Fixing Fragment and Run-On Sentences Again, copy down the stuff in red

Fragments Definition: A sentence fragment is something that looks like a sentence but is NOT because it is an incomplete thought. All sentences must have a subject performing an action and a predicate describing the action. If something is missing one of those, it’s a fragment.

Example: The great big scary brown bear with a scar across his face. What’s missing? How could we make this a complete sentence? Either: Make up a subject or Make up a predicate

Think of Ways you Could Correct the Following Fragments The man in the blue suit. What’s missing? How could we fix this? Jumping all over the place. A story with lots of deep thoughts and emotions. For doing freelance work with another agency.

Fragments Other times, fragments are dependent clauses – aka clauses that cannot stand on their own. Example Sentence: In order to make an A on the test. Eric studied his material all night.

Dependent Clause – “In order to make an A on the test” - This is a fragment because on its own, it’s not a complete thought. Independent Clause – “Eric studied his material all night” – This could be a sentence because it’s a complete thought. Rule: If you see a DEPENDENT clause on its own, it is a FRAGMENT!

Spot the Fragments I need a new assistant. Because the current one is not reliable. Where’s the fragment? How could we make this one sentence? Almost right on cue. The staff sergeant burst through the door and yelled. As if the day could not get any worse. It started raining.

Run-On Sentences – 2 Types First type: A fused sentence occurs when independent clauses (I.C.) run together without punctuation or conjunctions to separate them. Example: My teacher read my paper he said it was excellent.

How could we fix this run-on? Either: “My teacher read my paper” is an I.C. and could be a sentence. “He said it was excellent” is an I.C. and could be a sentence. How could we fix this run-on? Either: Add punctuation and/or a conjunction. Make it 2 short sentences.

Example Fused Sentences I wanted to go outside for a run it was raining when I stepped outside though. What are the 2 I.C.’s? How could we fix this run-on? The baby was jumping on the bed it made me drop my book. The rhinoceros escaped from the zoo it ran all the way to the next town. We were watching a movie when we got the news we had to leave early. They could not believe their eyes they were looking at a huge treasure.

Run-On Sentences Second Type: A comma splice occurs when you have 2 I.C.’s stuck together and only a comma separating them. Example: The cat growled angrily, I knew she wanted food. How do we fix this? Either: Add a conjunction after the comma or Change the comma to a semicolon

Example Comma Splices We were heading outside for the game, it was about to start. How could we fix this run-on? She needed to go home, she was sick. The team was so excited they won, no one wanted to leave the field. The book was pretty boring, I fell asleep while reading it. It was such an extremely long movie, it was almost 4 hours long.