Which statement about using conjunctive adverbs is true?

• A. They must be used to connect independent clauses with a semicolon before and a comma after.
• B. They are used to connect dependent clauses.
• C. They replace coordinating conjunctions.
• D. They modify nouns.

Answer: (A)

Conjunctive adverbs act as transitions that connect two independent clauses. When you join two complete thoughts in one sentence with a conjunctive adverb, the usual punctuation is a semicolon before the adverb and a comma after it. For example: The plan seemed risky; however, it paid off. This pattern shows why the statement is true—that punctuation is the standard way to link two main ideas with a transitional word.

They don’t connect dependent clauses, since those need subordinating conjunctions. They don’t replace coordinating conjunctions like and, but, or, nor, for, or so. And they aren’t used to modify nouns; they function to modify whole clauses or verbs as transitions.