Chapters 24 and 25

A sentence fragment is a group of words that lacks a subject or a verb and does not express a complete thought. The most common types of fragments are: Dependent-word -ing and –to Added-detail Missing-subject

 A clause that begins with a subordinator (or dependent word ) is a dependent clause.  These examples are not independent clauses.  If a tornado sweeps across the plains.  Because snow is beautiful in the moonlight.

 Dependent clause fragments begin with a subordinating conjunction (because, since, before). ◦ ◦ Incorrect: Although air traffic controllers regulate flight patterns. ◦ Corrected: Although air traffic controllers regulate traffic patterns, they cannot control the weather.

 -ing Fragment: ◦ Jogging in the park on a beautiful day.  -to Fragment: ◦ To take advantage of sunlight in photography.

While we sat there waiting. For example, how he ate his food.

 - Locate the subject.  Locate the verb. ◦ Inspires many poets and song writers. (This lacks a subject.) ◦ The pleasant weather of May. (This lacks a verb.)

 Look for relative pronouns.  Relative pronouns introduce clauses that modify nouns or pronouns (who, which, that). ◦ Incorrect: The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow. ◦ Revised: The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow was very unrealistic.

 Combine the fragment with the sentence that precedes it or with the sentence that follows it. ◦ Incorrect: Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters. But at times create beautiful situations as well. ◦ Revised: Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters but at times create beautiful situations.

My Aunt Marie being a good cook. Fragment

She can spend hours reading a cook book. Correct

Special desserts such as pecan pies, chocolate cheese-cakes, and pumpkin cake roll. Fragment

For example, ice cream and chocolate cake. Fragment

Filled with cream and sugar, these delicacies contain hundreds of calories. Correct

It often seems that any food item that tastes good is fattening. Correct

Fused Sentences: They are fused or joined together as if they were only one thought. Comma Splices Comma Splices: NOT ENOUGH A comma is used to connect or “ splice ” together the two complete thoughts. A comma alone is NOT ENOUGH to connect two complete sentences.

There are three common methods of correcting a run-on: ◦ Use a period and a capital letter. ◦ Use a comma plus a joining word (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) to connect the two complete thoughts. ◦ Use a semicolon to connect the two complete thoughts:

One way of correcting a run-on is to use a period and a capital letter between the two complete sentences. Use this method especially if the thoughts are not closely related. Incorrect: Kristin plays the guitar well she hopes to start her own band. Revision: Kristin plays the guitar well. She hopes to start her own band.

Another way of correcting a run-on is to use a comma plus a joining word to connect the two complete thoughts. There are seven joining words (also called conjunctions). Kristin plays the guitar well, and she hopes to start her own band.

One way to remember the seven coordinating “FANBOYS” conjunctions is to put them in this order: F or A nd N or B ut O r Y et S o EXAMPLE: Michael plays the trumpet well, so he hopes to be selected for the jazz band.

A third method of correcting a run-on is to use a semicolon to mark the break between two sentences. A semicolon looks like a period above a comma. When it is used to correct run-ons, the semicolon can be used alone or with a transitional word. Kristin plays the guitar well; she hopes to start her own band. Also correct: Kristin plays the guitar well; consequently, she hopes to start her own band.

A fourth method of correcting a run- on is to use subordination. Incorrect: Michael didn’t want to miss the bus, he started to run. Revised: Because Michael didn’t want to miss the bus, he started to run.

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night. We had to bring our plants indoors.Correct Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night; we had to bring our plants indoors.Correct Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night, so we had to bring our plants indoors.Correct Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors.Incorrect Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 Because the temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors.Correct Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 If the temperature drops below freezing tonight, we must remember to bring our plants indoors.Correct Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night, therefore, we had to bring our plants indoors.Incorrect Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night, thus, we had to bring our plants indoors.Incorrect Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

 The temperature dropped below freezing last night we had to bring our plants indoors.Incorrect Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect