Avoiding Run-On Sentences - 1 Name _____________________Date ________

Three words--it, then, and therefore--cause many run-on sentences. Because each of these words refers back to the preceding idea, people often think that they continue the same sentence. Run-on sentences are the result.

ITRun-on: The meeting was long, it lasted until midnight.Corrections: The meeting was long. It lasted until midnight.

The meeting was long; it lasted until midnight.

THENRun-on: We changed the tire, then we continued on our way.Corrections: We changed the tire. Then we continued on our way.

We changed the tire; then, we continued on our way.

THEREFORERun-on: My line broke, therefore the fish got away.Corrections: My line broke. Therefore the fish got away.

My line broke; therefore, the fish got away.

PART I - Directions: Correct each of the eleven run-on sentences below.

1. The English system of measurement is used in the United States, it is not widely

used elsewhere.

2. Most countries use the metric system, all scientists use it to record experiments.

3. Scientists need a uniform system of measurement, this system enables them to

communicate easily with one another.

4. American students are gradually being taught the metric system, then in a few

years it will be adopted officially.

5. Although learning two systems may seem confusing at first, it is necessary.

6. We are used to measuring in quarts, pounds, and feet, therefore we think this

familiar system is easier.

7. Units of the metric system can be divided by ten, this is what makes the system

so easy to use.

8. A meter is equal to about 39 inches, therefore it is a little longer than a yard.

9. A meter can be divided into 100 equal parts, each one is called a centimeter.10. If you compare an inch and a centimeter, then you will see that an inch is equal

to about two and a half centimeters.

11. The English system measures weight in ounces and pound, the metric system

measures it in grams and kilograms.

12. The prefix kilo-- comes from the Greek word chilioi, which means “thousand.”

13. When scientists measure the volume of a liquid, they use the liter, not the quart,

as the unit of measurement.

14. A liter can be divided into 1,000 equal parts, each part is a milliliter.

15. Someday you will learn about these measurements then they will all make sense. PART II - Directions: On the blank line after each word group, write an independent clause beginning with the word printed in parentheses. Add connectors and proper punctuation and capitalization as necessary.

Example: The car got a flat tire. Then the battery died. ( then )

16. Sue unwrapped the gift ___________________________________________________ ( it )

17. First we meet at my house ______________________________________________ ( then )

18. Dogs are intelligent ____________________________________________________( they )

19. I live far from school ________________________________________________( therefore )

20. Joan was in the living room _______________________________________________( she )

21. The house is old ________________________________________________________( it )

22. Some came by bus __________________________________________________( others )

23. I got two issues of the magazine __________________________________________ ( then )

24. I opened the front door ________________________________________________ ( there )

25. I read the questions quickly ___________________________________________( therefore )

PART I - Directions: Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in the following sentences. Put an S in the space if the sentence is simple. Put a C in the space if the sentence is compound.

Example: __C__ Elissa wanted to go surfing, but Denise wanted to go rollerblading._____ 11. A storm was coming so we boarded up the windows of our seaside cottage.

_____ 12. The coach took us out after the game for pizza and soda.

_____ 13. We stayed up late to watch a movie but we fell asleep on the couch.

_____ 14. We can hear neither the lead singer nor the bass guitar.

Example: __C__ Tom likes to learn about the government, and I like to learn about how laws are made.

_____ 1. People in congress sometimes suggest laws, and then they vote on them._____ 2. The representatives talk about the laws together.

_____ 3. Some people support the new laws, but others dislike them.

_____ 4. The representatives explain the reasons for their opinions.

_____ 5. Later the representatives vote on the new laws.

_____ 6. Some laws pass, but other laws lack the necessary number of votes.

_____ 7. A law passes, or it fails.

_____ 8. The President signs the law, and it goes into effect.

Compound Sentences Name ______________________

Coordinating Conjunctions

compound sentence > a sentence made by joining two simple sentences with a coordinating conjunction and comma

coordinating conjunction > for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Example: Jane likes eating ice cream , but Julie prefers cake. simple sentence simple sentence

coordinating conjunction and comma

_____ 9. Laws protect the citizens of a country.

_____ 10. Sometimes the citizens directly vote on a law in a special election. PART II - Directions: Some of the following sentences seed a comma. Read each sentence. If it is a compound sentence, write C in the space, and add a comma. If it is not a compound sentence, leave it blank, and do not add a comma._____ 15. I smell the skunk yet I can’t see where it is._____ 16. You can have milk and cookies or chips and salsa.

_____ 17. We made ten dozen cookies yet none are left.

_____ 18. Mrs. Smith left her wallet at home and couldn’t buy the tuna.

_____ 19. The VW van lurched up the hill and then it refused to move.

_____ 20. The mall and the parking lot got flooded after the storm.

_____ 21. You take the snow board but not the skis.

_____ 22. We wanted to see the movie but they were already sold out.

_____ 23. David couldn’t see the lunar eclipse for the clouds blocked the moon.

_____ 24. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton found their keys underneath their car.

_____ 25. The bride and the groom wore white, and the bride’s maids wore lavender.PART III - Directions: On the lines provided, complete each of the following sentences. Add another simple sentence to the comma/coordinating conjunctions that are given to create a compound sentence. Remember that the words you add must be able to stand alone as a sentence. Study the example first.

Example: The man’s shoes were wet, so he took them off before coming into the house.

2 6 . The movie was good, but _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________ 2 7 . We lost the

car keys, so _______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________28.The small dog

must have run away from its owner, or __________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2 9 . No one had picked up the trash for weeks, nor _____________________________

__________________________________________________________________

30 .An accident blocked the main street, and _______________________

_________________________________________________________________

Name_____________________________

A Positively Groovy Worksheet on AppositivesAn appositive is a noun or pronoun -- often with modifiers -- set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it. Here are some examples of appositives.

An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede (come before) it.

Punctuation of appositives

In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just

leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary. Place one before and one after the appositive.

Here are some examples.

Here we do not put commas around the appositive, because it is essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be The popular US president was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches. We wouldn't know which president was being referred to.

Here we put commas around the appositive because it is not essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and traditional speeches. We still know who the subject of the sentence is without the appositive.

Here we do not put commas around either appositive because they are both essential to understanding the sentence. Without the appositives, the sentence would just be John Kennedy was quite different from John Kennedy. We wouldn't know what qualities of John Kennedy were being referred to without the appositive.

Exercise: Underline the appositives in the following sentences and draw an arrow to the noun/pronoun it modifies.

1. My son, the policeman, will be visiting us next week.

2. The captain ordered the ship's carpenters to assemble the shallop, a large rowboat.

3. Walter, the playboy and writer, is very attached to his mother, Mrs. Hammon.

4. The actor Paul Newman directed only one picture.

5. Elizabeth Teague, a sweet and lovable girl, grew up to be a mentally troubled woman.

Exercise: Underline the appositives in the following sentences and draw an arrow to the noun/pronoun it

modifies. Try to correctly punctuate where needed.

6. Sweetbriar a company known throughout the South is considering a nationwide advertising campaign.

7. An above-average student and talented musician John made his family proud.

8. The extremely popular American film Titanic was widely criticized for its mediocre script.

9. The greatest American film ever made Citizen Kane won only one Academy Award.

10. 60 Minutes the TV news magazine program featured a story on the popular singer Whitney Houston.

Copyright ©1995-2004 by OWL at Purdue University and Purdue University. All rights reserved.