Setence Fr ents and Run On’s agm Bryce Shipley Danielle Adler Professor Dullaghan ENC1101

What is a Sentence fragment? A sentence fragment is a word group that pretends to be a sentence. Examples: On the old wooden stool in the corner of my grandmothers kitchen. In order for a sentence to not to be a fragment, it must consist of a subject, verb and must stand alone or be capable of standing alone.

Test for sentence completeness… Is there a verb? No It’s a Fragment Yes Is there a subject Is the word group merely a subordinate clause or phrase? It is a Fragment It is a Sentence

Methods of Revision Attach the fragment to a near by sentence Or add what the fragment is missing. Example: The water bottle in the recycling bin. Revision: Roger put the water bottle in the recycling bin. Roger 

But what if… The Exceptions… Occasionally a fragment may be used deliberately, for effect Example: Frashley got out of it’s “jacket”. Not again! Frashley 

What is a run-on Run on sentences are independent clauses that have not been joined correctly. When 2 independent clauses appear in one sentence, they must be joined in one of these ways. 1. With a comma and a coordinating conjunction, (and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet) 2. With a semicolon (or occasionally with a colon or a dash) Example: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone, and they are essential for the hearing-impaired.

Recognizing run ons…. Does the sentence contain two independent clauses? No No problem Yes Are the clauses joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction? Are the clauses joined with a semicolon? Does the sentence contain two independent clauses Revise. It is a run-on sentence.

Revising run-on sentences… To revise a run-on sentence you have four choices… 1. Use a comma and coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) 2. Use a semicolon(or if appropriate, a colon or a dash) . A semicolon may be used alone; it can also be accompanied by a transitional expression. 3. Make the clauses into separate sentences. 4. Restructure the sentence, perhaps by subordinating one of the clauses.

Works Cited Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. Boston, New York: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2006.

Sentence Fragment Quiz Which of the following sentences is a fragment? We went to pizza hut and ate dinner. Alan drove to Mississippi to visit his family for Christmas. The tennis racquet is in the corner. On the old wooden stool in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.

Sentence Run-On Quiz Which of the following sentences is a run on? Adam and I went to the park, and then we went to his house to play video games. Sarah and Jenny went to see a movie on Saturday night, they also went to Disney World with their families the next day. Last weekend Austin chopped down a cherry tree, and he bounced on a trampoline. The NASCAR race had a spectacular crash when the number 48 car slammed into the number 86 car.

Quiz Identify the following sentences as either a run-on, a fragment, or neither. John went to Orlando last Friday and bought a Maserati, he drove it to Miami and back the same day! And immediately popped their flares and life vests. Christine went on a trip to Hawaii last year, and she went to Australia the year before that.