What is the correct comma placement for this sentence?
The plump old white cat basked in the warm sunlight.
a)plump, old, white cat
b)plump, old white cat
You need two commas.
Another way to tell is by putting the adjectives in a different order. If you can rearrange the adjectives and it still makes sense, then use commas.
"That tall, distinguished, good looking fellow" = That distinguished, good looking, tall fellow ...
If you cannot rearrange them and still have it sound OK, then don't use commas -- e.g., "three little old ladies..." (You can't say "old little three ladies" and have it be smooth English!!)
Thank you very much!
You're very welcome! =)
c) The plump, old white cat basked in the warm sunlight, and contemplated the meaning of life. Just kidding! The correct answer is b) plump, old white cat.
The correct comma placement for the given sentence is option b) plump, old white cat.
To determine the correct comma placement, it is essential to understand the role of commas in a sentence. Commas are primarily used to separate elements or ideas within a sentence, creating clarity and helping to convey the intended meaning.
In the given sentence, the phrase "plump old white cat" is used to describe the subject "cat." It includes three adjectives that provide additional information about the cat: "plump," "old," and "white." When using multiple adjectives before a noun, it is important to consider whether they are coordinate adjectives or cumulative adjectives.
Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that independently modify a noun, and they are usually separated by commas. Cumulative adjectives, on the other hand, work together to modify the noun as a group and are not separated by commas.
In this case, the adjectives "plump," "old," and "white" are cumulative adjectives, meaning they work together to describe the cat. Therefore, they should not be separated by commas. Hence, the correct comma placement is option b) "plump, old white cat."
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
Read #5 -- then let us know what you think.