Commas can be used to separate the two independent clauses in compound sentences as long as a conjunction follows the comma. Some common conjunctions include and, or, and but. Generally a comma does not go immediately before or after a conjunction, which is a joining of ideas. When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, a comma is used before the coordinating conjunction (unless the two independent clauses are very short). An independent clause is a term for a complete thought or sentence with both a subject and a verb. Use a comma. Comma with conjunctions. Examine these examples of complete sentences joined with a comma and a conjunction: Instead, "then" is known as a conjunctive adverb. In your sentence, the subject of the second clause is the same as the subject of the first. A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a series and requires commas between the elements. The word and is a conjunction, and when a conjunction joins two independent clauses, you should use a comma with it. A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects parts of a sentence that are of the same order or rank. Example: I like to cook, but I do not like to wash dishes. The single comma does not make much sense (to me); it is not required because the sentence is quite small. Comma is more recommended for shorter pauses and the for longer, theatrical pauses. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. Commas with Introductory Phrases. 1. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases . Olivia can speak German, but she cannot understand it. Use a comma in the following cases: After an introductory clause. A conjunction is a word that joins together words, phrases, or parts of sentences. An independent clause can function on its own without the rest of the phrase. A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction that combines two equal elements and can combine two complete sentences. After a long introductory prepositional phrase or more than one introductory prepositional phrase. I've since looked at some sources on coordinating conjunctions and . Designed for third graders, this worksheet . Here is an example of a FANBOYS word (coordinating conjunction) separating two word groups that can stand alone as sentences (independent clauses): After introductory verbal phrases, some appositive phrases, or absolute phrases. "He walked up to the man in the hat, then tapped him on the shoulder". Introductory elements often require a comma, but not always. A comma is commonly used in the middle of a sentence to separate two different clauses, right before the transition word. In English, when you join two complete sentences with the conjunctions and, or, but, nor, yet, so, or for, place a comma before the conjunction. However, the comma can be left out when the clauses connected by the conjunction are very short. We have seven coordinating conjunctions in American English: This means use a comma after a participial phrase, an absolute phrase, an infinitive phrase, and a prepositional phrase. Often, the appositive provides additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. However, it is possible. Remember to place a comma before the coordinating conjunction joining the last two elements of the series. The answer is: Imperative sentences are independent clauses, so when one is joined to another independent clause with a coordinating conjunction, a comma is required before the conjunction. Copy. Usually, the comma will go before the coordinating conjunction. Here are some clues to help you decide whether the sentence element is essential: If a sentence is listing out things, multiple commas could be used. One possibility is that it is an error of analogy. Conjunctions that are not followed by non-essential elements should never be followed by commas. A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction B. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS 3. A comma is usually not placed after a conjunction or similar word, but there are instances when that could be the case. If you used commas instead, most people nowadays would omit the comma after the conjunction (between the conjunction and the parenthetical phrase/clause) in order to reduce the comma clutter. Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction when combining two independent clauses. Then, she'll pick up the kids from school." My question is asking if this would be a good a good thing to do, add a comma after a coordinating conjunction when it begins at the beginning of a sentence and if it's related to what was said before. In this worksheet, students will look at eight examples, then use a properly placed comma and the correct conjunction to join two sentences. When the comma would be utterly against grammar rules and the sentence flow in a phrase, the must be used. Using a Comma before "And". But not always. The boys sang, and the girls danced. trustable will say that there is no comma connecting independent and dependent clauses with coordinating conjunctions. This is what teachers will refer to as an "if/then" sentence construction. Use a comma after the conjunction when it is followed by an interruption. In theory, "then" is not a coordinating conjunction (like "and", "or"), but sometimes it is used as such. When to use a comma. Examples of "then" in coordinating conjunctions. between elements (including before and and or) in a series of three or more items. Commas almost always follow phrases at the beginning of sentences; use the comma to separate the phrase from the independent clause. In an if-then logical statement, there's usually a comma before "then" and none after, unless it's setting off a clause. If we want to join these two clauses into a single sentence, we can use a coordinating conjunction, in this case "and". PristineWord. {writer} Hades, the god of the Underworld, saw Persephone picking flowers one day, and he immediately fell in love with her. Placing commas in this type of sentence is straightforward: Do not place a comma before the conjunction in a compound predicate. That is perfectly acceptable. Using a comma before the last item in a list is known as the Oxford Comma, sometimes the Serial Comma. When "if" is used as an introductory adverb and "then" is used as a conjunction, a comma should not be placed after "then". It is possible to link two sentences together with the word "then," but it's more common to come across more useful conjunctions that do the job better. It's there, to some extent, to assist reading. "Then" as a conjunction. Also, use a comma before the conjunction in a list of three or more items, but only if that's your local convention. So you can use FANBOYS to remember them: So, For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet. A writer may choose to place a comma before and (or any conjunction) when the conjunction launches such a phrase: Sarah told him again, and really meant it this time, to turn off the television. For comma usage, the most important usage is as a conjunction. For example, you should put a comma in the following sentence. Ex. Commas with Introductory Phrases. The boy seldom speaks. Notice in the original the subject is not repeated, hence no second independent clause and therefore no comma splice. to separate two independent clauses.. Alberto can speak English, but he cannot understand it well. Your solution with the semicolon is not correct -- you create an independent clause with no subject. As you've pointed out, the word as is sometimes used to connect two clauses. until, if, when, while, before, after) is used to join an independent clause and a dependent clause.They can come at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle when they begin another clause.. Commas with subordinating conjunctions Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction to separate two independent clauses. The word and is added before the last noun, which is not followed by a comma. The mnemonic acronym FANBOYS can be used to remember the most common coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but . In theory, "then" is not a coordinating conjunction (like "and", "or"), but sometimes it is used as such. Some people like to use thin spaces going from left to right instead. Because the meaning is clear, and a comma would be unnecessarily cluttering. 3. Coordinating conjunction Coordinating conjunctions affect the meaning of your. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Coordinating conjunctions spell out the acronym FANBOYS. However, while the comma between coordinate adjectives aids in comprehension and the comma in a series is there for rhythm and balance (and sometimes to prevent misreading), the comma between two independent clauses most particularly when the conjunction is and or or is more about convention. The Rules. If you use just a comma, you create a comma splice and your friends will all laugh at you. There is really only one comma rule that mentions conjunctions: a comma goes before a coordinating conjunction that separates two independent clauses So why would a writer put a comma after sentence-initial 'but'? If there are four clauses in the sentence, we need just three conjunctions to connect them. Writers often ask whether they should put a comma before a conjunction (e.g., "and," "or," "but"). comma before given that; comma before given that. We should put a comma before a coordinating conjunction to separate two independent clauses. Here is an example of a FANBOYS word (coordinating conjunction) separating two word groups that can stand alone as sentences (independent clauses): We can bill you on our customary terms or, if you prefer, can simply deduct the money from . The word "So" is a conjunction, when used to join two independent clauses, then use a comma before the conjunction. The serial comma is also known as the Oxford comma, as it is named after the Oxford University Press. It is used before conjunctions in a list like this with three or more items. Learn more about comma placements and when to use them with conjunctions. Use one comma before to indicate the beginning of the pause and one at the end to indicate the end of the pause. He intended to drench his pancakes in syrup, and butter his toast. Alice asked John once, but only once, to forgive her. PristineWord. For instance, the sentence: "I would accept the assignment, but I have too many . However, students sometimes incorrectly use two conjunctions to connect two clauses. Confusing: Confusing: 2. Two more example: Instead of writing this: "She used to work at a restaurant, but now she works as a . In English, we need just one conjunction to connect two clauses. Example: I went to bed, then I started dreaming. Comma Before And That Joins Two Independent Clauses. Switch A, which was on a panel, controlled the recording device . I ordered a pizza, for I was hungry. Comma with an Appositive. Conjunctions do not normally cause major grammatical errors. "The meaning of life is so strange. Think of "then" as a conjunctive adverb, joining her actions together in sequence. We could argue that em dashes or parentheses would be a better choice, but that's the topic of . Perhaps no budget is without some fat, but university officials argue that their . An independent clause is one that works as a full sentence on its own. But the "then" that refers to past time is sometimes followed by a comma, though by no means is it always required: "As a child I lived in poverty, but I remember being happy then, and now I wish for those days." Its use is purely written style and optional. The Basic Rule on Commas Before Conjunctions. You may put a comma before one if it introduces an independent clause . January 1, 2014 -. Unfortunately, the rules governing when to use a comma before "and" are not simple because it depends how the conjunction is being used and what writing convention you're following. No, you don't need to put a comma before every instance of because.In the context of your question, a comma is used to separate two independent clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) which may be where your corrector is getting the idea that because too should have a comma. Coordinating conjunction Coordinating conjunctions affect the meaning of your. Otherwise, the intended meaning of the sentence may not be clear. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction to separate two independent clauses. Commas can often be forgotten when using conjunctions. The most common conjunctions are and , or, and but. It was warm but very windy. She loved his big muscles, and he loved her big bank accounts. "And" is a conjunction. Kevin Folliard of UMUC's Effective Writing Center explains how to coordinate commas and conjunctions. Always use commas around phrases (such as fretting over the punctuation) that intervene in a compound predicate. The lack of a comma before the conjunction is the biggest difference between AP style rules on commas and standard English grammar. Place a comma before these conjunctions.The comma represents a pause between the thoughts. The proper place for the comma is before the conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are conjunctions that join, or coordinate, two or more equivalent items (such as words, phrases, or sentences). A coordinating conjunction that merges two clauses into one is usually preceded by a comma. I have seen manuscripts where there's a comma before every as there is, even when they are not necessary, and also no commas at all, even when they are needed. Olivia can speak German, but she cannot understand it. Greg drove to Spec's, but they were out of drambuie, so he came back home. In more complex constructions, commas are used before the conjunction. If you're looking for a general guideline, we recommend using a comma before coordinating conjunctions such as and, or, and but when they join two independent clauses. This means use a comma after a participial phrase, an absolute phrase, an infinitive phrase, and a prepositional phrase.