Question

which revision correctly combines these two sentences?
it was pouring rain all afternoon. my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.
it was pouring rain all afternoon, my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.
it was pouring rain all afternoon; my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.
it was pouring rain all afternoon; so my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.
it was pouring rain all afternoon so my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.

Explanation:

1. The first option creates a comma splice (two independent clauses joined only by a comma), which is grammatically incorrect.
2. The second option uses a semicolon correctly to join two closely related independent clauses that show a cause-effect relationship.
3. The third option incorrectly uses a semicolon followed by "so"; when using a coordinating conjunction like "so," a comma (not a semicolon) should precede it, or the semicolon should be used alone without "so."
4. The fourth option is missing a comma before the coordinating conjunction "so," which is required when joining two independent clauses.

Answer:

It was pouring rain all afternoon; my garden of flowers and vegetables flooded.