Karen S. Wright

Sentences must have

Subject

Verb

And it needs to make sense

Too often when we write a sentence, it is either a run-on sentence or a fragment. So what do we do???

A run-on sentence is made up of two or more sentences that are incorrectly run together as a single sentence.

There are five strategies that effective writers use to avoid or correct run-on sentences.

Separate them. Add end punctuation and a capital to separate the sentences.

Use a conjunction. Use a conjunction (like and) preceded by a comma.

Insert a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon to separate the two sentences.

There are five strategies that effective writers use to to avoid or correct run-on sentences.

Add a conjunctive adverb. Use a semicolon together with either a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression. Be sure to put a comma after conjunctive adverbs. Conjunctive adverbs are words like-accordingly, consequently, in addition.

Create a clause. Turn one of the sentences into a subordinate clause (Whenever they jump rope, they chew gum.); however, by doing so, be careful of fragments.

1. John and Ed are brothers, they are related to Susan.

2. Rosa talks about her relationship with her parents ,how she grew up following her family’s values.

3. Matilda and Gertrude waited for the bus. Just wanted to get to work on time.

4. The essay won a prize was so well researched.

How Would You Fix the Following?

Every sentence must have a subject and a verb and must make sense by expressing a complete idea. The most common types of fragments are

Dependent word fragments.

-ing and to fragments.

Missing subject fragments.

Some words or word groups that begin with a dependent word are fragments. Here is a list of dependent words:

After, if, even if, when, whenever, although, though. in order that.where, wherever, as. since, whether, because that, so that, which, whichever, before, unless, while, even though, until, who, whoever, how, what, whatever, whose

Whenever you start a sentence with one of these words, you must be careful that a fragment does not result.

Your TurnNow it’s your turn. How might you

correct these dependent clause fragments?

1.George talks about his career. How he grew up wanting to be a fire fighter.

2.Ralph always wanted to be a stand-up comic. Because he liked to make people laugh.

3.The family set out for a new country. A country in which they could practice their culture and religion.

Correct the following:

1. After I learned the price of the horse. I decided I needed to wait.

2. My best friend refused to stop smoking. Unless I quit also.

3. Tom made an appointment. Which he did not intend to keep.

When an -ing or to word appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment may result. Such fragments often lack a subject and a verb.

1. To get this job done. I plan on working overtime.

2. Sweating under his heavy load. Brian staggered up the steps to his apartment.

3. He works ten hours a day. Then going to class for 3 hours.

4. I spent almost two hours on the phone yesterday. Trying to find a garage to repair my car.

5. Looking tired and drawn. The little girl’s parents sat in the waiting room.

People write missing subject fragments because they think the subject in one sentence will apply to the next word group as well. But the subject, as well as the verb, must be in EACH word group to make a sentence.

1. The truck skidded on the rain-slick highway. But missed the telephone pole on the side of the rode.

2. Michelle tried each of the desserts on the table. And then found that, when the dinner arrived, her appetite was gone.

3. The students were in class on time. Just hoping to finish the semester.

Let’s Review

What three things are necessary to have a good sentence?