Sentence Fragments

Complete Sentences

A Project LA ActivityComplete SentencesFragmentsRun-On SentencesCompound Sentences

Complete Sentences A complete sentence has a subject

and a predicate that work together to make a complete thought.

Bobby smiled until he thought his face would crack.

Sentence Fragments A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be

a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself.

Sentence Fragments may locate something in time

and place, but lack a subject-verb relationship.

Last Saturday after the ballgame at the ice cream shop.

Sentence Fragments may describe something, but

have no subject-verb relationship.

Shooting just before the buzzer rang and hoping to score the winning point.

Sentence Fragments may have most of the makings of

a sentence but still be missing an important part of a verb string.

Some of the girls going together to the mall.

Sentence Fragmentsmay have a subject-verb

relationship, but cannot stand by itself.Even though she was the prettiest girl and had a great talent presentation.

Run-On Sentences A RUN-ON SENTENCE

(sometimes called a fused sentence) has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself, but the two parts have been connected together with one or two words instead of becoming two sentences. The run-on could be corrected with a semi-colon.

Run-On Sentences Remember: The length of a

sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; even a very short sentence could be a run-on.

The books are heavy don’t carry them.

The books are heavy. Don’t carry them.

Run-On Sentences When two clauses are connected

by only a comma, they are a run-on sentence that is called a comma-splice.

The books are heavy, don’t carry them.

Run-On Sentences happen when an independent clause

gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause.

The game is going to be very close you have to play your best.

Run-On Sentences happen when two clauses are connected

by words such as however, moreover, nevertheless.

Mother packed my lunch today however she forgot to put in my desert.

Ready for a drill?Is it a complete

sentence, run-on, or a fragment? Read each of the following and click your choice!

Walking through the dark forest.

a)Complete Sentenceb)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

Bob was running in the yard.




This is my first ball game but I think we will win.




All of the other girls at the mall.




I have walked to school everyday.




My arm hurts a little.




A big crowd of people have arrived.




Mother washed the clothes and she waxed the floor.




What a day for a party!




Even though it was late and very dark.




The babies are crying and they are sleepy.




Combining SentencesSentences have to be

combined to avoid the boredom that would happen if all sentences were the same length.

A Compound Sentencecontains two independent

clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.)

Ready for practice? On your paper combine

each pair of sentences. A suggested answer will be supplied.

Danny ran a mile.John fell down and dropped out.

ANSWER

Danny ran a mile, but John fell down and dropped out.

Compound sentence:

Susan ate dinner.Mother fixed the dessert.

ANSWER

Susan ate dinner, and Mother fixed the dessert.

Compound sentence:

I went to the game.Joey went skating.

ANSWER

I went to the game, so Joey went skating.

Compound sentence:

You can come with us.We are leaving early.

ANSWER

You can come with us, but we are leaving early.

Compound sentence:

He studied late.Father told him it was time for bed.

ANSWER

He studied late, so Father told him it was time for bed.

Compound sentence:

The boys got into a fight.The teacher sent them to the office.

ANSWER

The boys got into a fight, thus the teacher sent them to the office.

Compound sentence:

Online Complete Sentence Activities

Fragment Complete Sentence Quiz

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Repairing Sentence FragmentsRepairing Run-On SentencesQuiz 1 Combining SentencesQuiz 2 Combining SentencesQuiz 3 Combining SentencesQuiz 3 FragmentsQuiz 2 FragmentsRun-On Sentence QuizRun-On Sentence Quiz II

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Sentence Fragments