sentence structure fixing common sentence errors

True or False: The following group of words is a complete sentence: The dog barking loudly at the mail carrier.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. The group of words is a sentence fragment because it lacks a main verb (a helping verb like 'was' is missing before 'barking') and therefore does not express a complete thought.

Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence to fix the fragment:

Because the bus was running late this morning, _____.

• I missed the first five minutes of my history class.

• missing the first five minutes of class.

• late for school again.

• and I was worried about being tardy.

Answer explanation

The correct answer provides an independent clause that completes the thought started by the dependent clause. The other options are still fragments ('missing...', 'late for...') or create an ungrammatical structure ('and I was...').

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank to fix the run-on sentence:

My brother loves playing video games___ he could play all day.

• . He

• ,

• he

• , because

Answer explanation

The original is a run-on sentence. Separating the two independent clauses with a period and a capital letter is the clearest way to fix it. A comma alone creates a comma splice, a space alone is still a run-on, and 'because' incorrectly subordinates the second idea.

Read the short paragraph below and identify which sentence contains a comma splice.

(1) Our school's talent show was a huge success. (2) Many students performed amazing acts. (3) My friend Sarah sang a beautiful song, everyone gave her a standing ovation. (4) I hope we have another one next year.

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 3

• Sentence 4

Answer explanation

Sentence 3 contains a comma splice because it joins two independent clauses ('My friend Sarah sang a beautiful song' and 'everyone gave her a standing ovation') with only a comma. Sentences 1, 2, and 4 are all grammatically correct.

Choose the best conjunction to show a clear cause-and-effect relationship and correctly combine the two ideas:

The team practiced hard, _____ they won the championship.

• so

• but

• or

• because

Answer explanation

The conjunction 'so' correctly shows the cause-and-effect relationship (practice led to winning). 'But' shows contrast, 'or' shows an alternative, and using 'because' would require restructuring the sentence and would reverse the logical flow.

Which word correctly begins the sentence to form a complete thought?

_____ the storm passed, a bright rainbow appeared in the sky.

• After

• Running

• And

• Was

Answer explanation

'After' correctly creates a dependent clause that is followed by an independent clause, forming a complete sentence. 'Running' would create a dangling modifier, 'And' cannot start this sentence structure, and 'Was' would create a fragment.

True or False: In the sentence, 'Covered in chocolate sauce, the little girl enjoyed the ice cream sundae,' the modifier 'Covered in chocolate sauce' is placed correctly.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. The sentence contains a misplaced modifier. As written, it illogically suggests the little girl is covered in sauce. The phrase should be placed next to 'the ice cream sundae' to be clear.

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence to avoid a misplaced modifier:

I bought a _____ for my sister.

• bicycle with a basket on the front

• bicycle for my sister with a basket

• with a basket on the front bicycle

• bicycle I bought with a basket

Answer explanation

This option correctly places the modifying phrase 'with a basket on the front' immediately after 'bicycle,' the noun it describes. The other options create confusion or are grammatically awkward.

A 'squinting' modifier is placed ambiguously between two things it could modify. Which sentence below contains a squinting modifier?

• The student who cheats often gets caught.

• Running quickly, I managed to catch the bus.

• I told him after the game to meet me at the cafe.

• The dog, a golden retriever, wagged its tail.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'after the game' is a squinting modifier because it is unclear whether the telling happened after the game or if the meeting is supposed to happen after the game. The modifiers in the other sentences are clearly placed.

To avoid a misplaced modifier, where is the best place to insert the phrase 'with a broken wing'?

The veterinarian (A) helped the bird (B) that was found (C) in the garden (D).

• Position (A)

• Position (B)

• Position (C)

• Position (D)

Answer explanation

The modifier 'with a broken wing' must be placed at (B), directly after 'the bird,' to make it clear what has the broken wing. Placing it at (A), (C), or (D) would illogically suggest the veterinarian, the finding, or the garden had a broken wing.