42. What is the function of the comma in the sentence below? "Having rid themselves of their former rulers, the people

[answerhappygod]

42. What is the function of the comma in the sentence
below?
"Having rid themselves of their former rulers,
the people now disagreed on the new leadership."
(A) To separate a substantive noun clause or relative
phrase
from the rest of the sentence.
(B) To separate a preposition from the rest of the
sentence.
(C) To separate a long introductory phrase or
subordinate
clause from the rest of the sentence.
(D) To separate a long explanatory verb from the rest of
the sentence.