Fragments & Run-on Sentences

Scott ChapinPaco Gonzalez

Yuan LiLucio Maldonado

Tyler Smith

FragmentA sentence fragment is a phrase or a clause

punctuated as though it were a complete sentence.

• Example 1: And yawned loudly enough to make everyone in the class turn around.

• Example 2: After Gabriel ate half a box of donuts.

• Example 3: In Japan, during the last war and just before the armistice.

Exceptions: Resume, Ads, and Poems

Run-On SentenceA run-on sentence is two independent clauses

jointed with only a comma or with no punctuation at all.

• Example 1: I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had the time.

• Example 2: I love listening to hip-hop, I love listening to EDM and country too.

• Example 3: Kelly likes to cook, she makes chicken every day.

Exceptions: Poems

Three ways of correcting fragment

1. Attach the fragment to a nearby complete sentence.-Fragment: I forgot to eat breakfast. On the morning of my driver’s test.-Correct: I forgot to eat breakfast on the morning of my driver’s test.

2. Revise the fragment by adding whatever is missing: subject, verb or complete though.-Fragment: Joe to train everyday. (Verb is missing. Also “to train” is the wrong verb form.)-Correct: Joe trains everyday for the marathon next month.

3. Rewrite the fragment or the entire passage that contains the fragment.-Fragment: Our new landlord was expected to make changes. Such as fixing the plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate. Has not done any of it yet and weeks have passed.-Correct: Our new landlord was expected to make changes, such as fixing the plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate lock. Weeks have passed, and he still has not done any of it yet.

Four ways of correcting Run-on

Sentence

1. Make it into two simple sentences.-Run-on: Adam is a sweet boy he really loves animals.-Correct: Adam is a sweet boy, he really loves animals.

2. Sometime two sentences are very closely related in a meaningful and full end-stop punctuation may seem too strong. A semicolon can then be used to divide the two sentences. -Run-on: It was a beautiful day there was not a cloud in the sky.-Correct: It was a beautiful day; there was not a cloud in the sky.

3. A run-on sentence can sometimes be prevented by using a comma and joining word (coordinate conjunction) to join sentences together. -Run-on: John went to the movie Star Trek Sue stayed home.-Correct: John went to the movie Star Trek, and Sue stayed home.

4. Another way to correct a run-on sentence is to change the run-on to a complex sentence by placing a subordinating conjunction before one of the clauses.-Ron-on: I don’t play tennis well I have a poor backhand.-Correct: I don’t play tennis well because I have a poor backhand