Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences

Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences

GRAMMAR NOTES

Open Ended

What is a complete sentence?

A complete sentence has three components:

• a subject (the actor in the sentence)

•  a predicate (the verb or action), and

• a complete thought (it can stand alone and make sense—it’s independent).

They waited.

Some sentences can be very short, with only two or three words expressing a complete thought.

This sentence has a subject (They) and a verb (waited), and it expresses a complete thought. We can understand the idea completely with just those two words, so again, it’s independent—an independent clause. an be expanded to contain a lot more information, like this:

• They waited for the bus all morning.

• They waited for the bus all morning in the rain last Tuesday.

• Wishing they’d brought their umbrella, they waited for the bus all morning in the rain last Tuesday.

Multiple Choice

A complete sentence has what three components?

• Subject, Predicate, and correct spelling.

• Subject and Predicate

• Subject, Predicate, and a complete thought.

• All of the above

Sentence Fragments

An incomplete sentence.

Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both. The fragments that most students have trouble with, however, are dependent clauses—they have a subject and a verb, so they look like complete sentences, but they don’t express a complete thought.

• Dependent: CANNOT stand on their own [needs to be attached to an independent clause]

• Independent: CAN stand on their own

Multiple Choice

A Dependent Clause

• Can stand on their own and does not need help to express a complete thought

• Cannot stand on their own and needs to be attached to an independent clause

Fill in the Blank

What type of clause CAN stand on its own?

Examples of incomplete thoughts: 

• Because their car was in the shop (…What did they do?)

• After the rain stops (…What then?)

Subordinating Conjunctions do three things:

• join two sentences together

•  make one of the sentences dependent on the other for a complete thought (make one a dependent clause)

• indicate a logical relationship

 A list of common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they indicate:

• Cause / Effect: because, since, so that

• Comparison / Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas, while

• Place & Manner: how, however, where, wherever

• Possibility / Conditions: if, whether, unless

• Relation: that, which, who

• Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until

Multiple Choice

What do Subordinating Conjunctions do for a sentence?

• join two sentences together

• make one of the sentences dependent on the other for a complete thought

• indicate a logical relationship

• All of the above

Fused / Run-on Sentences

Two complete sentences (a subject and its predicate and another subject and its predicate) put together in one sentence without separating them properly.

Multiple Choice

Is the sentence below correct or a fused sentence?

My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky.

• Correct

• Fused

How do we fix a fused sentence?

• Semicolon: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus; it is very garlicky.

• Comma & Coordinating Conjunctions: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, for it is very garlicky. OR My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, and it is very garlicky.

• Subordinating Conjunctions [used correctly]: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus because it is very garlicky. OR Because it is so garlicky, my favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus.

• Separate the Sentences: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus. It is very garlicky.

Original: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky

• Is my favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky? DOESN’T WORK

Fixed: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus. It is very garlicky.

• Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus? Is it very garlicky? WORKS

Fill in the Blank

What's another name for Run-on Sentences?

Comma Splice

If you don’t have FANBOYS between the two complete and separate thoughts, using a comma alone causes a “comma splice”.

My hamster loved to play, I gave him a hula-hoop. BAD

How do we fix comma splices?

You wore a lovely hat, it was your only defense. BAD

• Add a F.A.N.B.O.Y.S. [For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So]: You wore a lovely hat, for it was your only defense. GOOD

• SEMICOLON: You wore a lovely hat; it was your only defense. GOOD

• Separate the Sentences: You wore a lovely hat. It was your only defense. GOOD

• Subordinating Conjunctions [used correctly]: You wore a lovely hat because it was your only defense. GOOD

Multiple Choice

My mother and sister bake nearly every evening, we then enjoy eating together

• Correct as is

• Fused sentence

• Fragment Sentence

• Comma Splice

Multiple Choice

I liked the novel because it was very informative.

• Correct as is

• Fused Sentence

• Fragment Sentence

• Comma Splice

Multiple Choice

Our new landlord was expected to make changes. Such as fixing the plumbing, installing a new washer, and replacing the security gate. Has not done any of it yet and weeks have passed.

• Correct as is

• Fused Sentence

• Fragment Sentence

• Comma Splice

Multiple Choice

I forgot to eat breakfast on the morning of my driver’s test.

• Correct as is

• Fused Sentnece

• Fragment Sentence

• Comma Splice

Multiple Choice

If the front door is locked. Use the back entrance.

• Correct as is

• Fused Sentence

• Comma Splice

• Fragment Sentence

Multiple Choice

Linda owns a catering business in New Orleans she enjoys cooking for special events such as weddings, parties, and holidays.

• Correct as is

• Fused Sentence

• Fragment Sentnece

• Comma Splice

Sources:

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/fragments-and-run-ons/

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/commas/