[header] How to use a comma in a compound sentence [title] Write a complete thought using both a subject and a verb. [step] This is called an independent clause, as it is a group of words that has both a subject and verb and forms a complete thought. [substeps] For example, " mom makes me breakfast before school. 
" in this example, " mom " is the subject and " makes " is the verb. It also forms a complete thought or sentence.