Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors

This presentation explains the following grammatical concepts: Clauses (dependent and independent) Sentences Fragments Run-Ons Semicolons and conjunctive adverbs

A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb

Subject Verb

You look.

Sally is talking.

Subject

Verb

I hate grammar

Sally is talking loudly

Most clauses have further information after the verb

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

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 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

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

With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told everyone to get out of the way. Then he lit the fuse.

Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told everyone to get out of the way before he lit the fuse.

He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told everyone to get out of the way and then he lit the fuse.

Run-ons (fused sentences) occur when clauses are joined incorrectly.

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

Comma

splice

Run-on

The fuse burned too quickly before he could throw it the explosive blew up between his legs.

1. Join the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

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.

2. Join the clauses with a subordinating conjunction

Because, although, if, when, since, after Because the fuse burned too quickly before

he could throw it, the explosive blew up between his legs.

3. Make the clauses into separate sentencesX 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.

4. 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

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

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.

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.