SENTENCE STRUCTURES

Sentence Structures

• Sentence Fragments

• Run- Ons

• Faulty Parallelism

• Misplaced Modifiers

• Dangling Modifiers

Sentence Fragments

A sentence……?

People

People gossip.

Wrestles

Tom wrestles.

Drinking more than anyone else at the bar.

Tom was drinking more than anyone else at the bar.

Sentence Fragments

Forms of fragments…….

• Dependent-word fragments

• Ing- & to- fragments

• Added-detail fragments

• Missing subject fragments

Sentence Fragments

• Dependent-word fragments

Dependent words: if, since, in order to, after, although, as, because, before, how, unless, untill,which, etc.

– After I learned the price of new cars. I decided to keep my old one.

– After I learned the price of new cars, I decided to keep my old one.

– I learned the price of new cars and decided to keep my old one.

Sentence Fragments

• Ing- & to- fragments

– I plan on working overtime. To get this job finished. Otherwise, my boss may get angry on me.

– I spent almost two hours on the phone yesterday. Trying to find a garage to repair my car. Eventually I had to have it towed to a garage in another town.

– I plan on working overtime to get this job finished. Otherwise, my boss may get angry on me.

– I spent almost two hours on the phone yesterday, trying to find a garage to repair my car. Eventually I had to have it towed to a garage in another town.

Sentence Fragments

• Added-detail fragments

– I’m always short of pocket money. Especially for everyday items like magazines, notes, and sodas. Luckily my friends often have change.

– I’m always short of pocket money. Especially for everyday items like magazines, notes, and sodas. Luckily my friends often have change.

– I’m always short of pocket money, especially for everyday items like magazines, notes, and sodas. Luckily my friends often have change.

Sentence Fragments

• Missing subject fragments

– Marry tried each of the appetizers on the table. And then found that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite had gone.

– Marry tried each of the appetizers on the table. And then found that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite had gone.

– Marry tried each of the appetizers on the table. She then found that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite had gone.

Run- Ons

- A run-on occurs when we try to combine two sentences into one by just sticking them together . (SV SV) or (SV,SV)

1) His father was a mad man in his youth he would do anything on a dare.

2) My grades are very good this semester my social life rates only a C.

- Only comma wouldn’t serve the job…

1) His father was a mad man in his youth, he would do anything on a dare.

2) My grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C.

Run- Ons

• How to correct the run- ons:

– Use of semicolon Sv; sv• My grades are very good this semester; my social life rates only a C.

– Period & capital letter Sv. Sv• My grades are very good this semester. My social life rates only a C.

– Comma + joining word ( and, but, for, etc) Sv, jw sv• My grades are very good this semester, but my social life rates only a C.

– Use subordinator Subor Sv, sv• Although my grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C.

Run- Ons

• Words of Transitions.

– I felt sick therefore I stayed back home

• I felt sick. Therefore, I stayed back home.

• I felt sick; therefore, I stayed back home.

Run- Ons

• Words of Transitions. (Structures)

semicolon+ word of transition+comma

accordingly, consequently, henceforth, anyhow, as a result, besides, for example, furthermore, however, in addition, indeed, in fact, in other words, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, still, that is, then, therefore, thus….

Faulty Parallelism

• A parallel sentence is the one in which elements of equal weight are expressed in equal or parallel grammatical forms.

– This project is tedious, difficult, and makes me very tired.

– This project is tedious, difficult, and tiring.

– Reading an annual report is not as laborious as to write one.

– To read an annual report is not as laborious as to write one.

– I like eating rich desserts, to play fast card games and riddles.

– I like eating rich desserts, playing fast card games and solving riddles.

– I like to eat rich desserts, to play fast card games and to solve riddles.

– I like rich desserts, fast card games and riddles.

Faulty Parallelism

• Exercise :– One store owner was impressed by Beth’s assertiveness, determination, and she liked his

personality.

– Beth was concerned about income, security, and to be able to advance on the job.

– As a result of Beth’s working, the family has benefited socially, financially, and they feel better about each other, too.

– Our professor warned us that he would give surprise tests, the assignment of term papers, and allow no make-up exams.

Faulty Parallelism

• Exercise :– One store owner was impresses by Beth’s assertiveness, determination, and she liked his

personality.

– Beth was concerned about income, security, and to be able to advance on the job.

– As a result of Beth’s working, the family has benefited socially, financially, and they feel better about each other, too.

– Our professor warned us that he would give surprise tests, the assignment of term papers, and allow no make-up exams.

Faulty Parallelism

• Exercise :– One store owner was impresses by Beth’s assertiveness, determination, and (his)

personality.

– Beth was concerned about income, security, and advancement on the job.

– As a result of Beth’s working, the family has benefited socially, financially, and emotionally.

– Our professor warned us that he would give surprise tests, assign term papers, and allow no make-up exams.

Misplaced Modifiers

• A modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies.

– I bought the gift from a large departmental store which cost only $ 10.99.

– I nearly earned a hundred dollars last week.

Note: In aforementioned sentences, modifiers do not describe the words they are in fact meant to because of awkward placement.

– I bought the gift which cost only $ 10.99 from a large departmental store.

– I earned nearly a hundred dollars last week.

Misplaced Modifiers

• Exercise :

– I almost had a dozen job interviews after I sent out my resume.

– Sam returned the hamburger to the supermarket that was spoiled

– Roger visited the old house still weak with the flue.

– They are trying to device a set of standards for employees that are foolproof.

– They agreed on the following day to institute new procedures.

Misplaced Modifiers

• Exercise :

– I almost had a dozen job interviews after I sent out my resume.

– Sam returned the hamburger to the supermarket that was spoiled

– Roger visited the old house still weak with the flue.

– They are trying to device a set of standards for employees that are foolproof.

– They agreed on the following day to institute new procedures.

Misplaced Modifiers

• Exercise :– I had almost a dozen job interviews after I sent out my resume.

– Sam returned the hamburger that was spoiled to the supermarket.

– Sam returned the spoiled hamburger to the supermarket.

– Roger, still weak with the flue ,visited the old house.

– Still weak with the flue, Roger visited the old house.

– They are trying to device a set of standards that are foolproof for employees.

– They are trying to device a set of foolproof standards for employees

– They agreed on the following day to institute new procedures.

– They agreed to institute new procedures on the following day.

Dangling Modifiers

• While a modifier may go astray by being placed too far from the word it modifies, a modifier will also be incorrect if there is no word at all being modified in the sentence.– Walking down the street, a limousine caught my attention.

– While I was walking down the street, a limousine caught my attention.

– Walking down the street, I noticed a limousine.

– To become a successful entrepreneur, self-confidence is essential.

– For a person to become a successful entrepreneur, self-confidence is essential.

– To become a successful entrepreneur, one needs self-confidence.

Dangling Modifiers

• Exercise :

– Settling down at my desk, the day started.

– The morning passed quietly, preparing reports and filling them away.

– Listening to one customer’s complaint, the salesman continued pushing his products.

– As I was settling down at my desk, the day started.

– The morning passed quietly while I prepared reports and filed them away.

– As I was listening to one customer’s complaint, the salesman continued pushing his products.