1. 3 Common but serious Sentence Structure Mistakes
ESL 403 Workshop
Comma Splices
Fragments
Run-ons
3 Common but serious Sentence Structure Mistakes

2. What’s a fragment, comma-splice or run-on? How can you fix them?
This is how your instructors sometimes feel when we read too many comma splices, run-ons, or fragments.
If you can fix your own fragments, run-ons and comma splices, it can really make a difference in the quality of your writing and your grade!
What’s a fragment, comma-splice or run-on? How can you fix them?

3. Some terms you need to know
Comma splice/Run on
Fragment (piece)
Independent clause = Simple Sentence
SV. / SVV. / SSV. / SSVV.
Compound Sentence
SV, ___ SV.
SVV, ___ SSV. …
Coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)
NEVER start a sentence!
Dependent clause
Complex Sentence
Independent + dependent
Dependent, independent
Subordinating conjunction
Starts the dep clause
while, if, because, after…
Have students give examples of each – ask what’s the difference bt sentence/independent clause

4. Fix this run-on sentence in 3 ways
Two hundred people went to his
wedding three people went to his funeral.
✔Two hundred people went to his wedding ; three people went to his funeral.
✔Two hundred people went to his wedding, but three people went to his funeral.
✔ Two hundred people went to his wedding. Three people went to his funeral.

5. Fix this comma splice in 3 ways
Spanish is spoken in more countries, Chinese is spoken by more people.
✔Spanish is spoken in more countries ; Chinese is spoken by more people.
✔Spanish is spoken in more countries , but Chinese is spoken by more people.
✔Spanish is spoken in more countries. Chinese is spoken by more people.

6. Do you see a pattern? HOW do you fix a run-on?
How do you fix a Comma Splice?
the 3 ways to fix a run-on / Comma splice are: 1. 2. 3.

7. Fragments
He had to leave the party. Because he had eaten and drunk too much.
I love eating desserts. Such as ice cream and apple pie.
After I got into the hot bath. I realized there was no soap. I didn’t want to get out again.
To fix: usually connect fragment to the other sentences or add more information to make the idea a complete thought.

8. Practice – correct/frag/ro/cs?
The president, worried about a possible energy shortage in the future.
Jody is moving to New York, she can’t even finish her classes.
I was watching a documentary on TV about tigers in India.
I’m lost when I add many long numbers without a calculator.
These people who are moving to the US because they want to find a better job.
The students haven’t finished their homework yet they have decided to go have some coffee.
Since the holiday is on Thursday, we will have no class on Friday.
A plane zoomed overhead, it was so noisy we couldn’t hear each other talking.

9. Worksheet – Step 1 (answers)
Shopping malls have spread throughout the country / they have replaced many main streets / some malls have hundreds of stores / some malls only have a few / malls include restaurants as well as stores/ many people go there/ malls give a safe and attractive atmosphere for shoppers / some people can spend too much money there.

10. Step 2 of worksheet (answers vary)
Shopping malls have spread throughout the country ____ they have replaced many main streets____ some malls have hundreds of stores _____ some malls only have a few ___malls include restaurants as well as stores_____many people go there ____ malls give a safe and attractive atmosphere for shoppers_____some people can spend too much money there.