FRAGMENTS, RUN-ONS, AND COMMA SPLICES QUIZ #2, Part 1 of 5 Directions: Write C if the sentence is complete and punctuated correctly. For each fragment, run-on, or comma splice, add the missing subject, verb, and punctuation to complete the sentence.

Review… What is a SENTENCE? It can be MANY things – but it MUST have TWO things – a SUBJECT and a VERB. A DO-er and what they DO. The dog ran. The cat sat. The man smiled.

So… What is a FRAGMENT? It TOO can be MANY things. It may even have a SUBJECT and a VERB. If so, it might have a word that makes it a fragment, like: Although the dog ran. The dog ran would have been fine. ALTHOUGH turns it into a FRAG.

What ELSE is a FRAGMENT? Most often, it leaves you thinking, “Huh?” Sometimes a FRAG is missing a SUBJECT, other times it is missing a VERB. Here are a few examples: George Washington, President of the United States, our First President. A FRAG – Where’s the VERB? Running around the house, after the car, and on home. A FRAG – Where’s the SUBJECT? Each leaves you thinking, “HUH?!”

So… What is a RUN-ON? Most often, it won’t shut up! It runs ON and ON and ON. It’s often missing commas before a conjunction. Here’s an example: My family has three dogs but we have four horses. The sentence needs a COMMA before the BUT. Here’s another: We want to ride our horses but we need to have two of them professionally trained and need lessons ourselves. We need a COMMA before the BUT, though NOT before the AND. “…need lessons ourselves” isn’t INDEPENDENT, can’t stand alone, so no COMMA.

Finally… What is a COMMA SPLICE? A COMMA SPLICE is simply a comma in the wrong place. It SPLICES the sentence out of no where, sort of like a splice does in golf. Example: The dog won the race, he beat the cat. – SPLICE – Needs a semicolon instead of a comma

Need more – GOOD! Keep doing your homework in the text. It is the BEST place to get a workout in grammar. It’s like doing sit-ups – they’re a pain, but eventually they make you look great! Doing the homework in the book truly is the workout you need to write like a professional…

1. The largest school in the city.

1. The largest school in the city. FRAGMENT – Where’s the verb? One way to fix it: The largest school in the city IS right next door to ours.

2. The cat drank the milk, it acted sleepy.

2. The cat drank the milk, it acted sleepy. COMMA SPLICE. All of these ARE correct: The cat drank the milk, then it acted sleepy. The cat drank the milk; it acted sleepy. The cat drank the milk. It acted sleepy. The cat drank the milk can stand alone (can end in a period), as can “it acted sleepy”. You need MORE than a simple comma to link them.

3. Only one day at a time.

3. Only one day at a time. It’s a FRAG. It needs a VERB. Only one day at a time WHAT? Perhaps… Only one day at a time IS the way to live!

4. Three men stood up but no one else volunteered for the project.

4. Three men stood up but no one else volunteered for the project. It’s a RUN-ON. It needs a COMMA before the BUT as both sides can stand alone… Three men stood up. No one else volunteered for the project. If you’re going to use the conjunction (FANBOY) “but” to link them, you need to add a comma.

5. Because I tried harder I won the contest.

5. Because I tried harder I won the contest. RUN-ON. Needs a COMMA after HARDER.

6. Larry arrived early even though he was well prepared.

6. Larry arrived early, even though he was well prepared. RUN-ON. It needs the comma. Each side can stand alone… Larry arrived early. He was well prepared.

7. Standing in the middle of the room.

7. Standing in the middle of the room. FRAG. Needs a VERB, “He IS standing in the middle of the room.”

8. The dishes were still on the counter, they needed to be washed.

8. The dishes were still on the counter, they needed to be washed. COMMA SPLICE. Needs more than a comma. Each side can stand alone. Try a semicolon or COMMA BECAUSE.

9. Who will go with me?

9. Who will go with me? CORRECT!

10. The bird singing its heart out.

10. The bird singing its heart out. Oh! So close. SINGING needs a complete verb to work. A bird can’t SINGING. How about: The bird IS singing its heart out. OR The bird SANG its heart out.

11. Much to my surprise.

11. Much to my surprise. FRAG – Much to my surprise WHAT? Leaves you hanging… Try “Much to my surprise, my homework was easy!”

12. The lab stocked with components.

12. The lab stocked with components. FRAG – No VERB. How about: The lab WAS stocked with components. or… The lab stocked with components was ready for class.

13. It’s over.

13. It’s over. Correct!

14. Working as fast as I can.

14. Working as fast as I can. FRAG. Needs a verb. Leaves you with “Huh?!” Try: Working as fast as I can, I am often able to finish first.

15. The car runs well and I want to use it to drive to Florida.

15. The car runs well, and I want to use it to drive to Florida. RUN-ON. It needs a COMMA as each side of AND can stand alone/use a period.

16. Since the weather has gotten warm.

16. Since the weather has gotten warm. WHAT? It’s a FRAG. TRY: “I’ve been happy since the weather has gotten warm.”

17. After we saw the movie and got popcorn and before we drank our drinks.

17. After we saw the movie and got popcorn and before we drank our drinks. HUH? FRAG. After and before that we DID what?

18. Setting up a tent at the campsite.

18. Setting up a tent at the campsite. HUH? FRAG

19. It doesn’t matter and we need to focus on what does.

19. It doesn’t matter, and we need to focus on what does. RUN-ON – It needs a COMMA before the AND as both sides can stand alone…

20. At the beginning of every term.

20. At the beginning of every term. HUH? FRAG. How about: At the beginning of every term, I am ready to write as I understand how to do so!