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©2017 by Robin L.
Simmons.
Fragments, Comma
Splices, and Fused
Sentences
How do I know
if I have too
little in a
sentence ...
And how can
I tell if I have
too much?
You presentation
will learn to
This
recognize
covers
avoiding
complete
sentence
sentences, employ
fragments,
appropriate
comma
splices,
punctuation, and
and fused
use subordination
. .
andsentences
coordination
A fragment, comma splice,
and/or fused sentence item
on an objective test might
look like this ...
Sample Item
At the pizzeria,
pizzeria, Jolene
Joleneeavesdropped
eavesdroppedon
onthe
the
A
argument at the next table,
table,while
table
hot
hotcheese
cheese
hot cheese
B
cascaded over
cascaded
overher
herslice
sliceofofpizza
pizzaonto
ontoher
herbare
bare
C
The comma
between
Is the
lap.
table
and hot
punctuation
(or
A.
B.
C.
D.
lack of
at A,
makes
a it)
comma
C that
splice, B
an, or
error
option
B fixes.
incorrect?
pizzeria; Jolene
table while
table
whilehot
hot
pizza. OntoOver
cascaded.
No change is necessary.
A s e n t e n c e m u s t h ave a
subj ect , verb , a n d com pl ete
thought .
Andre practiced jump shots to impress
Coach Nelson.
Andre = subject,
practiced = verb,
and the thought =
complete, so you
have a sentence.
Recognize a fr a gment
w hen you see one.
Andre
As
And
Andre
spun
spinning
spun
spun
the
theball
the
ball
the
to
ball
to
ball
show
show
totoshow
off
show
offhis
his
offoff
skills.
his
skills.
his
skills.
Now
Finally
there’s
! Ano
Yikes
Spinning
! Now≠the
a
subject, asoverb,
you
thought
is not
verb,
so you
have
and
stilla have
complete
a
a fragment
complete! !
fragment
thought! .
Recognize fused sentences
and comma splices .
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court
court
unfortunately
coach’s
turned.
unfortunately the the
coach’s
backback
waswas
turned.
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court,
court,
unfortunately
coach’s
turned.
unfortunately the the
coach’s
backback
waswas
turned.
Youcannot
cannot
You
run
join two
together
two
sentences with
sentences
with
noa punctuation!
comma!
Fix the er r or with a period
and a capital letter .
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court.
court
Unfortunately,
the coach’s
turned.
unfortunately the coach’s
backback
was was
turned.
Swish
goes the
period!
Fix the er r or with a comma
and a coor dinating
conjunction .
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court
court,
but
the coach’s
wasback
turned.
unfortunately
theback
coach’s
was turned.
Be my
FANBOYS —
for, and, nor,
but, or, yet,
and so.
Fix the er r or with a
semicolon .
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court
court;
unfortunately,
the coach’s
turned.
unfortunately the coach’s
backback
was was
turned.
Use the
semicolon
sparingly — 3
to 4 times per
essay, max.
Fix the er r or with a
subor dinate conjunction .
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court after
unfortunately
the
coach’s back
the was
coach’s
turned.
back was turned.
Reduce one
of the two
clauses to an
incomplete
thought.
T hese ar e the subor dinate
conjunctions.










after
although
as
because
before
even though
if, even if
in order that
once
provided that










since
so [that implied], so that
than
that
though
unless
when, whenever
where, wherever, whereas
whether
while
Remember these gener al
punctuation r ules w hen
subor dinating one of the
clauses in the er r or.
Subordinate clause
Main clause
+Ø+
+,+
main clause.
subordinate clause.
Here’s our sample:
Although Andre sank a perfect basket from half
court, the coach’s back was turned.
Andre sank a perfect basket from half court after the
coach’s back was turned.
Adding an
Dropping
unnecessary
the comma
after
courtisislike
like a
comma
grandstanding
championship
game
! is
whenturnover
a teammate
open!
Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
Show me
you got
game!
Item 1
The dogs drooled
drooledwhile
whilewe
weate
ateslices
slicesofofhot
hot
A
pizza but
pizza
pizza,
but
butthe
the
thecat
cat
catfeigned
feigned
feignednonchalance
nonchalance
nonchalance
even
even
even
B
C
though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni.
A.
B.
C.
D.
drooled. While
pizza, but
pizza,
but
nonchalance. Even
No change is necessary.
Item 2
Mary Ellen screamed,
screamed,her
herroommate’s
roommate’spet
pet
tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn.
A. screamed her
B. screamed; because, her
C. screamed
screamed as
asher
her
D. No change is necessary.
Item 3
Running late with dinner,
dinner,Elizabeth
Elizabethfussed
fussedwith
with
A
seasonings and
seasonings
andwiped
wipedspots
spotsoff
offthe
the
B
glasses. While
glasses.
glasses
while
Whilethe
thefamily
familystared
staredatattheir
theirempty
empty
CC
plates.
A.
B.
C.
D.
dinner; Elizabeth
seasonings, and
glasses while
glasses
while
No change is necessary.
Item 4
Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio.
patio. When
When
the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore.
A. patio
patio when
when
B. patio; when
C. patio, when
D. No change is necessary.
Item 5
The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching
refreshment.Roseanne,
refreshment
refreshment
Roseanne,
Roseanne,
however,
however,
however,
had
had
had
to to
beat
tobeat
beat
A
BB
Maria to the refrigerator
refrigeratoras
asthey
theyraced
racedthrough
through
C
the front door.
A.
B.
C.
D.
refreshment.Roseanne
refreshment.
Roseanne
however; had
refrigerator; as
No change is necessary.
Item 6
Warren wanted to make a good impression on
Melody but
Melody
butthe
thesoda
sodaexplosion
explosionthat
thatsoaked
soakedhis
his
shirt ruined their first meeting.
A. Melody; but, the
B. Melody;
Melody; however,
however,the
the
C. Melody, however, the
D. No change is necessary.
Item 7
Because of the hot sun,
sun, ice
icecream
creamran
randown
downthe
the
A
cone and
cone
andcoated
coatedRandall’s
Randall’sfingers,
fingers,his
his
for
tongue
his
tongue
tongue
B
CC
couldn’t keep up.
A.
B.
C.
D.
sun; ice cream
cone, and
fingers, for
fingers,
forhis
his
No change is necessary.
Item 8
Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell.
yell.
Because Paul
Because
Paul was
was about
about to
to explain
explain why
why his
his half
half of
of
the rent would be late again.
A. yell, because
B. yell
yell because
because
C. yell for
D. No change is necessary.
Item 9
After Simon bought roses for Emily,
Emily, he
hespotted
spotted
A
Derek’s car in her driveway
drivewayand
andrealized
realizedthat
thatthis
this
B
gesture would not repair the relationship
relationshipororwin
win
C
back her love.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Emily. he
driveway. And
relationship; or
No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.
Item 10
Since Larry had studied for hours;
hours;he
hewas
was
relieved to find a big red A at the top of his
grammar quiz.
A. hours he
B. hours. He
C. hours,
hours, he
he
D. No change is necessary.
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provides additional
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fragments, comma
splices, and fused
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The End.