1. Sentence Structure Fragments & Run-ons

2. Two kinds of sentence errors ● Fragments o Writing only part of a sentence as though it were a whole sentence ● Run-on sentences o Writing two or more sentences as though they were one sentence o Writer mistakenly uses a comma, or no punctuation at all, between the sentences.

3. Even more simplified... ● A fragment is NOT complete. ● A run-on sentence is more than complete (In fact, it is TOO complete.)

4. Review: What is a sentence? ***A group of words is a complete sentence when it has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

5. Sentence Fragment ● A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. ● Since the fragment is only part of a sentence, it is not able to stand on its own.

6. FRAGMENT Ex. Last weekend, I saw Molly. Walking into a store at the mall.

7. FRAGMENT CORRECTED Ex. Last weekend, I saw Molly walking into a store at the mall. OR Ex. Last weekend, I saw Molly. She was walking into a store at the mall.

8. Run-on Sentence When a comma (instead of a period, semicolon, or a conjunction) is used between two complete sentences. One sentence “runs on” into the next.

9. Do not use a comma between sentences. Ex. Choosing what flavor of ice cream to eat is difficult, there are many options. (RUN-ON)

10. Ways to avoid a run-on sentence 1.Use a period to create two separate sentences 2.Use a semicolon (think back to last week’s lesson!) 3.Use a conjunction

11. Example continued… Ex. Choosing what flavor of ice cream to eat is difficult. There are many options. Ex. Choosing what flavor of ice cream to eat is difficult; there are many options. Ex. Choosing what flavor of ice cream to eat is difficult because there are many options.