Which sentence uses a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses?

• A. I Wanted To Go, And She Stayed At Home.
• B. I Wanted To Go Because She Stayed At Home.
• C. I Wanted To Go; She Stayed At Home.
• D. I Wanted To Go Though She Stayed At Home.

Answer: (A)

Two independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, and a coordinating conjunction (such as and, or, but, or, nor, yet, so) joins them to form a compound sentence. In the first sentence, the parts “I wanted to go” and “she stayed at home” are two independent clauses, and they are connected by the coordinating conjunction “and.” A comma before the conjunction is normally used when linking two independent clauses, so this sentence demonstrates the correct structure of a compound sentence using a coordinating conjunction.

The other sentences don’t fit this pattern. Using “because” introduces a dependent clause, so only one clause can stand on its own, not two independent ones. Using a semicolon links two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Using “though” is another subordinating conjunction, which also creates a dependent relationship rather than joining two independent clauses.