Understanding sentences

Complete SentencesFragmentsRun-On SentencesCompound Sentences

Independent vs. DependentThe words that confused most of us in grade school…….

What is an Independent Clause?An independent clause, which is another name for “main clause,” has a subject and verb, and it expresses a complete thought. Therefore, an independent clause can stand alone as a full sentence.

Example: Many tourists enjoy the mild winters in southern California.                       subject         verb            complete thoughtWhat is a Dependent Clause?A dependent clause has a subject and verb, but it does not express a complete thought. Therefore, a dependent clause cannot stand alone as a full sentence. 

Example: Although many tourists enjoy the mild winters in southern California.                                           subject       verb    object (NOT a complete thought) 

Notice that the word “although” makes this clause incomplete. Although many tourists enjoy the mild winters…what?      

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.

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.)

Three ways to fix a fragment..Three Ways to Fix a Fragment1. Attach the fragment to a nearby complete sentence.Sometimes a fragment occurs because it’s a leftover of from a previous sentence or it’s an abandoned clause meant to introduce the following sentence.Incorrect: 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.Incorrect: If the front door is locked. Use the back entrance.Correct:   If the front door is locked, use the back entrance.

Three ways to fix a fragment.. 2. Revise the fragment by adding whatever is missing –

subject, verb, complete thought. Incorrect: Loves to lie around in the sun all day. (Subject is

missing. Who loves to lie around?)Correct:   My roommate’s pug loves to lie around in the sun all day.

Incorrect: Joe to train everyday. (Verb is missing. Also, “to train” is the wrong verb form.)Correct:   Joe trains everyday for the marathon next month.Correct:   Joe is training everyday for the marathon next month.

Three ways to fix a fragment… 3. Rewrite the fragment or the entire passage that contains the

fragment. Incorrect: 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.

Ways to fix Run-on Sentences.. 1. Add a period and a capital

letter to separate the sentences.Joseph Cornell was an innovative American artist known for his shadow boxes and collages. His art became more famous after his death in 1972. 

Ways to fix a run-on sentence… 2. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction

Joseph Cornell was an innovative American artist known for his shadow boxes and collages, but his art became more famous after his death in 1972.

Coordinating Conjunctions – The “FANBOYS” (FANBOYS is a memory trick to help you remember them!)

For and nor but or yet so

Wrap-up Please read the assigned textbook

pages. Some of the information discussed in this power point may not be included on the quiz, but it will be utilized at a later point in the course.