comma before 'and' [BrE; conjunction]: I am happy, and she
- Thread starter amby
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MilkyBarKid
Senior Member
British English
Yes - before any of the coordinating conjunctions for independent clauses.
Clauses are independent when the 'and' clause -(or clause with any coordinating conjunction) - has a subject and verb.
"Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in my bath, and she'd come in and sink my boats."
(Woody Allen)
Johnny started to learn the drums when he was just a kid, really practiced hard, and today he is one of the world's noisiest neightbours.
So - in your sentence: "I am happy, and he is happy."
Clauses are independent when the 'and' clause -(or clause with any coordinating conjunction) - has a subject and verb.
"Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in my bath, and she'd come in and sink my boats."
(Woody Allen)
Johnny started to learn the drums when he was just a kid, really practiced hard, and today he is one of the world's noisiest neightbours.
So - in your sentence: "I am happy, and he is happy."
Yes, I would put a comma in your example, as you are joining two independent clauses as MilkyBarKid puts it so well.
There are many threads on this question though, though some of them discuss the 'serial comma':
Comma before AND
comma before and
The Oxford comma
Punctuation - comma with but or and
There are many threads on this question though, though some of them discuss the 'serial comma':
Comma before AND
comma before and
The Oxford comma
Punctuation - comma with but or and