Grammar Boot Camp Obstacle Course: Fragments, Run-ons, Comma Splices (click mouse to proceed)

Your Mission: To Study Fragments To Study Run-ons To Study Comma Splices To Exercise your Writing Muscles This presentation is enhanced with “Question and Answer” slides. To access, simply click on the words that are highlighted and underlined.

What is a Fragment? A sentence fragment is an incomplete thought. Choose one of the following options to correct a fragment: Connect the fragment to the sentence before it, or Connect the fragment to the sentence after it, or Rewrite the fragment so that it is a complete thought.

Fragments Dependent Clause Fragment: Begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Fragment: When it is time to go home. Correction: When it is time to go home, I will call you.

Fragments “-ing” Fragment: Begins with a word ending in “-ing.” Fragment: Waiting for the rain to stop. Correction: Waiting for the rain to stop, the pedestrian sought refuge in the corner café.

Fragments “To” Fragment: Begins with the word “to.” Fragment: To do my best. Correction: My grandfather taught me to do my best.

Fragments Added-Detail Fragment: Begins with “for example,” “such as,” “especially,” and similar transitions. Fragment: Especially when the vegetables are fresh. Correction: I enjoy salads, especially when the vegetables are fresh.

What is a Run-on? A run-on contains two more independent clauses without punctuation signaling the end of the first clause and the beginning of the next clause. Example: Many dogs enter the contest the poodle is the usual winner.

What is a Comma Splice? A comma splice is a sentence with two or more independent clauses joined by only a comma. Example: The book is inspirational, it changed my life.

Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices: Make Two Separate Sentences: Run-on: John mowed the lawn Alex raked the leaves. Comma Splice: John mowed the lawn, Alex raked the leaves. Correction: John mowed the lawn. Alex raked the leaves. Correction: John mowed the lawn, and Alex raked the leaves.

Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices: Use Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction: Run-on: Julie is not my sister she is my cousin. Comma Splice: Julie is not my sister, she is my cousin. Correction: Julie is not my sister, but she is my cousin.

Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices: 3. Use Semicolon to Connect the Sentences: Run-on: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful it had multicolor stripes. Comma Splice: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful, it had multicolor stripes. Correction: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful; it had multicolor stripes.

Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices: 4. Use a Conjunctive Adverb with Appropriate Punctuation: Run-on: We joined the group for dinner we did not go to the concert afterward. Comma Splice: We joined the group for dinner, we did not go to the concert afterward. Correction A: We joined the group for dinner; however, we did not go to the concert afterward. Correction B: We joined the group for dinner. However, we did not go to the concert afterward.

Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices: 5. Use Subordination: Run-on: The mother cat cleaned her kittens they began to cry. Comma Splice: The mother cat cleaned her kittens, they began to cry. Correction A: The mother cat cleaned her kittens when they began to cry. Correction B: When they began to cry, the mother cat cleaned her kittens.

Exercise Your Muscles: Identify whether the following items contain either a fragment, run-on, or comma splice: Although he had promised that he would. Here comes Mr. Timmons, he’ll tell us where the lecture is being given. Making it impossible for us to see the road. I love to relax on the sandy shore of Padre Island it gives me a sense of peace.

Answer key: Identify whether the following items contain either a fragment, run-on, or comma splice: Although he had promised that he would. Fragment Here comes Mr. Timmons, he’ll tell us where the lecture is being given. Comma splice Making it impossible for us to see the road. fragment I love to relax on the sandy shore of Padre Island it gives me a sense of peace. Run-on

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Obstacle Course: Fragments, Run-ons and Comma Splices of Grammar Boot Camp. Sign up for the other sessions of Grammar Boot Camp at the Stone Writing Center’s Website: http://www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtctr.

Q: What is a Dependent Clause? A: A dependent clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb; it does not, however, contain a complete thought. Thus, it cannot stand alone. For more information on dependent clauses, sign up for Building Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of Grammar Boot Camp. Return to presentation.

Q: What is a Subordinating Conjunction? A: A subordinating conjunction is a word that links sentence elements that are not of equal importance. The following is a list of common subordinating conjunctions: after once until although since when as that whenever because though where before till wherever if unless while Return to presentation.

Q: What is a Relative Pronoun? A: A relative pronoun is a word that relates the dependent clause to the independent clause within a sentence. The following is a list of relative pronouns: who whoever what whatever that whom whomever whose whichever which Return to presentation.

Q: What is an Independent Clause? A: An independent clause is a group of related words containing a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. For more information on independent clauses, sign up for Building Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of Grammar Boot Camp. Return to presentation.

Q: What is a Coordinating Conjunction? A: A coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses as well as other sentence elements of equal weight or function. The following is a list of coordinating conjunctions, commonly referred to as the “FANBOYS”: for and nor but FANBOYS (taken from the first letter of each word) or yet so Return to presentation.

Q: What is a Conjunctive Adverb? A: A conjunctive adverb indicates a relation between independent clauses. The following is a list of common conjunctive adverbs: accordingly consequently indeed also finally instead anyway furthermore likewise as a result hence meanwhile besides however moreover certainly incidentally nevertheless Return to presentation.

Q: What is a Subordinating Conjunction? A: A subordinating conjunction is a word that links sentence elements that are not of equal importance. The following is a list of common subordinating conjunctions: after once until although since when as that whenever because though where before till wherever if unless while Return to presentation.