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 sentencelike. 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.