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Problems in Writing Sentences

FRAGMENTS AND RUN-ONS

Complete Sentences

A complete sentence has a subject and a verb that work together to make a complete thought.

The students listened intently to the lecture.

Sentence Fragments

A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be a sentence, usually because it is missing a subject or verb or because it does not express a complete though.

Sentence Fragments: Prepositional Phrase

May begin with a preposition and phrase that leave out the rest of the phrase.

So what? (Complete the thought.)

Without her book to discuss assigned reading.

Sentence Fragments: Infinitives

May include the infinitive form of the verb but have no subject and missing part of the thought.

So what?

To make sure she was successful in class.

Sentence Fragments

may locate something in time and place, but lack a subject-verb relationship.

Who or what did something? What did they do?

Last Saturday after the ballgame at the ice cream shop.

Sentence Fragments: Appositives

may describe something, but have no subject-verb relationship.

Who did this? -ing verb: needs helper

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

Sentence Fragments: “-ing” Verbs

may have most of the makings of a sentence but still be missing an important part of a verb string.

-ing verb: needs helper

Some of the girls going together to the mall.

were

Sentence Fragments: Dependent Clause

may have a subject-verb relationship, but cannot stand by itself.

Even though she was the prettiest girl and had a great talent presentation.

DEPENDENT PHRASE

To Fix Fragments

Connect to one of the sentences next to fragment

Add missing element, such as subject or verbComplete the sentence/thoughFor Dependent Clause fragment, cross out

dependent word/phrase

Run-On Sentences

Sometimes called a fused sentenceAt least two parts, either one of

which can stand by itselfParts have been connected together

with no punctuation between them, instead of leaving as two sentences.

Fixing Run-Ons

Put punctuation between sentences.Period (.)—capitalize first word of second

sentenceComma (,) + coordinating conjunctionSemicolon (;)

Semicolon + transitional word + commaAdd dependent word (i.e., because) when and

where appropriate

Run-On Sentences: Fixing a Fused Sentence

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.



The books are heavy, so don’t carry them.




The books are heavy; don’t carry them.




The books are heavy; therefore, don’t carry them.




Because 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 dessert.

Ready for a drill?

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

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE

b) FRAGMENT c) RUN-ON

Walking through the dark forest.

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

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

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


Bob was running in the yard.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


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

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


All of the other girls at the mall.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


I have walked to school everyday.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


My arm hurts a little.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


A big crowd of people have arrived.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


Mother washed the clothes and she waxed the floor.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


What a day for a party!

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


Even though it was late and very dark.

a)COMPLETE SENTENCE


The babies are crying and they are sleepy.

SUBJECT AND VERB MUST AGREE IN NUMBER

Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular Plural

I playYou playHe/She/It

plays

We playYou playThey play

Regular Verbs

Third person singular needs “s” added to verb

1st

2nd

3rd

Singular Plural

I am/have/doYou are/have/doHe/She/It

is/has/does

We are/have/doYou are/have/doThey are/have/do

Irregular Verbs: Be, Have, Do

Must know how to conjugate the verb

Compound Subjects: Singular or Plural?

take plural form of verb when joined with “and” Joyce and Willow are tennis players. Jane and I (we) are tennis players. Jack and you (you) are tennis players.

Take singular or plural when joined with “or”—look at subject closest to verb The President or his cabinet members are… The cabinet members or the President is…

Collective Nouns: Singular

Collective nouns name a group of people or things treat as third person singular

Examples Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish. The team practices each morning. BUT: The team (members) put their trophies in the

case.

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular or Plural

These can be subjects of sentencesUsually followed by prepositional phrase

INDEFINITE PRONOUNSSingular Plural Both

Anybody Anyone Several AllAnything Each Both MoreEither Everybody Others SomeEveryone Everything Few MostMuch Nobody Many NoneNeither No one AnyNothing OneOther SomebodySomeone something

Indefinite Pronouns

Some are always singular (cross out the prepositional phrase to be clear)

Some are always plural (cross out the prepositional phrase to be clear)

Some can be singular or plural In this case, and this case only, you consider whether

the object of the preposition is singular or plural All of the chairs are around the table. All of the apple is rotten.

Words Between Subject and Verb

IGNORE THEM!Remember:

Cross out prepositional phrases (with limited exceptions)

Words like “in addition to,” “along with,” together with,” “except,” including,” “as well as” can also confuse subject verb agreement David, as well as Robert and Mike, participates in

class.

Questions

Subject comes after the verbIf not sure about singular or plural, rewrite

sentence to help Where is/are the Tutoring Center? (The Tutoring

Center is/are…) Where is/are the students? (The students is/are…)

“There”

Not the subject of the sentence, though it is a pronoun

Subject comes after the verb—try rewriting if you need help determining singular or plural There are six students in the back of the classroom. Six students are in the back of the classroom.

Nouns and Pronouns

Nouns

Name person, thing (animal or place), or ideaCan be singular or plural

Freedom is central to the American way of life.

My cars have a lot of horsepower.

Making Singular Nouns into Plural Nouns

Regular nouns Add “s”: chairchairs Nouns ending in “s,” “ss,” “sh,” “ch,” “x,” or “z” need

an “es”: classclasses


Irregular nouns Some are the same singular or plural (i.e., deer) Nouns that end in “f” or “fe”

drop “f” and add “v” and put “s” at end: wifewives Except roofs, proofs, beliefs

Nouns that end in “y” drop “y” and add “ies”: pattypatties Except when preceded by a vowel (just add s): honeys

Hyphenated compound nouns Put “s” after first word: daughters-in-law


Random nouns Oxoxen Manmen Womanwomen Footfeet Curriculumcurricula

Collective Nouns and Compound Nouns

Collective nouns: singular (a unit)Compound nouns: plural

Mike and Jack The students and the instructor The cats and the dogs

Pronouns, Pronouns, and More Pronouns

Replace a noun or another pronounSeveral different types:

Personal Subjective Objective Possessive

Demonstrative Reflexive and Intensive

Singular Plural

IYouHe/she/it

WeYouThey

Subjective Personal Pronouns

Because these are subjects of sentences, they initiate action:

You ran over him.

Singular Plural

meyouhim/her

usyouthem

Objective Personal Pronouns

These are acted upon:You ran over him.

Singular Plural

MyYourHis/her

OurYourTheir

Possessive Personal Pronouns

These imply ownership:You ran over my foot.

Demonstrative Pronouns

This, that, these, those Used to identify specific item or items

This cookie is delicious.That cookie does not have enough sugar.These are gingerbread cookies.Those are sugar cookies.

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

NEVER use hisself or theirselves!

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive usually come after the verb because they reflect what someone or thing did to himself, herself, itself. Samantha convinced __________that she was wrong. You took _________________ out of the game. The vampire dug ___________ out of its grave. Dennis and William ate _____________ sick. We reported ________________ for the crime.

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronouns come directly after the antecedent (the subject of the sentence) and are used for emphasis. I myself have never believed in aliens. She herself raised the children

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns must refer clearly to something specific A word mentioned before using the pronoun

(antecedent)Pronoun must agree in gender (or be neuter)

and number with its antecedent

The leaf turned yellow, but it did not fall.

The leaves turned yellow, but they did not fall.

Melissa passed her driver’s exam with flying colors.


Compound Antecedent Two nouns or pronouns connect by “and” or “or” When connected with “or” the pronoun agrees with

the noun or pronoun closest to it (similar to subject verb agreement)

During World War II, Belgium and France tried to protect their borders.

European nations or Russia may send its troops.

Russia or European nations may send their troops.


Collective nouns (singular) take singular pronoun

Indefinite pronouns Use singular pronoun when indefinite pronoun antecedent is

singular

Everyone must hand in his or her essay. Use plural pronoun when indefinite pronoun antecedent is

plural

Both turned in their essays.

Problems with Pronouns

Compound subjects: always use subjective case

Shirley and I went to the store.

Shirley and I went to the store.


Compound noun/pronoun that is not the subject of sentence: use objective case

I gave papers back to Renee and him.

I gave papers back to Renee and him.


Comparative Statements Which pronoun to use can depend on your meaning Try rewriting sentence to decide

Ryan likes science fiction more than she.

Ryan likes science fiction more than she likes it.


Comparative Statements Which pronoun to use can depend on your meaning Try rewriting sentence to decide

Ryan likes science fiction more than her.

Ryan likes science fiction more than he likes her.

Vague Pronouns

A pronoun should always refer to a specific subject (a noun named previously)

Without this, readers become confused because your pronoun is vague We took April to the hospital. They hooked her up to a

heart monitor. (who is “they”?) On the news, they told the story of the five men

stranded at sea for eight days. (who is “they”?) When I was reading the newspaper, it quoted the

president’s speech. (what is “it”? The newspaper? The article?)

Vague Pronouns

*This is why it is important to be specific when writing—use

names, list what the person’s/people’s job title

is/are, the name of the place, the title of a

book/movie/poem/article/etc.

Unnecessary Pronouns

Leave these out of your sentences

The librarian, he told me where to find the book.

The librarian told me where to find the book.

Journal Topics

Personal topic: What did you do on Memorial Day?

Personal opinion: Do you think the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy should be repealed or continued?

Work: Write about a time that you felt really satisfied in your job.

Spend 10-15 minutes writing.Revise, making sure pronouns refer to specific

people, places, or things.

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