Fragments, Run-ons, Comma Splices

Front

What is a fragment?

Back

A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is often missing a subject or a verb.

Front

Example of a fragment: 'Abby, the professional snowboarder from Michigan.'

Back

This is a fragment because it does not form a complete sentence.

Front

What is a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

Front

Example of a run-on sentence: 'The highwire is my favorite the little dogs are a close second.'

Back

This is a run-on because it improperly connects two independent clauses.

Front

What is a comma splice?

Back

A comma splice is a grammatical error that occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

Front

Example of a comma splice: 'Lucas is great at basketball, Nathan is great as well.'

Back

This is a comma splice because it incorrectly connects two independent clauses with just a comma.

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

Front

How can you fix a fragment?

Back

You can fix a fragment by adding the missing subject or verb or by connecting it to a complete sentence.

Front

How can you fix a run-on sentence?

Back

You can fix a run-on sentence by separating the clauses with a period, using a semicolon, or adding a conjunction.