A punctuation question with a joining word tests how you connect parts of a sentence. Test each side of the joining word: can each stand alone with a subject and verb, without depending on more words? Check what each comma separates. A comma goes before a joining word between full sentences, but not between two verbs sharing one subject. A comma after the joining word needs its own reason, such as setting off an interruption.
Hints
- Hint 1
Start with the words on either side of the blank. Who or what is each side about, and what does that subject do?
- Hint 2
Test whether each side can stand alone. Does the part beginning with it have its own subject and verb, or does it rely on the subject from the opening part?
Step-by-step
Test both sides of the join
Step 1Test the first part
Split after month to test how but joins the parts. Can the first part stand alone? The agency planned gives us the subject, the agency, and the main verb, planned, which tells what the subject did. The rest says what it planned and when, so the first part is a full sentence.
- Step 2
Find the second subject
Does it had not yet secured adequate funding have its own subject and verb too? Its subject is it, and its main verb is had secured; not yet tells us the funding was still missing. Although it refers to the agency, the subject appears again, so the second part can stand alone.
- Step 3
Place the comma
Two full sentences joined by but need a comma before the joining word. Do we also need one after it? Here, but leads straight into it had not yet secured adequate funding, with no added phrase to set off. The version month, but gives that join without an extra comma. Choice B.