FRAGMENTS, COMMA SPLICES, AND RUN-ONS OH MY!

WHAT IS A FRAGMENT? A fragment is a group of words that is punctuated as a sentence but is not a sentence.

WHAT ARE THE TWO TYPES OF FRAGMENTS? 1. A group of words with no subject or no verb 2. A group of words that has a subject and a verb but starts with a dependent word

WHAT IS MISSING? 1. Took an interest in astronomy. 2. Scott turning his telescope skyward every night. 3. A place where the puppy would be happy.

WHERE ARE THE DEPENDENT WORDS (SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS)? Since I took an interest in astronomy. Because I was sure I would get there. While Scott was turning his telescope skyward every night. If a place where the puppy would be happy was hard to find.

INTENTIONAL VS. UNINTENTIONAL FRAGMENTS If the author really means to write a fragment it is not an error. Wow! Great. What a mess. These are intentional fragments. Note: Intentional fragments usually don’t fit the formal tone of academic writing.

WHAT ARE THE TWO WAYS TO FIX AN UNINTENTIONAL FRAGMENT? 1. Make it into a sentence. 2. Join it to a sentence.

WHAT IS A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE? A subordinate clause is a group of words with a subject and verb but starts with a dependent word. Examples: since I ran to class, when I was eating lunch, because I came to West. while I am in class …

THERE ARE TWO PATTERNS FOR SENTENCES WITH SUBORDINATE CLAUSES. SC = Subordinate Clause MC = Main Clause Pattern # 1 = SC, MC. Because he was such a good student, I decided to make him a flower pen. Pattern # 2 = MC SC. I decided to make him a flower pen because he was such a good student.

WHAT IS A COMMA SPLICE? A comma splice is two sentences joined with only a comma.  The wind was cold, they decided not to walk.  I ran to class, I puked my guts out.

WHAT IS A RUN-ON SENTENCE? A run-on sentence is two sentences with nothing in between.  The wind was cold they decided not to walk.  I ran to class I puked my guts out.

THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO FIX A COMMA SPLICE OR RUN-ON. 1. Use a period. 2. Use a semi-colon. 3. Join with comma + and-but-for-or- nor-so-yet 4. Make one subordinate (remember- SC, MC)