Sentence Fragments & Run-Ons

Every sentence must have at least 3 components to be considered a complete sentence: The sentence must express a complete thought- we need to know what it is about The sentence must have a subject- a person or thing that the sentence is about.  This is usually a noun or a pronoun. The sentence must have an action- a verb, something the subject of the sentence is doing.

Sentences can also have… Objects: Things that an action is performed on Adjectives or adverbs: Descriptive words Phrases or dependent clauses: Words that provide additional information to the reader

Sentence Fragment A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself. It does not contain even one independent clause. 

Over the next hill! A tree with wings! On DVD December 19! You can't magically make any set of words a sentence by starting with a capital letter and ending with a period (or an exclamation point). In the most basic form, a complete sentence must have a subject and a verb.

Verb & Subject A verb is an action word that tells the reader what's happening, A subject does the action of the verb. You can make a complete sentence with just two words:  "Squiggly hurried." "Squiggly," our beloved snail, is the subject, and "hurried" is the verb.

Leaving town! I am leaving town He is leaving town

Dependent Clause This happens when your fragment is a dependent clause, meaning that it depends on the other part of the sentence: the main clause.

And I went to the store. I went to the movies and I went to the store.

Practice Joe is. Eating chicken. A book without a cover. Since I like fishing. Which is why I cried. To the game. Walking to YHS. Because she goes to school.

Run-Ons A run-on occurs when two sentences are run together without the proper punctuation and/or connecting words.

Fused Sentence Occurs when two sentences are written together without any punctuation at all. Joe was happy about the raise he felt like celebrating.

Comma Splice Occurs when a comma is used between two sentences without any connecting word (such as "and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet") Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating.

How to Correct a Run-On A run-on may be corrected by putting a period between the sentences. Joe was happy about the raise. He felt like celebrating.

How to Correct a Run-On A run-on may be corrected by connecting two related sentences with a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet. Joe was happy about the raise, so he felt like celebrating.

How to Correct a Run-On A run-on may be corrected by connecting two related sentences with a semicolon only. Joe was happy about the raise; he felt like celebrating

How to Correct a Run-On A run-on may be corrected by connecting two related sentences with a semicolon and a transition word or phrase, however, therefore, thus, then, as a result, consequently, nevertheless, also, on the other hand, for instance, in contrast, etc. Joe was happy about the raise; consequently, he felt like celebrating.

How to Correct Run-Ons A run-on may be corrected by adding a dependent clause signal word to create a complex sentence. because, if, although, when, who, which, etc. Because Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating. Joe, who was happy about the raise, felt like celebrating.

Practice Our solar system has nine major planets only one is known to have intelligent life. Most asteroids are small and far away therefore they are dim and hard to see.  Look through Angelo's telescope you can see Saturn's rings.  Please check the position of that star cluster I can't find it. Marie is never interested in stargazing during the winter however on warm summer nights she often goes to the college observatory. 

Label, Fragment (F), Run-On (R), or Correct (C); then fix: 1. Although Mary has been my best friend. 2. No one I know watches that television show, I can't believe it. 3. Her husband loves to cook, however, he does not like to clean the kitchen afterwards. 4. Tim started his new job last Wednesday, and he really likes the boss. 5. I have a hard time understanding her lectures, when I talk to her one-on-one, I understand her fine. 6. Mary signed up because she thought the training would be interesting and help her on the job.

Label, Fragment (F), Run-On (R), or Correct (C); then fix: 7. Meet me after class, I want to talk with you about the upcoming test. 8. The one who looks like a military officer but acts like a spoiled brat. 9. Although she has studied very hard, she is still worried about the midterm exam. 10. One of the best ways to improve your writing. Is to read and analyze what you read. 11. It has been a long time since I have been to the beach, I am looking forward to the trip. 12. When you have finished your homework and are ready to take a break