Fragments, Run-ons, and Complete Sentences

Capitalization 1. Capitalize the beginning of a sentence. Example: The trampoline broke when too many people were jumping on it. 2. Proper nouns are always capitalized  Is it a specific person, place, or thing? Example: Disneyland is my favorite attraction; I go there every summer. (specific theme park) 3. “ I “ is ALWAYS capitalized Example: My sister and I didn’t want to wake up this morning.

Punctuation Resources to Use The Punctuation Guide Period ( . ): used after a statement or command Statement: I never like going to the gym when it is late. Command: Go get me my paper. Question mark ( ? ): used after a direct question Example: How many times must you ask me that question? Exclamation Point ( ! ): indicates strong feelings or high volume (use sparingly!) Example: Don’t do that! (yelling) Resources to Use The Punctuation Guide http://www.thepunctuati onguide.com/exclamatio n-point.html The Purdue Owl https://owl.english.purdu e.edu/owl/section/1/6/

Fragments Fragment: a piece of a complete thought that has been punctuated like a sentence. Fragments can be any incomplete word group or dependent clauses (has a verb and a subject but is not a sentence). Ask yourself, “Does it make sense?” Examples: Because she wanted to walk. She was cold when she got to school. (subject and verb but is NOT complete) Although they were just kids. They were animals. Had a good idea.

Run-ons Run-on sentence: occurs when two sentences are run together without the proper punctuation and/or connecting words. fused sentence: occurs when two sentences are written together without any punctuation at all. Example: Joe was happy about the raise he felt like celebrating. (two sentences) Example: Joe was happy about the raise and he felt like celebrating so he went out to buy some new clothes but he had mixed feelings about spending his money. (too mant conjunctions) comma splice: a comma is used between two complete sentences without any connecting word (such as "and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet"). Example: Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating.

Fixing Run-ons Make the two sentences separate complete sentences by adding a punctuation mark. Example: I went to the store, I bought eggs and milk. (comma splice) Example: I went to the store. I bought eggs and milk. 2. Use a comma followed by a conjunction (and, but, or) in between the two sentences to make it correct. Example: I went to the store, and I bought eggs and milk. 3. Use a semicolon in between the two closely related sentences to clarify they are separate sentences. Example: I went to the store, I bought eggs and milk. (comma splice) Example: I went to the store; I bought eggs and milk.

Complete Sentences Complete sentence: has a subject and a verb and makes a complete thought. Another name for a sentence is an independent clause. Complete sentences have a subject and a predicate subject: Who or what is the sentence about? predicate: What is the subject doing? Examples: - Tom laughed. - She is in good condition because of her daily workout. - The storm blew in from the west and reeked havoc. - (You) Be quiet. (The subject "You" is understood.) - He is quiet, and he is very polite. (compound sentence)