Fragments and Run-on sentences

Basmah & 最暖 WB (Ray).

FragmentsWhat does the “Fragments” mean in

English grammar?

A fragment is only a piece of a complete thought that has been punctuated like a

sentence. Three Kinds of Fragments:

1)Phrases2 ） Dependent Clauses

3 ） Any Incomplete Word Group

Examples of fragmentsPhrases:

Ann walked all alone. To the store.Walking to the store. She saw a car accident.

Dependent Clauses:Because his car was in the shop(What did he do?)After the rain stops (What then?)When you finally take the test (What will happen?)Since you asked (Will you get the answer?)If you want to go with me (What should you do?)

How to Correct A Fragment?

ExampleFragment: Ann walked all alone. To the store.Corrected: Ann walked all alone to the store.

Remember the basics: subject, verb, and complete thought. If you can recognize those things, you’re halfway there. Then, scan your sentences for subordinating conjunctions. If you find one, first identify the whole chunk of the dependent clause (the subject and verb that go with the subordinator), and then make sure they’re attached to an independent clause.

Three Common Ways to Fix the Fragments

• Removing words to make a complete sentence• Adding words to make a complete sentence• Connecting two fragments to make a complete

sentence

• Connecting two fragments is a special one more complicated than the other two, because it needs to recognize the subordinating conjunctions.

Subordinating Conjunctions

The thoughts of these fragments are incomplete because of the subordinating conjunctions. What is subordinating conjunctions ？Example: Because, After, When, Since, IfFunctions:

1)join two sentences together2)make one of the sentences dependent on the other for a complete thought (make one a dependent clause)3)indicate a logical relationship

Recognizing of the Subordinating Conjunctions

• Cause / Effect: because, since, so that• Comparison / Contrast: although, even though,

though, whereas, while• Place & Manner: how, however, where,

wherever• Possibility / Conditions: if, whether, unless• Relation: that, which, who• Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever,

while, until

The subordinating conjunction (and the whole dependent clause) doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the sentence. The dependent clause and the independent clause can switch places, but the whole clause moves as one big chunk.

Try to Correct A Fragment By Yourself

Exercises1 ） Because she exercises regularly. She is in excellent condition. 2 ） Walking to the store. She saw a car accident. 3 ） John took the bus. Because his car was in the shop.

Key of the Exercises1 ） She exercises regularly. She is in excellent condition. （ remove words ）& She feels great because she exercises regularly. She is in excellent condition. （ add words ） 2 ） Walking to the store, she saw a car accident.（ connecting ） 3 ） John took the bus because his car was in the shop.

More Exercises for the Quiz

• Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

• Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.

• I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

• The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.

More Exercises for the Quiz

• Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

• Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.

• I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

• The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.

The Website to Find the Key at Home

• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/620/01/

• There are more methods and orientations for fixing the fragments on this website

• Practice More!

Run-On Sentences

• What is a complete sentence?1.a subject (the actor in the sentence).

2. a predicate (the verb or action).3. a complete thought (it can stand alone and make

sense—it’s independent).

Examples • Some sentences can be very short, with only

two or three words expressing a complete thought, like this:

John waited.• It can be expanded to contain a lot more

information, like this: John waited for the bus all morning.

John waited for the bus all morning in the rain last Tuesday.

Wishing he’d brought his umbrella, John waited for the bus all morning in the rain last Tuesday.

Run-On Sentences

• A run-on sentence :is a sentence with at least two independent

clauses (complete thoughts) which are forced together instead of being properly connected.

Example: o We have test we have studied hard.o She is beautiful she is consumed with her self. o We are all humans we have the same locus.

How to fix RO

• To correct these sentences, you have several options: • 1) Separate clauses using punctuation. • 2) Separate clauses using a conjunction. • 3) Rearrange the sentence (you may add or remove words).

Correcting • Joe was happy about the raise he felt like celebrating. (fused

sentence) Joe was happy about the raise. He felt like celebrating.

• Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating. (comma splice)

Joe was happy about the raise, so he felt like celebrating. • Joe was happy about the raise he felt like celebrating.

Joe was happy about the raise; he felt like celebrating.

• Because Joe was happy about the raise, he felt like celebrating.

• Joe, who was happy about the raise, felt like celebrating.

Examples Run-on sentence:

He put on sunscreen, the sun was extremely hot, and he wanted to go inside.• “He put on sunscreen” 1st clause • “the sun was extremely hot” 2nd clause • “he wanted to go inside” 3rd clause

Corrected sentence: use the three ways He put on sunscreen because the sun was

extremely hot. He wanted to go inside.

How to recognize run-on• As you can see, fixing run-ons is easy once you

see them—but how do you find out if a sentence is a run-on if you aren’t sure?

1. Turn them into yes/no questions. 2. Turn them into tag questions

Finding RO• Is my favorite

Mediterranean spread hummus?

• Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus? Is it very garlicky?

• My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus.

• My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, isn’t it?

but not:• Is my favorite

Mediterranean spread hummus is it very garlicky?

It can be:Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus is it very garlicky?

• My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, isn’t it?

But never:• My favorite

Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky, isn’t it?

• My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, isn’t it?

Note • Just because a sentence is long does not necessarily mean

it is a run-on. Some long sentences are grammatically correct, while some short sentences are run-ons.

• E.g. I like learning English it makes me tired.