Lesson 48: Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences

Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences

What will we learn today?

1. Sentence Fragments

2. Quiz and Practice: Sentence Fragments

3. Run-on Sentences

4. Quiz and Practice: Run-on sentences

​What is a sentence fragment?

A sentence fragment is similar to a missing puzzle piece. It's a collection of words that does not express the entire idea, therefore leaving it incomplete.

There must be a subject and a predicate for a sentence to be considered complete.

​Examples of sentence fragment

1. Without a subject:

   Running through the park at dawn.

   [Explanation: Who is running? [The subject is missing.]

2. Without a predicate:

   The mysterious old house at the end of the street.

   [Explanation: What about the mysterious old house? The action or information is incomplete.]

3. Incomplete thought:

   Because the weather was terrible.

   [Explanation: Because the weather was terrible, what happened? The thought is not complete.]

​Identifying sentence fragments

Check for a subject:

A sentence must have a subject, which is the main noun or pronoun performing the action.

Example:
Fragment: Jumped over the fence.
Complete Sentence: The cat jumped over the fence.

​Identifying sentence fragments

Check for a predicate:

A sentence also needs a predicate, which is the verb and its accompanying information that tells what the subject is doing.

Example:
Fragment: The old tree by the river.
Complete Sentence: The old tree by the river swayed in the wind.

​Identifying sentence fragments

Look for complete thoughts:

• Sentences should convey complete thoughts. If the group of
  words doesn't express a full idea, it could be a fragment.

• Fragment: Because it was raining.

• Complete Sentence: We stayed indoors because it was raining.

Check subordinate clauses:

• Fragments often occur when a subordinate clause
  (a group of words that cannot stand alone) is used by itself.

• Fragment: "Although it was late.
  Complete Sentence: Although it was late, I decided to finish my homework.

Dropdown

Running late for the bus. It is a

Select answer

.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

• When the games ended.

• Because she was tired.

• Despite the bad weather.

• We stayed indoors because it was raining.

Reorder

Create a sentence using the fragments below.

• I woke up

• at 7o'clock

• in the morning

• to study

• for my exams.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Fill in the Blanks

Daniel goes. Is this a complete sentence or a sentence fragment?

​ What is a Run-on Sentence?

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (complete thoughts) are improperly joined together without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
Example: I went to the store I needed to buy groceries for the week.
(In this, there are no punctuation marks or conjunctions, hence it has no proper meaning).

​ Example of Run-on sentences

A fused sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined together with no punctuation or conjunction.

For example:

Incorrect: I like to hike I enjoy being outdoors.

Correct: I like to hike, and I enjoy being outdoors.

​Example of Run-on sentences

• A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma, which is not a strong enough punctuation mark to connect two complete thoughts.

Example:

• Incorrect: She finished her project, she submitted it on time.

• Correct: She finished her project, and she submitted it on time.

​Understanding Run-Ons - Video

Fill in the Blanks

Use the correct conjunction to eliminate the run-off:
The movie was entertaining,

the actors did a fantastic job.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a run-on sentence?

• The dog barked loudly, and the cat scurried away.

• Sheila enjoys painting landscapes, and she often sells her artwork.

• I went to the store I bought some milk.
• The rain poured down in torrents, flooding the streets and causing chaos.

Dropdown

I wanted to go to museum I got late. This is a

Select answer

.

Multiple Select

How do we correct the run-on sentence?
Choose all the correct answers.

• Using correct punctuation marks

• Using correct conjunctions

• Using verbs and adverbs

• Using subject and predicate

​ Let us summarize

1. Sentence fragments are those incomplete sentences that do not convey a complete idea.

2. When identifying a sentence fragment, look for subject, predicate, complete thought, and subordinate clauses.

3. Run-on sentences are sentences that are improperly joined without punctuation marks or conjunctions.

4. Run-on sentences happen in the form of fused sentences or comma splices.