’s hard to answer without proper context for the sentence.

5

@bodangles Posting the whole question isn’t necessary! This sentence is fine:)

Yes, the comma is needed. Whenever you have two adjectives describing one object, a comma is necessary.

For the example that you mentioned, a comma is necessary because the jerseys have two adjectives! (Sharp and neon green)

Hope this helped!

6

@DreamforIvy More complete context is never a bad thing. If I myself were writing the sentence, I wouldn’t have put the comma there, because I would never write “The group of bikers in neon green, sharp jerseys waved at us.”

7

@bodangles That sentence is correct as well. Yes, it’s not how we would normally speak, but it’s correct.

8

@DreamforIvy Look, at a certain level native speakers refer not to rules but to “This doesn’t sound right to me.” Neither of the sentences with that comma sound right to me, and I want the full question so I can tell if that’s personal preference or grammatical rule.

9

@bodangles “at a certain level?” And what level may that be? That sentence is a grammatical rule. Almost NEVER (literally 1% of the time) will the ACT choose personal preference over grammatical rule.

Ex: He rode the big, brown horse. (Two adjectives for same object)

Ex: He wore the green football helmet. (No comma necessary because “football helmet” is one thing.)

10

@DreamforIvy At the level of * being native speakers*, and in my case being a creative writer since I was seven. I’m not disputing that the given answer may be correct. I’m saying that without a complete picture of the question, it is irresponsible to say for sure one way or another.

@parent8768 And maybe mention what test prep source you got the question from? I googled it but was unable to find it.

11

@DreamforIvy - what special expertise d o you have that allows you to determine what a very established participant on this site needs to properly answer a question? Sorry, that was sarcastic and I for one completely agree with the @bodangles comment above