Fragments and RunOns

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Fragments and Run-Ons

• Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors

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Introduction

• This presentation explains the following
  grammatical concepts
• Clauses (dependent and independent)
• Sentences
• Fragments
• Run-Ons
• Semicolons and conjunctive adverbs

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Clauses

• A clause is a group of words with a subject and
  a verb

• Most clauses have further information after the
  verb

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Two Types of Clauses

• Independent clause (Main clause)
• Can stand alone as a sentence
• Can be joined to another clause
• Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.
• Dependent clause (Subordinate clause)
• Cannot stand alone as a sentence
• Must be joined to an independent clause
• Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers.

A word that joins clauses is a conjunction
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Joining Clauses

• A dependent clause can be joined to an
  independent clause to make a sentence
• Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder
  because he wanted to make his own firecrackers.
• Or
• Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers,
  Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.

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Fragments

• Fragments look like sentences but are missing a
  subject or a verb, or they are put together
  incorrectly.

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Correcting Fragments

• Subjects or verbs can be added
• Fragments can be joined together
• All of the following are correct
• With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told
  everyone to get out of the way. Then he lit the
  fuse.
• Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told
  everyone to get out of the way before he lit the
  fuse.
• He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told
  everyone to get out of the way and then he lit
  the fuse.

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Run-ons

• Run-ons (fused sentences) occur when clauses are
  joined incorrectly.
• He didnt throw the firecracker, he placed it
  between his legs, he wanted to put the lighter
  away first.

Comma splice
The fuse burned too quickly before he could throw
it the explosive blew up between his legs.
Run-on
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Four Ways to Correct Run-ons

• Join the clauses with a comma and a coordinating
  conjunction
• And, or, but, so, yet
• He wanted to put the lighter away first, so Fred
  placed the firecracker between his legs, and he
  didnt throw it.
• Join the clauses with a subordinating conjunction
• Because, although, if, when, since, after
• Because the fuse burned too quickly before he
  could throw it, the explosive blew up between his
  legs.

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Four Ways to Correct Run-ons

• Make the clauses into separate sentences
• Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared
  we all expected to see a bloody mess.
• Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We
  all expected to see a bloody mess.
• Fred fell down screaming. When the smoke cleared,
  we all expected to see a bloody mess.

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Four Ways to Correct Run-ons

• Join two independent clauses with a semicolon
  ()if they are closely related.
• You may include a conjunctive adverb along with
  the semicolon
• however, for example, therefore, moreover,
  indeed, consequently
• Fred hadnt taped the tube properly and most of
  the force was released out the ends of the tube
  the explosion did direct some pressure against
  his groin.
• Fred hadnt taped the tube well and most of the
  force was released out the ends of the tube
  however, the explosion did direct some pressure
  against his groin.

Notice how the sentence is punctuated
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Correct the following

• Fred managed to make it home and change his
  clothes, and he told his parents he fell off his
  bicycle, he avoided punishment for playing with
  explosives.
• Fred managed to make it home and change his
  clothes. He told his parents he fell off his
  bicycle, thus avoiding punishment for playing
  with explosives.
• Fred managed to make it home. He changed his
  clothes and told his parents that he fell off his
  bicycle. He avoided punishment for playing with
  explosives.
• I left town shortly after. Didnt see him again
  for five years.
• I left town shortly after and didnt see him
  again for five years.

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Correct the following

• Took a trip home last summer. I ran into Fred
  after my long absence he is unable to have
  children. Didnt ask if he still plays with
  firecrackers.
• During a trip home last summer, I ran into Fred
  after a long absence. He is unable to have
  children. I didnt ask if he still plays with
  firecrackers.
• After a long absence, I took a trip home last
  summer. I ran into Fred, who is unable to have
  children. I didnt ask if he still plays with
  firecrackers.

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Interactive Exercise

• You can get further practise by clicking the
  button below or by following the link to the
  interactive exercise
• http//xnet.rrc.mb.ca/leshanson/Hot_Potato/Sentenc
  e_Structure_6.htm