Fragments and Run- Ons

1. Fragments and Run-Ons Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors

2. Fragments • Fragments look like sentences but are missing a subject or a verb, or they are put together incorrectly.

3. Correcting Fragments • 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.

4. Run-ons • Run-ons (fused sentences) occur when clauses are joined incorrectly. He didn’t throw the firecracker, he placed it between his knees, he wanted to put the lighter away first. Comma splice The fuse burned too quickly before he could throw it the explosive blew up between his knees. Run-on

5. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons • 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 knees, and he didn’t throw it. • 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 knees.

6. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons • Make the clauses into separate sentences • Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared we all expected to see a bad scene. • Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We all expected to see a bad scene. • Fred fell down screaming. When the smoke cleared, we all expected to see a bad scene.

7. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons • 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 • Fred hadn’t taped the tube properly and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube the explosion did put pressure on his knees. • Fred hadn’t taped the tube well and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube; however, the explosion did put pressure on his knees. Notice how the sentence is punctuated

8. Correct the following • 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. • 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.

9. Correct the following • Took a trip home last summer. I ran into Fred after my long absence he walks with a limp. Didn’t ask if he still plays with firecrackers. • During a trip home last summer, I ran into Fred after a long absence. He walks with a limp. 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 walks with a limp. I didn’t ask if he still plays with firecrackers.