Commas with compound and complex sentences

Key Notes:

What are Compound Sentences?

➡️ A compound sentence joins two or more independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
✅ Rule: Use a comma before the conjunction that joins the two clauses.

🖊️ Example:

• I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining. ☔
• She cooked dinner, and he washed the dishes. 🍽️

💡 Tip: If both parts can stand alone as complete sentences — use a comma before the conjunction! ✔️

What are Complex Sentences?

➡️ A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses (begins with words like because, although, when, since, if, etc.).

✅ Rule 1: When the dependent clause comes first, put a comma after it.
🖊️ Example:

• When the bell rang, the students left the class. 🏫
• Although it was late, they continued the meeting. ⏰

✅ Rule 2: When the dependent clause comes after, no comma is needed.
🖊️ Example:

• The students left the class when the bell rang. 🔔
• I stayed home because it was raining. 🌧️

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Don’t use a comma between two clauses without a conjunction — that’s a comma splice!
🖊️ Wrong: I love pizza, it’s my favorite food. 🍕
✅ Right: I love pizza, and it’s my favorite food. ✔️

Quick Grammar Hints

🔹 FANBOYS = Coordinating conjunctions → For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
🔹 Subordinating conjunctions (no comma before them when the dependent clause is second) → because, since, when, although, if, after, before, unless

Practice Examples

✅ She was tired, but she finished her homework. ✏️
✅ After the show ended, we went for ice cream. 🍦
✅ I’ll call you when I reach home. 📱

Summary Chart

Sentence Type	Clause Order	Comma Rule	Example
Compound	Two independent + FANBOYS	Comma before FANBOYS	I was late, but I caught the bus. 🚌
Complex	Dependent + Independent	Comma after dependent	Because it rained, the game was canceled. ⚾
Complex	Independent + Dependent	No comma	We went inside because it rained. 🌧️

Remember:

✅ Compound = Comma before conjunction
✅ Complex = Comma if dependent clause comes first
✅ No comma = When dependent clause follows main clause