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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Conjunctive Adverb: then

Is the following sentence punctuated correctly?

Do I need to insert the pronoun "they" into the second independent clause? (...then they slammed the door....) I believe the subject in the seconded independent clause is "assumed" so it dosen't have to be stated, but without the pronoun the clause, by itself, appears incomplete. I want to leave "they" out of the second clause.

Must I insert the comma after "then"?

They threw him onto the bed; then, slammed the door and locked it before he could run out.
  

Top answer

The nature of an independent clause is that it can function as a complete, stand-alone sentence, which means it needs its own subject. You cannot omit it. " etc.

  • The nature of an independent clause is that it can function as a complete, stand-alone sentence, which means it needs its own subject.
  • You cannot omit it.
  • " etc.
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1 Answers
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The nature of an independent clause is that it can function as a complete, stand-alone sentence, which means it needs its own subject. You cannot omit it.

You can say "They threw him onto the bed and then slammed the door..." etc.

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