Fragments and Run-ons

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Simmons.

Fragments, Comma Splices, Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentencesand Fused Sentences

How do I know if I have too little in a

sentence . . .

And how can I tell if I have too much?

This presentation covers avoiding

sentence fragments, comma splices, and fused

sentences.

You will learn to recognize complete sentences, employ

appropriate punctuation, and

use subordination and coordination.

A fragment, comma splice, A fragment, comma splice, and/or fused sentence item on and/or fused sentence item on an objective test might look an objective test might look like this like this .. .. ..

Sample ItemSample ItemAt the pizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the At the pizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the

argument at the next table, hot cheese argument at the next table, hot cheese

cascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare cascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare

lap.lap.

A.A.pizzeria; Jolenepizzeria; JoleneB.B.table while hottable while hotC.C.pizza. Ontopizza. OntoD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

At the At the pizzeria, Jolenepizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the eavesdropped on the AAargument at the next argument at the next table, hottable, hot cheese cheese BBcascaded overcascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare her slice of pizza onto her bare CClap.lap.

A.A.pizzeria; Jolenepizzeria; JoleneB.B.table while hottable while hotC.C.cascaded. Overcascaded. OverD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

At the At the pizzeria, Jolenepizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the eavesdropped on the AAargument at the next argument at the next table while hottable while hot cheese cheese BBcascaded overcascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare her slice of pizza onto her bare CClap.lap.

A.A.pizzeria; Jolenepizzeria; JoleneB.B.table while hottable while hotC.C.cascaded. Overcascaded. OverD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Is the punctuation (or

lack of it) at A, B, or C incorrect?

The comma between table and hot makes

a comma splice, an error that option B

fixes.

Andre practiced jump shots to impress Andre practiced jump shots to impress Coach Nelson.Coach Nelson.

A sentence must have a A sentence must have a subjectsubject, , verbverb, , and and complete thoughtcomplete thought..

Andre = subject, practiced = verb, and the thought = complete, so you have a sentence.

AndreAndre spinningspinning the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.

Recognize a Recognize a fragment fragment when you when you see one.see one.

AndAnd spunspun the ball to show off his skills.the ball to show off his skills.As AndreAs Andre spunspun the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.AndreAndre spunspun the ball to show off his skills.the ball to show off his skills.

Spinning ≠ a verb, so you have

a fragment!

Now there’s no subject, so you

still have a fragment.

Yikes! Now the thought is not

complete!

Finally! A subject, a verb, and a complete

thought!

Recognize Recognize fused sentences fused sentences and and comma splicescomma splices..

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court Andre sank a perfect basket from half court unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.

You cannot run together two

sentences with no punctuation!

You cannot join two

sentences with a comma!

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court court unfortunately unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court, unfortunately unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Fix the error with a Fix the error with a periodperiod and a and a capital lettercapital letter..


Swish goes the period!

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court. court. Unfortunately,Unfortunately, the coach’s back was turned. the coach’s back was turned.

Fix the error with a Fix the error with a commacomma and a and a coordinating conjunctioncoordinating conjunction..


Be my FANBOYS — for, and, nor,

but, or, yet, and so.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court, but but the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Fix the error with a Fix the error with a semicolonsemicolon..


Use the semicolon

sparingly — 3 to 4 times per essay, max.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court; court; unfortunately, unfortunately, the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Fix the error with a Fix the error with a subordinate subordinate conjunctionconjunction..


Reduce one of the two

clauses to an incomplete

thought.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court Andre sank a perfect basket from half court after after the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

These are the subordinate These are the subordinate conjunctions.conjunctions. afterafter althoughalthough asas becausebecause beforebefore even thougheven though if, even ifif, even if in order thatin order that onceonce provided thatprovided that

sincesince so [so [thatthat implied], so that implied], so that thanthan thatthat thoughthough unlessunless when, wheneverwhen, whenever where, wherever, whereaswhere, wherever, whereas whetherwhether whilewhile

Remember these Remember these generalgeneral punctuation rules when punctuation rules when subordinatingsubordinating one of the clauses in one of the clauses in the error.the error.

Subordinate clauseSubordinate clause + + ,, + + main clause.main clause.

Main clauseMain clause + Ø ++ Ø + subordinate clause.subordinate clause.

AlthoughAlthough Andre sank a perfect basket from half court Andre sank a perfect basket from half court,, the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Here’s our sample:Here’s our sample:

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court Andre sank a perfect basket from half court afterafter the the coach’s back was turned.coach’s back was turned.

Dropping the comma after court is like a championship game

turnover!

Adding an unnecessary comma is like grandstanding when a teammate is

open!

Quick TestQuick Test

Directions:Directions: In the items that follow, choose In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.”“No change is necessary.”

Show me you got game!

Item 1Item 1

The dogs drooled while we ate slices of hot The dogs drooled while we ate slices of hot

pizza but the cat feigned nonchalance even pizza but the cat feigned nonchalance even

though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.

A.A.drooled. Whiledrooled. WhileB.B.pizza, butpizza, butC.C.nonchalance. Evennonchalance. EvenD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The dogs The dogs drooled whiledrooled while we ate slices of hot we ate slices of hot AApizza butpizza but the cat feigned the cat feigned nonchalance evennonchalance even BB CCthough we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.


The dogs The dogs drooled whiledrooled while we ate slices of hot we ate slices of hot AApizza, butpizza, but the cat feigned the cat feigned nonchalance evennonchalance even BB CCthough we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.


Mary Ellen screamed, her roommate’s pet Mary Ellen screamed, her roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.

A.A.screamed herscreamed herB.B.screamed; because, herscreamed; because, herC.C.screamed as herscreamed as herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 2Item 2

Mary Ellen Mary Ellen screamed, herscreamed, her roommate’s pet roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.


Mary Ellen Mary Ellen screamed, herscreamed, her roommate’s pet roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.


Item 3Item 3Running late with dinner, Elizabeth fussed with Running late with dinner, Elizabeth fussed with

seasonings and wiped spots off the seasonings and wiped spots off the

glasses. While the family stared at their empty glasses. While the family stared at their empty

plates.plates.

A.A.dinner; Elizabethdinner; ElizabethB.B.seasonings, andseasonings, andC.C.glasses whileglasses whileD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Running late with Running late with dinner, Elizabethdinner, Elizabeth fussed with fussed with AAseasonings andseasonings and wiped spots off the wiped spots off the BBglasses. Whileglasses. While the family stared at their empty the family stared at their empty CCplates.plates.


Running late with Running late with dinner, Elizabethdinner, Elizabeth fussed with fussed with AAseasonings andseasonings and wiped spots off the wiped spots off the BBglasses whileglasses while the family stared at their empty the family stared at their empty CCplates.plates.


Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. When Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. When the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.

A.A.patio whenpatio whenB.B.patio; whenpatio; whenC.C.patio, whenpatio, whenD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 4Item 4

Everyone scrambled off the lakeside Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. Whenpatio. When the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.


Everyone scrambled off the lakeside Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. Whenpatio. When the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.


Item 5Item 5The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment Roseanne, however, had to beat

Maria to the refrigerator as they raced through

the front door.

A.refreshment. RoseanneB.however; hadC.refrigerator; asD.No change is necessary.

The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment Roseanne, however, had to beat A BMaria to the refrigerator as they raced through Cthe front door.


The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment. Roseanne, however, had to beat A BMaria to the refrigerator as they raced through Cthe front door.


Warren wanted to make a good impression on Warren wanted to make a good impression on Melody but the soda explosion that soaked his Melody but the soda explosion that soaked his shirt ruined their first meeting.shirt ruined their first meeting.

A.A.Melody; but, theMelody; but, theB.B.Melody; however, theMelody; however, theC.C.Melody, however, theMelody, however, theD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Item 6Item 6

Warren wanted to make a good impression on Warren wanted to make a good impression on Melody but theMelody but the soda explosion that soaked his soda explosion that soaked his shirt ruined their first meeting.shirt ruined their first meeting.


Warren wanted to make a good impression on Warren wanted to make a good impression on Melody but the Melody but the soda explosion that soaked his soda explosion that soaked his shirt ruined their first meeting.shirt ruined their first meeting.


Item 7Item 7

Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the

cone and coated Randall’s fingers, his tongue cone and coated Randall’s fingers, his tongue

couldn’t keep upcouldn’t keep up.

A.sun; ice creamB.cone, andC.fingers, for hisD.No change is necessary.

Because of the hot Because of the hot sun, ice creamsun, ice cream ran down the ran down the AAcone andcone and coated Randall’s coated Randall’s fingers, hisfingers, his tongue tongue BB CCcouldn’t keep upcouldn’t keep up.


Because of the hot Because of the hot sun, ice creamsun, ice cream ran down the ran down the AAcone andcone and coated Randall’s coated Randall’s fingers, for hisfingers, for his tongue tongue

BB CCcouldn’t keep upcouldn’t keep up.


Item 8Item 8

Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell. Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell. Because Paul was about to explain why his half of Because Paul was about to explain why his half of the rent would be late again.the rent would be late again.

A.A.yell, becauseyell, becauseB.B.yell becauseyell becauseC.C.yell foryell forD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell. yell. BecauseBecause Paul was about to explain why his half of Paul was about to explain why his half of the rent would be late again.the rent would be late again.


Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell. yell. BecauseBecause Paul was about to explain why his half of Paul was about to explain why his half of the rent would be late again.the rent would be late again.


Item 9Item 9After Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted

Derek’s car in her driveway and realized that this

gesture would not repair the relationship or win

back her love.

A.Emily. heB.driveway. AndC.relationship; orD.No change is necessary.

After Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted ADerek’s car in her driveway and realized that this Bgesture would not repair the relationship or win Cback her love.


After Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted ADerek’s car in her driveway and realized that this Bgesture would not repair the relationship or win Cback her love.


Item 10Item 10

Since Larry had studied for hours; he was Since Larry had studied for hours; he was relieved to find a big red relieved to find a big red AA at the top of his at the top of his grammar quiz.grammar quiz.

A.A.hours hehours heB.B.hours. Hehours. HeC.C.hours, hehours, heD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Since Larry had studied for Since Larry had studied for hours; hehours; he was was relieved to find a big red relieved to find a big red AA at the top of his at the top of his grammar quiz.grammar quiz.


Since Larry had studied for Since Larry had studied for hours; hehours; he was was relieved to find a big red relieved to find a big red AA at the top of his at the top of his grammar quiz.grammar quiz.


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Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and

exercises on fragments, comma splices, and

fused sentences. Go to chompchomp.com!

The End.The End.

Fragments and Run-ons

Education