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In a compound sentence, two independent clauses—each with its own subject and verb—are joined by a coordinating conjunction (like and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor). The comma goes right before that conjunction to separate the two complete thoughts and to signal the short pause that shows they are linked but still distinct ideas. For example: I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining. Here, the comma helps the reader see that there are two ideas connected by but. The other options describe different punctuation functions—ending a sentence, introducing a list, or a simple pause without relation—which don’t describe how a comma functions in linking two independent clauses.