FRAGMENTS AND RUN-ONS• Contents1. Fragments: recognizing and

correcting fragments2. Run-ons: recognizing and correcting

run-ons*Practice between each content

1.1 Recognizing fragments

• Definition: a fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought.• Part of a sentence should not be

presented as a full sentence ending with a period or other end mark.

Examples

• Fragments1. Because we missed

the train2. After the rainfall

3. Without looking back4. The boy wearing the

green shirt

• Sentences1. We were late because

we missed the train.2. After the rainfall, the

river rose.3. Sue got on the train

without looking back.4. The boy wearing the

green shirt is Tim.

Practice

• Decide whether each group of words is a sentence or a fragment.

1. To see the new museum was a real thrill. 2. Which Cindy got for her birthday.3. Who won?4. The player with the lowest score.5. Enjoys working out at the gym.

1.2 Correcting fragments• A phrase should not be capitalized and

punctuated as if it were a sentence.

Phrase fragments1. A person with

great integrity2. Followed us

home

Completed sentences 1. A person with great

integrity is needed.2. A stray dog

followed us home.

A subordinate clause should not be capitalized and punctuated as if it were a sentence. • Clause fragment1. Whom I greatly

respect 2. Just as we began our

picnic3. What I asked

• Completed sentence1. Lee is someone whom

I greatly respect. 2. The rain started just as

we began our picnic3. What I asked was

impossible to do.

Words in a series should not be capitalized and punctuated as if they were a sentence. • Series fragment1. Blueberry pie,

strawberry shortcake, and cherry cheesecake

• Completed sentence1. The dessert choices

include blueberry pie, strawberry shortcake, and cherry cheesecake.

Practice • Decide whether each item is a phrase

fragment, clause fragment, series fragment, or a sentence.

1. Wherever you want them.2. To make friends in a new place.3. A wide meadow, a babbling brook, and

bright sunshine.4. You succeeded.

2.1 Recognizing run-ons

• Definition: a run-on sentence is two or more complete sentences that are not properly joined or separated; that is, they are not separated by an end mark, or they are separated only by a comma.

• Examples The coals are ready now we can begin cooking.The lettuce is thriving, the broccoli is straggly.

Practice

• Identify each item as a run-on or a sentence. 1. David has a new camera, but he forgot to

bring it.2. The children played in the back yard, the

swings and sandbox amused them. 3. We got three easy outs our team was up. 4. Louise did a wonderful job, we knew she

would.

2.2 Correcting run-ons

• 5 methods to correct run-ons1. End mark

Run-on:

What do you think will we win?

Fixed sentence:

What do you think? Will we win?

2. Comma and coordinating conjunction

Run-on:Kelly came with us, Sue stayed home.

Fixed sentence:Kelly came with us, but Sue stayed

home.

3. Semicolon

Run-on:The food was delicious the service

was excellent.

Fixed sentence:The food was delicious; the service

was excellent.

4. One simple sentence

Run-on:The jet was a 747 it landed gracefully.

Fixed sentence:The jet, a 747, landed gracefully.

5. One complex sentence

Run-on:We lost the game we had played our

best.

Fixed sentence:Although we lost the game, we had

played our best.

2. Comma and coordinating conjunction

Run-on:Kelly came with us, Sue stayed home.

Fixed sentence:Kelly came with us, but Sue stayed

home.

Practice • If a word group is a run-on sentence, write a slash /

between the two sentences or independent clauses. If a sentence is correct, write C.

1. The trick amazed the group they had never seen anything like it.

2. Without saying a word, the messenger handed me an envelope.

3. We rounded the bend, the castle came into view.

• Now, apply the appropriate method to fix the run-ons.