Here's the breakdown:
1. Independent Clause + Conjunction + Independent Clause
* Example: The dog barked, and the cat hissed.
* "The dog barked" is an independent clause.
* "The cat hissed" is also an independent clause.
* "and" is the conjunction connecting the two clauses.
2. When to Use a Comma:
* Use a comma after the first independent clause if the conjunction is "and", "but", "or", "nor", "for", "yet", or "so".
3. When NOT to Use a Comma:
* Do not use a comma if the conjunction connects two phrases or dependent clauses.
Here are some more examples:
* With a comma: The sun was shining, but the air was chilly.
* Without a comma: I went to the store and bought some groceries. (The second part, "bought some groceries," is not a complete sentence.)
* Without a comma: Because it was raining, and I didn't have an umbrella, I stayed inside. (Both parts are dependent clauses, meaning they can't stand alone.)
Remember: The comma after the conjunction helps to separate the two independent clauses and make the sentence flow more smoothly.