comma before 'and' [conjunction]: thought... was closed, and the dogs

SuperMoon

New Member
English
Sam thought the gate was closed, and the dogs couldn't escape the backyard.

A comma is supposed to be used before a conjunction separating independent clauses. Technically "Sam thought the gate was closed" and "the dogs couldn't escape the backyard" are both independent clauses. However, if the clauses were separated into two sentences, the meaning would change. As the sentence is written, the second clause means Sam thought the gate was closed. If the second clause were to stand alone, it means the gate was actually closed.

Should a comma be used in this kind of situation where the clauses look independent but really can't be separated? It seems to me that despite appearances the second clause is really not independent, and no comma should be used.
 
  • Welcome to the forum, SuperMoon.
    The addition of a comma makes it appear that gate was closed, as you conclude.

    Another way of making it clear that the sentence shows what he was thinking is to use two that's, i.e. He thought that the gate was closed and that the dogs..................
     
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