Revising Fragments, Run-Ons, and Comma Splicesces

Fragments, Run-Ons, and
Comma Splices

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What is a sentence?

›a group of words expressing a complete thought
›consists of:

› a subject (tells whom or what the sentence is about)
› a predicate (tells what the subject does or did)

›Examples:

› My classmates feel tired today.

subject predicate
› Working full-time while going to school is difficult.

subject predicate

What is a fragment? #1

a group of words that does not express a complete thought
because it is usually missing a subject or a predicate

Examples:

� The prompt available in Cougar Courses. (missing verb)

� Cared for his younger siblings. (missing subject)

What is a fragment? #2

�
a stand alone subordinate clause

�
begins with subordinate adverbs (whenever, because, since,
until, although, even if, etc.)

�
Examples:

� Because I said so

�
Although you’re wrong

�
Since you’ve already made your mind up

�
Even though I don’t agree

�
Whenever you’re ready…

�
As soon as we finish the test.

What is a fragment? #3

Prepositional phrases:

�
By a stroke of luck…

�
In addition to being a dinosaur wrangler...

Participial phrases:

�
Women working in the computer science field...

�
Repeatedly working until midnight, (John became ill).

Drag and Drop

Identify the following sentences as complete sentences (S) or fragments (f)





1. An important step in growing up is learning to accept imperfections in

yourself and others. ​

Placeholder

2. Since no human being can be perfect. ​
Placeholder


3. My brother Luis has never learned this lesson. ​
Placeholder


4. Is quick to notice other people’s faults. ​
Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

S

F

Fixing sentence fragments 1

� Pull/ attach the fragment into a nearby sentence.

Examples:

On that morning I sat in my usual spot. On the old wooden chair
in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.

On that morning I sat in my usual spot, on the old wooden chair
in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.

Normally the bride-price consists of cattle and sheep. Because
money has little value to these isolated people.

Normally the bride-price consists of cattle and sheep because
money has little value to these isolated people.

Fixing sentence fragments 2

� Turn the fragment into a sentence.

Examples:

The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water
not far from the ship. And immediately popped their flares and
life vests. They

Population increases and uncontrolled development are taking
a deadly toll on the environment. So that in many parts of the
world, fragile ecosystems are collapsing.In

Open Ended

Revise the following fragments to make a complete sentence.

There are about 1,800 kinds of starfish. Which in fact are not fish because

they have no backbone.

Open Ended

Revise the following fragments to make a complete sentence.

Starfish live at the bottom of the sea. Usually have arms surrounding a disk.

And average eight to twelve inches across.

Open Ended

Revise the following fragments to make a complete sentence.

Many starfish have suction-tube feet. Which help them move or hold on to

steep surfaces.

What is a run-on?

Fusing two sentences into one without any conjunction and
punctuation mark.

Gestures are a means of communication for everyone
they are essential for the hearing-impaired.

Connecting two or more independent sentences by a
comma without a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or,
nor, for, so, yet).

Gestures are a means of communication for everyone,
they are essential for the hearing-impaired.

Comma
splice

Comma splices Out in the World

4 fixes for run-on sentences

Use a comma+ a coordinating conjunction (and,
but, or, nor, for, so, yet).

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone, butthey are essential for the
hearing-impaired.

4 fixes for run-on sentences

Use a semicolon (+ transitional expression)

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone; (however,) they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.

4 fixes for run-on sentences

Make the clauses into separate sentences.

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone. they are essential for the
hearing-impaired. They

4 fixes for run-on sentences

Restructure the sentence.

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.

Although gestures are a means of communication
for everyone,they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.

Open Ended

Revise the following run-on sentence.

Jules ran into the woods no one could find him for hours. (Use a comma and a

coordinating conjunction.)

Open Ended

Revise the following run-on sentence.

The jacket was unusual it was made of satin and leather. (Make two sentences.)