Les Hanson 2002

The Clause, Fragments, and Run ons

Identifying and Correcting

Sentence Errors

Clauses A clause is a group of words with a

subject and a verbSubject Verb

You stink.

Sally is talking.

Subject

Verb

I hate grammar

Sally is talking loudly

Most clauses have further information after the verb

Two Types of Clauses Independent clause (Main clause)

Can stand alone as a sentence Can be joined to another clause Fred filled a cardboard tube with a poster.

Dependent clause (Subordinate clause) Cannot stand alone as a sentence Must be joined to an independent clause Because he wanted to run into the store.

A word that joins clauses is a conjunction

Joining Clauses A dependent clause/subordinate

clause can be joined to an independent clause to make a sentence I wanted to make a new tablecloth

because the old one was dirty and disgusting.

OrBecause the old one was dirty and

disgusting, I wanted to make a new tablecloth.

When the sentence starts with the dependent clause, it must have a comma before the independent clause

Types of Dependent/Subordinate Clauses

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.

It tells what kind or which one and generally follows the word it modifies.

It is usually introduced by a relative pronoun: who, whom, whose, which, that

Example – I am now reading this book, which is a historical novel about the Irish Revolt of 1798. The adjective clause modifies the noun book, telling what kind of book.

Types of Dependent/Subordinate Clauses

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective or an adverb.

It tells when, how, where, why, to what extent.

Example – Donna sounds as if she has caught a cold. (modifies sounds)

An adverb clause starts with a subordinating conjunction – after, although, if, when (full list on pg. 97)

Types of Dependent/Subordinate Clauses

A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used as a noun – subject, pred nominative, direct obj, etc.

Example – She believes that lost time is never found again. (direct object)

Common introductory words for noun clauses – pg. 99 for complete list – how, that, what, when, whom, etc

Fragments Fragments look like sentences but

are missing a subject or a verb, or they are put together incorrectly.

Fragment ErrorStarted baking the pie No subject

Apple in his hand. No verb

After coming home from the orchard.

A dependent clause by itself

Correcting Fragments Subjects or verbs can be added Fragments can be joined together All of the following are correct

With the apple in his hand, after returning from the orchard, he started to bake a pie.

He started to bake a pie with the apple in his hand after returning from the orchard.

After returning from the orchard, with an apple in his hand, he started to bake a pie.

Run-ons Run-ons (fused sentences)

occur when clauses are joined incorrectly.

The pie did not taste good, it had no sugar in it because he forgot it.Comm

a splice

Run-on

Then he burned it in the oven and my mother came home and she yelled at him because of this.

Ways to Correct Run-ons1. Join the clauses with a comma and a

coordinating conjunction And, or, but, so, yet The pie did not taste good, and it had no

sugar in it because he forgot it.

2. Join the clauses with a subordinating conjunction

Because, although, if, when, since, after Because of this, my mother yelled at him

when she came home.

Ways to Correct Run-ons3. Make the clauses into separate

sentences.

Ways to Correct Run-ons4. Join two independent clauses with a

semicolon (;)if they are closely related. You may include a conjunctive adverb along

with the semicolon: however, for example, therefore, moreover,

indeed, consequently Example – My mother threw the apple pie in

the trash; however, she also made us a new one.

Correct the following1. The new apple pie was amazing and I

layered it with tons of whipping cream this made it even more delicious.

2. Didn’t care for it. Angela would rather have chocolate brownies. Because she likes chocolate.

Types of sentence by structure

A sentence can be classified, depending on its structure, as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex

A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses.

Example – Later, they drove to school and decorated the cafeteria for the Ecology Club’s annual banquet.

Types of sentence by structure

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.

These independent clauses are joined by (1) a comma and coordinating conjunction, (2) a semi-colon, or (3) a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb like therefore or however.

Example – After an hour, they took a short break; then they went back to work.

NOTE – Do not mistake a simple sentence with a comp. subject or verb for a compound sentence

Types of sentence by structure

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.

Example – When they had finished their work, they complimented each other on the results.

Types of sentence by structure

A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

Example – Cora waited for the right moment to ask Keith to the banquet, and he accepted her invitation, adding that he had been planning to ask her.