FRAGMENTS FRAGMENTS AND RUN-AND RUN-ONSONS

Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors

Teri Tosspon Chapter 8, pg 142Chapter 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 verbSubject Verb

You stink.

Sally is talking.

Subject

Verb

I love grammar

Sally is talking loudly

Most clauses have further information after the verb

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 clauseAs I sat down. Howard, the school bully, came and sat beside me.

Could be a combination of phrases and clausesOne 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 Error

Told everyone to get out of the way.

No subject

Disposable lighter in his hand.

No verb

Before he lit the fuse. A dependent clause by itself

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 togetherIf 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!He didn’t throw the firecracker, he placed it between his legs, he wanted to put the lighter away first.

Comma

splice

Fused

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-onsYou may include a conjunctive adverb along with the

semicolon: however, for example, therefore, moreover, indeed,

consequentlyX 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. S2. F3. R4. F5. S

6. R7. S8. S9. F10. R

11. F12. R13. R14. R15. 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.

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.

2. 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 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?

Words to avoid: good, bad, nice, fine, okay, normal, typical, interesting, beautiful