FINISHING WHAT YOU START: Writing Complete Sentences

FINISHING WHAT YOU FINISHING WHAT YOU START:START:

Writing Complete SentencesWriting Complete Sentences

What Makes a Sentence Complete?What Makes a Sentence Complete?

• it needs a subjectit needs a subject

• it needs a verbit needs a verb

• it needs to express a it needs to express a complete thoughtcomplete thought

The bull horns the matador. The bull horns the matador. Ouch!Ouch!

The bull’s sharp horns in the The bull’s sharp horns in the matador’s back!matador’s back!

What if it’s not a complete sentence?What if it’s not a complete sentence?

It’s probably a Fragment It’s probably a Fragment or a run on disguised as or a run on disguised as a sentence! a sentence!

Poser!Poser!

Recognizing FragmentsRecognizing Fragments

Fragments are incomplete sentencesFragments are incomplete sentences

AndreAndre spinningspinning the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.AndAnd spunspun the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.As AndreAs Andre spunspun the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.AndreAndre spunspun the ball to show off his the ball to show off his skills.skills.

Spinning ≠ a verb, so you

have a fragment!

Spinning ≠ a verb, so you

have a fragment!

Now there’s no subject, so you

still have a fragment.

Now there’s no subject, so you

still have a fragment.

Yikes! Now the thought is not

complete!

Yikes! Now the thought is not

complete!

Finally! A subject, a verb, and a complete

thought!

Finally! A subject, a verb, and a complete

thought!

Recognizing Run OnsRecognizing Run OnsRun on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each other, without proper conjunctions Run on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each other, without proper conjunctions

or punctuationor punctuation

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court Andre sank a perfect basket from half court unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.

You cannot run together two

sentences with no punctuation!

You cannot run together two

sentences with no punctuation!

You cannot join two

sentences with a comma!

You cannot join two

sentences with a comma!

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court court unfortunately unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court, unfortunately unfortunately the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.


Swish goes the period!

Swish goes the period!

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court. court. Unfortunately,Unfortunately, the coach’s back was turned. the coach’s back was turned.

Run on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each Run on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each other, without proper conjunctions or punctuationother, without proper conjunctions or punctuation

Recognizing Run OnsRecognizing Run Ons

Run on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each Run on sentences are multiple thoughts running into each other, without proper conjunctions or punctuationother, without proper conjunctions or punctuation

Recognizing Run OnsRecognizing Run Ons


Be my FANBOYS — for, and, nor,

but, or, yet, and so.

Be my FANBOYS — for, and, nor,

but, or, yet, and so.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court, but but the coach’s back was turned.the coach’s back was turned.

Conjunctions

Is it a Sentence?Is it a Sentence?

It’s time to play...It’s time to play...

How to PlayHow to Play• The room will be split in half to make 2 families.The room will be split in half to make 2 families.

• Families will have 25 sec. to pick a name.Families will have 25 sec. to pick a name.

• You will be shown a group of words and you You will be shown a group of words and you must decide if the group of words is a sentence, must decide if the group of words is a sentence, fragment, or a run on. fragment, or a run on.

• The first person to stand up and answer The first person to stand up and answer correctly, will win points for their family.correctly, will win points for their family.

• The family with the most points wins!The family with the most points wins!

Sandra ran for student Sandra ran for student council president.council president.

10Complete SentenceComplete Sentence

In Culver City on In Culver City on Sunday.Sunday.

9FragmentFragment

I went to lunch with my I went to lunch with my sister she had a tuna sister she had a tuna

sandwich I had a taco.sandwich I had a taco.

8Run OnRun On

Singing!Singing!

7FragmentFragment

The ugly brown dog The ugly brown dog around the corner.around the corner.

6FragmentFragment

Dogs are excellent Dogs are excellent pets cats aren’t.pets cats aren’t.

5Run OnRun On

My cat Buster loves to nap on My cat Buster loves to nap on warm appliances when he warm appliances when he

sleeps on top of the television, sleeps on top of the television, his tail swipes the screen like a his tail swipes the screen like a

windshield wiper. windshield wiper.

4Run OnRun On

In the car out on the In the car out on the street.street.

3FragmentFragment

The dogs outside The dogs outside bark all night long; bark all night long;

it’s annoying.it’s annoying.

2Complete SentenceComplete Sentence

While eating cookies While eating cookies and drinking milk in and drinking milk in

the kitchen.the kitchen.

1FragmentFragment

“Going for Flow: Joining Sentences Correctly”

• Some sentences are too short and when you read them it sounds like you are a 3rd grader:

I like dogs.

Dogs make good pets.

Dalmatians are my favorite.

I like their spots.

Lets fix this!

“Going for Flow: Joining Sentences Correctly”

• When you “glue” sentences together, be sure to do so legally.

• Avoid run-on sentences

Mary Ellen screamed, her roommate’s pet tarantula Mary Ellen screamed, her roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.crawled out of the bag of popcorn.

A.A.screamed herscreamed herB.B.screamed; because, herscreamed; because, herC.C.screamed as herscreamed as herD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Mary Ellen Mary Ellen screamed, herscreamed, her roommate’s pet tarantula roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.crawled out of the bag of popcorn.


Mary Ellen Mary Ellen screamed, herscreamed, her roommate’s pet tarantula roommate’s pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.crawled out of the bag of popcorn.


Sentence Practice Questions


Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. When the Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. When the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.

A.A.patio whenpatio whenB.B.patio; whenpatio; whenC.C.patio, whenpatio, whenD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Everyone scrambled off the lakeside Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. Whenpatio. When the the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.


Everyone scrambled off the lakeside Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. Whenpatio. When the the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.


Sentence Practice QuestionsThe glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment Roseanne, however, had to beat refreshment Roseanne, however, had to beat

Maria to the refrigerator as they raced through Maria to the refrigerator as they raced through

the front door.the front door.

A.A.refreshment. Roseannerefreshment. RoseanneB.B.however; hadhowever; hadC.C.refrigerator; asrefrigerator; asD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment Roseannerefreshment Roseanne, , however, hadhowever, had to beat to beat AA BBMaria to the Maria to the refrigerator asrefrigerator as they raced through they raced through CCthe front door.the front door.


The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching

refreshment. Roseannerefreshment. Roseanne, , however, hadhowever, had to beat to beat AA BBMaria to the Maria to the refrigerator asrefrigerator as they raced through they raced through CCthe front door.the front door.



Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the

cone and coated Randall’s fingers, his tongue cone and coated Randall’s fingers, his tongue

couldn’t keep up.couldn’t keep up.

A.A.sun; ice creamsun; ice creamB.B.cone, andcone, andC.C.fingers, for hisfingers, for hisD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

Because of the hot Because of the hot sun, ice creamsun, ice cream ran down the ran down the AAcone andcone and coated Randall’s coated Randall’s fingers, hisfingers, his tongue tongue BB CCcouldn’t keep up.couldn’t keep up.


Because of the hot Because of the hot sun, ice creamsun, ice cream ran down the ran down the AAcone andcone and coated Randall’s coated Randall’s fingers, for hisfingers, for his tongue tongue BB CCcouldn’t keep up.couldn’t keep up.


Sentence Practice QuestionsAfter Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted After Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted

Derek’s car in her driveway and realized that this Derek’s car in her driveway and realized that this

gesture would not repair the relationship or win gesture would not repair the relationship or win

back her love.back her love.

A.A.Emily. heEmily. heB.B.driveway. Anddriveway. AndC.C.relationship; orrelationship; orD.D.No change is necessary.No change is necessary.

After Simon bought roses for After Simon bought roses for Emily, heEmily, he spotted spotted AADerek’s car in her Derek’s car in her driveway anddriveway and realized that this realized that this BBgesture would not repair the gesture would not repair the relationship orrelationship or win win CCback her love.back her love.


After Simon bought roses for After Simon bought roses for Emily, heEmily, he spotted spotted AADerek’s car in her Derek’s car in her driveway anddriveway and realized that this realized that this BBgesture would not repair the gesture would not repair the relationship orrelationship or win win CCback her love.back her love.


Fix the following Run-On Sentences

1. Border, airport, and seaport checks become top priority when preventing the transportation of illegal drugs and explosives employing the help of animals has become common police policy.

2. In the battle against drugs, narcotics traffickers outnumber police officers the police have a special weapon: drug sniffing dogs.

Fix the following Run-on Sentences

1. One 12-week training course teaches a dog to recognize smells, a dog trainer also called a handler, places a sample of the smell in a training aid made from a newspaper, a rolled up rag, or some other object.

2. The handler hides the training aid and asks the dog to bring it back he or she rewards the dog with treats or affection for a successful retrieval.


1. The training aid changes regularly, but the sample smell remains the same the dog can recognize drugs and explosives no matter where they are hidden.

2. Eventually other scents, such as perfumes, are added this allows the dogs to find the drugs even when criminals try to disguise the scent.

Turn the following fragments into complete sentences.

1. After I exercised in the weight room

2. Worn-out from studying for the test

3. To have faith in yourself

4. Because the room was so dark

Turn the following fragments into complete sentences.

1. while I was sleeping

2. the rising sun

3. brought the dawn

4. birds in the trees


1. Psychology is the science that studies all kinds of behavior the behavior may be normal, or the behavior may be abnormal.

2. Psychologists try to find answers to questions about thoughts, feelings, and actions their feelings help us understand why people behave as they do.


1. In the late 1800s psychology developed into a science based on observation and experimentation prior to that, there were no systematic studies of the mind.

2. Sigmund Freud introduced the theory that behavior is determined by the unconscious mind he developed techniques to uncover repressed feelings.


1. Many Psychologists disagree with some of Freud’s ideas most accept that the unconscious has a major effect on behavior.

2. Cognitive psychologists concentrate on thinking processes and self- awareness they believe there’s more to human nature than a response to stimulus.

Combine the sentences so that it doesn’t sound like a 3rd grader wrote them!

1. The homecoming football game started at 2:00 p.m. / It was a special event.

2. Three bands played and marched at half time in the rain. / By 3:00 it was pouring rain.

3. The huge crowd got very wet. / Lightening filled the air around 3:30. / The game had to be called off.

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FINISHING WHAT YOU START: Writing Complete Sentences