FRAGMENTS
AND RUN-ONS
Identifying and Correcting
Sentence Errors
Teri Tosspon
Chapter 8, pg 142
Correcting Fragments and Run-ons
Some basic Info

This presentation explains the following
grammatical concepts:
 Clauses
(dependent and independent)
 Sentences
 Fragments
 Run-Ons
 Semicolons and conjunctive adverbs
Clauses – Review (not in your book)

A clause is a group of words with a subject and
a verb
Subject
You
Sally
Verb
stink.
is talking.
 Most clauses have further information
after the verb
Subject
I
Verb
love
grammar
Sally
is talking
loudly
Two Types of Clauses (review Chpt 7)

Independent clause (Main clause)
Can stand alone as a sentence
 Can be joined to another clause
 Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.


Dependent clause (Subordinate clause)
Cannot stand alone as a sentence
 Must be joined to an independent clause
 Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers.

A word that joins clauses is a conjunction
Joining Clauses

A dependent clause can be joined to an
independent clause to make a sentence
 Fred
filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder
because he wanted to make his own
firecrackers.
Or
 Because he wanted to make his own
firecrackers, Fred filled a cardboard tube with
gunpowder.
When the sentence starts with the
dependent clause, it must have a comma
before the independent clause
Fragments


(pg 143)
A fragment is a piece of a sentence.
We learned last time that a fragment can be missing a
verb, missing a subject, or just not expressing a
complete thought.
 Could
be a phrase
I sat down. In the school bus. Howard, the school bully, came
and sat down beside me.
 Could be a dependent clause
As I sat down. Howard, the school bully, came and sat
beside me.
 Could be a combination of phrases and clauses
One Friday afternoon, as I sat in the school bus that was
filled with screaming kids.
Fragments

Fragments look like sentences but are missing a
subject or a verb, or they are put together
incorrectly.
Fragment
Told everyone to get out
of the way.
Disposable lighter in his
hand.
Error
No subject
Before he lit the fuse.
A dependent
clause by itself
No verb
Correcting Fragments (pg 145)


Subjects or verbs can be added
Howard Crane the shortest kid in my entire seventh
grade.
Howard Crane was the shortest kid in my entire
seventh grade.
Fragments can be joined together
If you’ve ever known a bully. Howard was a prime
example.

If you’ve ever known a bully, Howard was a prime
example.
Run-ons


(Pg 145)
Run-ons are independent clauses that have been
combined incorrectly.
There are several types:
 The
AND run-on
 The Fused run-on
 The comma splice
We will be going into detail on each one
The and run on (pg 146)

The AND run-on: two or more relatively long independent
clauses with a coordinating conjunction without any punctuation.
I
met Charlyce in a yoga class a the YWCA and we
liked each other immediately and we soon became
friends and we often hang out at each other’s houses.
The Fused run on

(pg 146)
The Fused run-on : two or more independent clauses
run together without any punctuation.
I
met Charlyce in a yoga class at the YWCA we soon
became friends.
The comma splice run-on

The comma splice : two or more independent clauses
run together with only a comma.
I
met Charlyce in a yoga class at the YWCA, we soon
became friends.
 Sounds
right? It is actually two separate independent
ideas/clauses. We COULD add a ; (semicolon) to make
it correct, or we could separate into two sentences.
Run-ons
Run-ons (fused sentences) occur when
clauses are joined incorrectly.
 Identify what kind of run-on these are!

Comma
splice
Fused
He didn’t throw the firecracker, he placed it
between his legs, he wanted to put the lighter
away first.
The fuse burned too quickly before he could
throw it the explosive blew up between his
legs.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
1. Make separate sentences with
end punctuation.
X Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared
we all expected to see a bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We
all expected to see a bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. When the smoke cleared,
we all expected to see a bloody mess.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
(pg 146)
1. Make a compound sentence using
one of the joining methods
 And, or, but, so, yet

He wanted to put the lighter away first,
so Fred placed the firecracker
between his legs, and he didn’t throw
it.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
You may include a conjunctive adverb along with the semicolon:
 however, for example, therefore, moreover, indeed, consequently
X Fred hadn’t taped the tube properly and most of the
force was released out the ends of the tube the
explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.
 Fred hadn’t taped the tube well and most of the force
was released out the ends of the tube; however, the
explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.
Notice how the sentence
is punctuated
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
3. Make a complex sentence using
subordingation
 Because, although, if, when, since,
after

Because the fuse burned too quickly
before he could throw it, the explosive
blew up between his legs.
Practice – Mastery Test 1, pg 149



Grab yourself a partner
Identify each sentence in the paragraph as
Sentence (S), Fragment (F), or Run-on (R).
Re-write the paragraph, correcting the incorrect
sentences (pg 150).
Mastery Test 1, pg 149-150
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
S
F
R
F
S
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
R
S
S
F
R
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
F
R
R
R
F
Mastery Test 1, pg 150
In laboratory experiments, scientists have discovered
a died that extends the life of their animals up to
50 percent or more.
Correct the following
1.
Fred managed to make it home and change his clothes,
and he told his parents he fell off his bicycle, he avoided
punishment for playing with explosives.


2.
Fred managed to make it home and change his clothes. He told
his parents he fell off his bicycle, thus avoiding punishment for
playing with explosives.
Fred managed to make it home. He changed his clothes and told
his parents that he fell off his bicycle. He avoided punishment for
playing with explosives.
I left town shortly after. Didn’t see him again for five
years.

I left town shortly after and didn’t see him again for five years.
Correct the following
3.
Took a trip home last summer. I ran into Fred after
my long absence he is unable to have children. Didn’t
ask if he still plays with firecrackers.


During a trip home last summer, I ran into Fred after a
long absence. He is unable to have children. I didn’t ask
if he still plays with firecrackers.
After a long absence, I took a trip home last summer. I
ran into Fred, who is unable to have children. I didn’t ask
if he still plays with firecrackers.
Interactive Exercise

You can get further practise by clicking the button
below or by following the link to the interactive
exercise
 http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/leshanson/Hot_Potato/Sentence_
Structure_6.htm
Description - Chapter 20


(pg 387)
Uses sensory images to create a picture with words.
Activity: on a separate paper, describe what you
 See
Words to avoid:
good, bad, nice, fine,
okay, normal, typical,
interesting, beautiful
 Hear
 Touch
 Smell
 Taste
 When
was another time you had this?
 What
was it like? How does this time compare?
 Where were you?
 How old were you?