Fragments and Run-on Sentences

Fragments and Run-on Sentences

Chapters 24 and 25

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is a group of words that lacks a subject or a verb and does not express a complete thought.

The most common types of fragments are:Dependent-word-ing and –toAdded-detailMissing-subject

A clause that begins with a subordinator (or dependent word) is a dependent clause.

These examples are not independent clauses.

If a tornado sweeps across the plains.

Because snow is beautiful in the moonlight.

Dependent-Word Fragments

Dependent clause fragments begin with a subordinating conjunction (because, since, before).◦ Incorrect: Although air traffic controllers regulate flight patterns.

◦Corrected: Although air traffic controllers regulate traffic patterns, they cannot control the weather.

How to Correct Dependent-Word Fragments

-ing Fragment:◦Jogging in the park on a beautiful day.

-to Fragment:◦To take advantage of sunlight in photography.

“ing” and “to”Fragments

Added-Detail FragmentsLack a Subject and a Verb

While we sat there waiting.

For example, how he ate his food.

Missing-Subject FragmentsThe subject in one sentence cannot

apply A subject and a verb must be present in each sentence.Incorrect: But then changed his

mind and walked anyway.

Revised: Bob didn’t want to walk all the way to town, but then changed his mind and walked anyway.

-Locate the subject.

Locate the verb.

◦Inspires many poets and song writers. (This lacks a subject.)

◦The pleasant weather of May. (This lacks a verb.)

Locating Sentence Fragments

Look for relative pronouns.

Relative pronouns introduce clauses that modify nouns or pronouns (who, which, that).

◦Incorrect: The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow.

◦Revised: The instructor who argued against class cancellations for snow was very unrealistic.

Locating Sentence Fragments

Combine the fragment with the sentence that precedes it or with the sentence that follows it.

◦Incorrect: Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters. But at times create beautiful situations as well.

◦Revised: Dramatic weather conditions do not always cause disasters but at times create beautiful situations.

Correcting Sentence Fragments

Decide if the sentence group is a fragment:

My Aunt Marie being a good cook.

Fragment


She can spend hours reading a cook book.

Correct


Special desserts such as pecan pies, chocolate cheese-cakes, and pumpkin cake roll.

Fragment


For example, ice cream and chocolate cake.

Fragment


Filled with cream and sugar, these delicacies contain hundreds of calories.

Correct


It often seems that any food item that tastes good is fattening.

Correct

The Two Types of Run-on Sentences

Fused Sentences:They are fused or joined together as if they were only

one thought.

Comma Splices:A comma is used to connect or “splice” together the two

complete thoughts. A comma alone is NOT ENOUGH to

connect two complete

sentences.

• There are three common methods of correcting a run-on:

◦Use a period and a capital letter.

◦Use a comma plus a joining word (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) to connect the two complete thoughts.

◦Use a semicolon to connect the two complete thoughts:

Correcting Run-on Sentences

• One way of correcting a run-on is to use a period and a capital letter between the two complete sentences. Use this method especially if the thoughts are not closely related.

• Incorrect: Kristin plays the guitar well she hopes to start her own band.

• Revision: Kristin plays the guitar well. She hopes to start her own band.


• Another way of correcting a run-on is to use a comma plus a joining word to connect the two complete thoughts. There are seven joining words (also called conjunctions).

• Kristin plays the guitar well, and she hopes to start her own band.


Adding a Coordinating Conjunction

One way to remember the seven coordinating “FANBOYS”conjunctions is to put them in this order:

For And Nor But Or Yet So

EXAMPLE: Michael plays the trumpet well, so he hopes to be

selected for the jazz band.

Correcting Run-on Sentences•A third method of correcting a run-on is to use a semicolon to mark the break between two sentences.

• A semicolon looks like a period above a comma.

•When it is used to correct run-ons, the semicolon can be used alone or with a transitional word.

Kristin plays the guitar well; she hopes to start her own band. Also correct:

Kristin plays the guitar well; consequently,she hopes to start her own band.

• A fourth method of correcting a run-on is to use subordination.

• Incorrect: Michael didn’t want to miss the bus, he started to run.

• Revised: Because Michael didn’t want to miss the bus, he started to run.


The temperature dropped below freezing last night. We had to bring our plants indoors.

Correct

Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect

The temperature dropped below freezing last night; we had to bring our plants indoors.

Correct



The temperature dropped below freezing last night, so we had to bring our plants indoors.

Correct



The temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors.

Incorrect



Because the temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors.

Correct



If the temperature drops below freezing tonight, we must remember to bring our plants indoors.

Correct



The temperature dropped below freezing last night, therefore, we had to bring our plants indoors.

Incorrect



The temperature dropped below freezing last night, thus, we had to bring our plants indoors.

Incorrect



The temperature dropped below freezing last night we had to bring our plants indoors.

Incorrect



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Fragments and Run-on Sentences