9th Literature Language Practice # 2
Name: ___________________________________________
FRAGMENTS and RUN-ONS
Fixing Fragments
 Add a subject or verb to complete the thought.
 Attach the fragment to the sentence before or
after it, if it makes sense to do so.
 Drop or replace words.
Fixing Run-ons
 Separate the two sentences using end
punctuation and capitalization.
 Use a comma and coordinating conjunction.
 Insert a semi-colon and transitional word or
phrase followed by a comma.
 Insert a subordinating conjunction.
Try it: Fix the fragment or run-on in each of the sentences.
1. The islanders having had the only written language in that part of the Pacific.
2. Because their stonework resembled that of the Incas. People thought the islanders came from South America.
3. Easter Island boasts nearly 1,000 statues some are nearly 30 feet tall and weigh up to 80 tons.
4. Captain Cook visited the island more than 225 years ago, he speculated on how the statues might have been
slowly lifted using scaffolding.
5. Named by a Dutch explorer.
6. The tiny spit of an island is remote still it is inhabited today.
7. The island’s lush palm forests were destroyed, cleared for farming.
8. We wanted to play soccer however our friends wanted to listen to music.
Identify the sentence error. If an underlined word or phrase contains a grammatical error, choose the part that must be
changed to correct the sentence.
1. Several (A) guesthouses (B) on the island greeting (C) visitors (D). No error. (E)
2. Illiteracy is (A) an enormous problem: it affects (B) millions of people worldwide (C) and it is an
impediment to (D) social progress. No error (E)
3. All the trapped miners began (A)to lose (B) hope, it (C) had been twenty-four hours since (D) the tunnel
collapsed. No error (E)
4. Before blossoming into a beautiful (A) butterfly, the caterpillar spending (B) time wrapped (C) in (D) a cocoon.
No error. (E)
5. As he held open(A) the door for her, she could not ignore the look on his face,(B) a look that aggravated(C) her
self-consciousness as they proceeded(D) along the street. No error (E).
6. The company bowed(A) to pressure,(B) now it(C) has removed the offensive advertisement from(D) the
board. No error(E).
7. The station was a hive(A) of bustling activity,(B) the arrival of the train was the most important(C) event of the
day in(D) that remote place. No error(E).
8. When Russell Wallace and Darwin independently(A) proposed similar theories, Darwin had(B) already
accumulated extensive evidence (C) to support his(D) ideas. No error(E).
9. I agree that(A) a knowledge of Latin is helpful to build(B) a good English vocabulary, but(C) I do not think I have
the capacity to(D)study the subject at the moment. No error(E).
10. The bridal gown was most(A) unique: the(B) bridegroom designed it(C) and his(D) mother provided the lace
fabric. No error(E).
Improve the sentence. Select the answer choice that best expresses the meaning of the underlined portion of the original
sentence.
11. Easter Island, one of the most isolated places on the planet.
a. Easter Island, one of the most isolated places on the planet.
b. Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on the planet.
c. Easter Island, the most isolated place on the planet.
d. Easter Island, one of the most isolated places on the planet, far away.
e. Easter Island becoming one of the most isolated places on the planet.
12. Although gale force winds often pass through the Eiffel Tower, causing it to sway no more than four inches.
A. causing it to sway no more
B. and yet it sways no more
C. they do not cause it to sway more
D. and they do not cause it to sway
E. yet causing it to sway no more
13. The police reprimanded everyone at the party, they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior
year.
A. at the party, they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year
B. at the party, seemingly the fact that it was our senior year did not make them sympathetic
C. at the party without being sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year
D. at the party they didn’t, despite the fact that it was our senior year, seem very sympathetic
E. at the party; they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year
14. The crème brûleé is delicious at that bistro I recommend you try it after your meal.
A. at that bistro I recommend you try it after your meal
B. at that bistro, and I recommend you try it after your meal
C. after your meal, it can be tried at that bistro
D. and it can be tried after your meal at that bistro
E. at that bistro, after your meal is when I recommend you try it
15. Rocking climbing as a sport is growing in popularity, because it poses both mental and physical challenges, rock
climbing is deemed by many to be more interesting than other exercise routines.
A. popularity, because it poses both mental and physical challenges,
B. popularity, due to its mental and physical challenges
C. popularity, given that, it poses both mental and physical challenges
D. popularity; being that it poses both mental and physical challenges
E. popularity; because it poses both mental and physical challenges,
16. The 19th century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, inspiring many thinkers of today, writing many of his works
while extremely ill.
A. Friedrich Nietzsche, inspiring many thinkers of today, writing
B. Friedrich Nietzsche inspiring many thinkers of today he wrote
C. Friedrich Nietzsche, who inspires many thinkers of today, wrote
D. Friedrich Nietzsche inspires many thinkers of today, however he wrote
E. Friedrich Nietzsche inspires many thinkers of today he wrote
17. One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms, another
that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment.
A. symptoms, another that occurs
B. symptoms; another one that occurs
C. symptoms, the other, and it occurs
D. symptoms; another one which is occurring
E. symptoms, and
18. The problem of antibiotic resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries because the sale and use of
antibiotics are not tightly controlled.
A. resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries because
B. resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries and
C. resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries when
D. resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries where
E. resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries and
In each of the following exercises, (1) use at least one current vocabulary word per sentence; (2) relate each
sentence to our current unit of study; (3) use proper punctuation.
19. Write a compound sentence joined by a semicolon.
20. Write a compound sentence joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction “but.”
21. Write a compound sentence joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction “so.”
22. Re-write sentence #13, 14 or 15 as a complex sentence using a subordinating conjunction.
23. Re-write sentence #13, 14 or 15 as two simple sentences.
24. Write a compound-complex sentence using the proper conjunctions and punctuation.