Clauses, Part 2

Clauses, Part 1 Reading Clauses, Part 2 1 minute Next Hyphenating Adjectives

When dependent clauses are joined by a coordinate conjunction, there is no comma because there is not an independent subject and verb after the conjunction.

...I was more concerned when I got there and when I saw his condition.

Sometimes the second "when" is omitted -- and it is perfectly correct to do so.

...I was more concerned when I got there and I saw him.

Now it appears -- falsely -- that there is an independent clause after "and." Should there be a comma? NO.

The word "and" cannot link an independent clause to a dependent clause. "I saw him" is dependent with the "when" understood.

BEWARE of the dependent clause masquerading as an independent clause and trying to fool you!

Happy punctuating!

Margie