Run-On Sentences

Run-On Sentences

Run-On Sentences

When a sentence seems to run on without coming to a stop, it is a run-on sentence.

• Run-On Sentence: Derek and Brandon like tennis they play as often as they can.

• Correct Sentence: Derek and Brandon like tennis. They play as often as they can.

The easiest way to correct a run-on sentence is to split it into two sentences. Don't forget to:

• Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

• End a sentence with the correct punctuation.

• DO NOT END A SENTENCE WITH A COMMA

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Do you have an extra tennis racket mine is lost.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Meet me at the courts we can play for an hour before dark.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Derek and Brandon practiced for several days then they challenged two players to a tennis match and lost.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Brandon was disappointed he told Derek that they needed more practice.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Derek agreed with Brandon they could do better.

• Run-On

• Correct

Sometimes a run-on sentence will contain more than two complete thoughts.

• Amber stayed up too late last night she was talking on the telephone all day she kept yawning.

• Brandon has set up another tennis match he thinks that he and Derek will win Derek is not so sure.

Connecting Ideas

Another kind of run-on sentence is made up of two or more sentences separated with commas. Do not separate two sentences with a comma. This kind of error is sometimes called a comma fault. A comma fault occurs when a writer uses a comma instead of end punctuation to end a sentence.

Connecting Ideas

Run-On Sentence with Comma Fault: Mr. Liu is proud of Derek, he hopes that Derek will become the city finalist.

Corrected Sentences: Mr. Lie is proud of Derek. He hopes that Derek will become the city finalist.

Sometimes you many want to show a connection between two related ideas. You can turn your run-on sentence into a compound sentence. A comma followed by a conjunction (and, but, or) connects the two ideas in a compound sentence.

Run-On Sentence with Comma Fault: Mr. Liu is proud of Derek, he hopes that Derek will become the city finalist.

Corrected Compound Sentence: Mr. Liu is proud of Derek, and he hopes that Derek will become the city finalist.

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Brandon went to the weight room with Derek, and they both worked out.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: One afternoon Derek and Brandon met Eliza in the weight room, she was working out, too.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: A track meet is exciting and suspenseful, have you ever gone to one?

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Derek's friends want to go to the county meet, and they plan to cheer from the stands.

• Run-On

• Correct

Multiple Select

Run-On Sentence or Correct: Some people enjoy team sports, and others like to work out by themselves.

• Run-On

• Correct

Using Conjunctions Correctly

Another kind of run-on sentence is two or more sentences connected with the conjunction and. Do not use and to connect sentences that do not belong together.

Run-On Sentence with Too Many Ands

Friday's rehearsal was Eliza's best and she'll probably win an award for her performance and we can't wait to hear her sing at the talent show.

Corrected Sentences: Friday's rehearsal was Eliza's best! She'll probably win an award for her performance. We can't wait to hear her sing at the talent show.

Let's take a look at page 25!