More Sentence Structures YAY!! English 10 Miss Gowdy

Fragments Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.

Fragments Example: Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Possible revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

Fragments Example: Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. Possible revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

Fragments Some fragments are not clearly pieces of sentences that have been left unattached to the main clause. Some are written as main clauses but lack a subject or main verb.

Fragments Examples of fragments missing a subject: Fragment: With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product. Possible revisions: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

Fragments Examples of fragments missing a subject: Fragment: By paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies. Possible Revisions: Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.

Fragments Examples of fragments missing a verb Fragment: Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere. Possible Revisions: Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere.

Fragments Examples of fragments missing a verb: Fragment: A story with deep thoughts and emotions. Possible Revisions: She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.

Run-On Sentences A sentence that has too many ideas and runs on too long A run-on sentence is a sentence that really has TWO sentences INCORRECTLY combined into one. It is okay to combine two sentences into one, but you must follow some rules.

Run-On Sentences Look at the following sentence. I saw a teacher who cares. The author may have wanted to write I saw a teacher. Who cares? It is all in the way you punctuate sentences that lets the reader know what you really mean.

Run-On Sentences There are four common ways to fix a run-on: 1- Write the two independent clauses as separate sentences using periods. INCORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. CORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy. She felt Rome was too hot.

Run-On Sentences 2- Use a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses. INCORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. CORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy; she felt Rome was too hot.

Run-On Sentences 3- Use a comma and any one of the FANBOYS (what is FANBOYS again?) INCORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. CORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy, but she felt Rome was too hot.

Run-On Sentences 4- Use a semicolon and one conjunctive adverb What’s a conjunctive adverb? What is the formula for using one? INCORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. CORRECT: Carmen loved traveling in Italy; however, she felt Rome was too hot.

Avoiding Comma Splices The comma splice, which is perhaps one of the most common punctuation errors in student writing It consists of running two sentences together with only a comma. It is a type of run-on sentence, failing to show where one complete thought ends and another begins.

Avoiding Comma Splices Examples: The transit union went on strike last night, I had to take a taxi cab home. Use a period. The transit union went on strike last night. I had to take a taxi cab home. This is the most straightforward method. Both clauses are complete sentences, so punctuate them both as such.

Avoiding Comma Splices Example: 2. Use a semicolon. The transit union went on strike last night; I had to take a taxi cab home. A semicolon is strong enough to join independent clauses; a comma is not strong enough to join them.

Avoiding Comma Splices 3. Use a conjunction with a comma The transit union went on strike last night, so I had to take a taxi cab home. Or a conjunctive adverb The transit union went on strike last night; thus, I had to take a taxi cab home

Avoiding Comma Splices 4. Make one clause a subordinate clause. Because the transit union went on strike last night, I had to take a taxi cab home. Because the transit union went on strike last night" is the subordinate clause because it depends on the main which is? I had to take the taxi cab home.

Avoiding Comma Splices In summary ways to correct a comma splice are: Change the comma to a semicolon. Insert a coordinating conjunction after the comma (FANBOYS) Make one of the clauses subordinate. Rephrase the sentence in a different way, perhaps making it a simple sentence. Use a period and capital letter to create two sentences.

Phrases A phrase is a group of words without both a subject and predicate. Phrases combine words into a larger unit that can function as a sentence element

Phrases Noun Phrase – The crazy old lady in the park feeds the pigeons every day. A noun phrase consists of a noun and all of its modifiers What’s the noun phrase?

Phrases Appositive Phrase Bob, my best friend, works here. An appositive (single word, phrase, or clause) renames another noun, not technically modifying it. It can be moved around in a sentence. What is the appositive phrase?

Phrases Verb Phrase The verb phrase can refer to the whole predicate of a sentence OR just the verb group. I was watching my favorite show yesterday. What is the verb phrase?

Phrases Prepositional Phrase The food on the table looked delicious. A prepositional phrase, which has a preposition as its head, can function as an adjective, adverb, or even as a noun. What is the prepositional phrase?