FRAGMENTS AND RUN-ONS

741-751

ARTICLE

a, an, and the. These are used to signal the presence of a noun!!

What is a Clause?

Clause – A group of words that contain a subject and predicate. A clause can be INDEPENDENT or DEPENDENT.

An INDEPENDENT (MAIN) CLAUSE can stand alone as a grammatically complete sentence. 

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE has a subject and predicate, but cannot stand alone as a grammatically correct sentence because it

does not express a complete thought.

EX: When the puppies were born After he died

What is a Fragment?

Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. A fragment is often missing a subject, a complete verb or both; however, a fragment can have both these elements and still be a fragment because it does not express a complete thought.

Fragments and Revisions

Below are some examples with the fragments shown in bold. Punctuation and/or words added to make corrections are underlined. Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent clause or long phrase that follows the main clause.

Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

Fragments and Revisions

Fragment: The coach walked off field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.

Possible Revision: The coach walked off the field in the middle of a game, leaving her team at a time when we needed her.

Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

Possible Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

Fragments and Revisions

Some fragments are not pieces of sentences that have been left unattached to the main clause; they are written as main clauses but lack a subject or main verb.

No main verb

Fragment: A story with deep thoughts and emotions.

Possible Revisions: Add a Subject and Verb: She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.

Fragments and Revisions

Fragment: Toys of all kinds thrown everywhere.

Possible Revisions: Complete the verb: Toys of all kinds were thrown everywhere. Add a subject and new verb: They found toys of all kinds thrown

everywhere.

Fragment: A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired. Possible Revisions:

Add a subject and new verb: I've noticed a record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired Add a Main verb: A record of accomplishment began when you were first hired.

Fragments and Revisions

Fragments and Revisions

Run-Ons (Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without a punctuation mark or a conjunction. Run-on sentences are also known as fused sentences.

Some run-ons can be caused by a comma splice which occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined with a comma but without a conjunction (such as and, or, but).

Run-Ons (Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)

The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules:

1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), and use a comma before the connecting word.

_________________________, so _________________________.

There was a big sale at Macy’s, so she wanted to go to the mall.

Run-Ons (Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)

2. When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a connecting word other than FANBOYS between the two independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).

__________________________;___________________________.

There was a big sale at Macy’s; she wanted to go to the mall.

or

__________________________; therefore,____________________.

There was a big sale at Macy’s; therefore, she

wanted to go to the mall.

Run-Ons (Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)

3. You can simply separate the two sentences using a period.

__________________________.___________________________.

She wanted to go to the mall. There was a big sale at Macy’s

4. You can combine the clauses appropriately by using a subordinating conjunction.

__________________________because____________________.

She wanted to go to the mall because there was a big sale at Macy’s

Run-Ons (Fused Sentences/Comma Splices)

So, run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two independent clauses which are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.

Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.

Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.

Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.

Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.

In-Class Assignment for Thursday Using pages 741 – 751, complete

Exercise 3.1 and 4.1 in your journals.