Sentence Struture

Revision Review

What Does Sentence Structure Mean?

• Sentence structure refers to what is included in the group of words that you deem a sentence.

• To be a sentence, the group of words must have a subject, a verb, and be a complete thought. If these qualifications are not met, then there is a sentence structure problem.

• A sentence should contain only one idea unless proper connectors are included. If that is not the case, then there is a sentence structure problem.

What is a Fragment?• A fragment is a group of words that is not a

complete sentence. A fragment is missing one of the key elements needed such as a subject, a verb, or being a complete thought.

• Fragments sometimes occur when a word is accidentally left out of a sentence. This makes it miss a key element.

e.g. The boy walking down the street.

(The word “was” is left out before the word “walking.”)

Errors like this can be avoided by proofreading.

What is a Fragment?• Fragments also occur frequently when a

group of words begins with a conjunction. Words like “and” and “but” should be in the middle of words to connect them. These words should never begin a sentence in a formal essay.• e.g. But the whole problem could be explained

easily.

(Solve this by removing the conjunction. The whole problem could be explained easily.)

Solution: Check how every sentence begins!

What is a Fragment?• The third way that a fragment occurs is when

writers mistake a dependent clause for an entire sentence. This dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, so it appears to be sentence-like. However, it begins with a subordinate conjunction like “when” or “since.” This conjunction causes the group of words to not be a complete thought.• e.g. As I said before.

• (“As” starts a dependent clause, so this is a fragment. It can be corrected by adding an entire independent clause after it. As I said before, I will re-explain the problem.)

Test Yourself - Fragments• On a separate piece of paper, put an F if the

group of words is a fragment. Put N if it is not.

• 1. After the game had begun.• 2. Because he said so.• 3. The girls had a game today.• 4. And the answer is seven.• 5. When it rains, it pours.

Check Your Answers - Fragments

• 1. F• 2. F• 3. N• 4. F• 5. N

Test Yourself – Fixing Fragments• On separate paper, correct each of the following

fragments.• 1. When the boys entered the room.• 2. But the answer is incorrect.• 3. Mary singing loudly.• 4. Which was very interesting.• 5. First, the game played on Sunday.

Checking Answers – Correcting Fragments• 1. When the boys entered the room.

• Add an independent clause such as – When the boys entered the room, they put down their books.

• 2. But the answer is incorrect.• Remove ”but” – The answer is incorrect.

• 3. Mary singing loudly.• A word is left out – Mary is singing loudly.

• 4. Which was very interesting.• This is a dependent clause. Add an independent one – The book, which was

very interesting, is for A.R.

• 5. First, the game played on Sunday.• A word is missing – First, the game is played on Sunday.

What is a Run–on Sentence?• A run-on sentence occurs when two whole

sentences run into each other without the proper connection.

• One way to fix a run-on is by making two separate sentences.

• The second way to fix a run-on is by adding a comma AND a conjunction.

• A third way to fix a run-on is to use a semicolon if the two sentences are closely related in meaning.

• A final way to fix a run-on is to turn one of the groups of words into a dependent clause.

Fixing Run-on Sentences• This is a run-on sentence since it has two whole

sentences.

Mary is a good friend she always helps me.

Ways to correct the run-on:

Mary is a good friend. She always helps me.

Mary is a good friend, and she always helps me.

Mary is a good friend; she always helps me.

Mary is a good friend who always helps me.

Test Yourself – Correcting Run-ons

• On separate paper, correct the run-on sentences using the method named.

• 1. The boy played baseball the boy liked basketball better. (comma and conjunction)

• 2. Mary likes books the books are mysteries. (dependent clause)

• 3. The elevator went to the thirteenth floor it was scary up there. (two sentences)

• 4. Peak is an excellent book it tells of an adventure climbing Mt. Everest. (semicolon)

Check Your Answers – Fixing Run-ons

• 1. The boy played baseball, but he liked basketball better.

• 2. Mary likes books that are mysteries. • 3. The elevator went to the thirteenth floor. It

was scary up there. • 4. Peak is an excellent book; it tells of an

adventure climbing Mt. Everest.

What is a Comma Splice?• A comma splice occurs when two whole sentences

run into each other with only a comma separating them.

• One way to fix a comma splice is by making two separate sentences.

• The second way to fix a comma splice is by adding a conjunction after the comma.

• A third way to fix a comma splice is to use a semicolon if the two sentences are closely related in meaning.

• A final way to fix a comma splice is to turn one of the clauses into a dependent one.

Test Yourself – Correcting Comma Splices• On separate paper, correct the run-on sentences

using the method named.• 1. The friends are at school, they spend much time

together. (conjunction)• 2. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player, he had

714 home runs. (semicolon)• 3. Leaves change colors in the fall, the chlorophyll

is affected by the temperature. (dependent clause)• 4. Since the game ended, the players left the field,

they went to Pizza Hut afterwards. (two sentences)

Check Your Answers – Correcting Comma Splices

• 1. The friends are at school, so they spend much time together.

• 2. Babe Ruth was a great baseball player; he had 714 home runs.

• 3. Leaves change colors in the fall because the chlorophyll is affected by the temperature.

• 4. Since the game ended, the players left the field. They went to Pizza Hut afterwards.

• Now that you have completed this review, get a review quiz from your teacher. Take the quiz and return it to her. Then, access your essay on google docs. Look at the comments about sentence structure. Make any corrections on the document. Then, get your rubric from your folder. Take the rubric and computer to your teacher to add points back to your essay score.