COMBINING INDEPENDET CLAUSES WITH COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

(a) It was raining hard. There was a strong wind.

(b) INCORRECT PUNCTUATION:

It was raining hard, there was a strong wind. X

Example (a) contains two independent clauses (i.e., two complete sentences). Notice the punctuation. A period, NOT COMMA, is used to separate two independent clauses. The punctuation in (b) is not correct;the error in (b) is called “a run-on sentence.”run-on sentence: a sentence that has two main CLAUSEs without connecting words or correct PUNCTUATION.

(c) It was raining hard, and there was a strong wind.(d) It was raining hard and there was a strong wind.

(e) It was raining hard. And there was a strong wind.

A conjunction may be used to connect two independent clauses. PUNCTUATION: Usually a comma immediately precedes the conjunction, as in (c).In short sentences, the comma is sometimes omitted, as in (d). In informal writing, a conjunction sometimes begins a sentence, as in (e).

(f) He was tired, so he went to bed.

(g) The child hid behind their parents, for he was afraid of the dog.

(h) She did not study, yet she passed the exam.

In addition to and, but or nor, other conjunctions are used to connect two independent clauses: so (meaning “therefore, as a result”) for (meaning “because”) yet (meaning “but, nevertheless”)A comma almost always precedes so, for, and yet when they are used as coordinating conjunctions.*

* So, for, and yet have other meanings in other structures: e.g., He is not so tall as his brother. (so = as) We waited for the bus. (for = a preposition) He hasn’t arrived yet. (yet = an adverb meaning “up to this time”)

Practice: Combining independent clauses: periods and commas. Directions: Punctuate these sentences by adding periods (.) or commas (,) as necessary. Do not add any words. Capitalize letters where necessary. Some sentences need no changes.

1. I like French cooking my wife prefers Italian cooking.

I like French cooking. My wife prefers Italian cooking.

2. I like French cooking but my wife prefers Italian cooking.

I like French cooking, but my wife prefers Italian cooking. (optional comma)

3. We’ve seen that movie it’s very good.

4. We’ve seen that movie but we didn’t like it.

5. He opened the door and asked his friend to come in.

6. The boys walked the girls rain.

7. They charge incredibly high prices yet customers keep coming back for more.

8. Some battered women live in fear of their husbands and yet are terrified to leave.

9. We had to go to the grocery store for there was nothing to fix dinner.

10. They arrived at the theater late but the play had not yet begun they were quite surprised.