Runon Sentences

1
Run-on Sentences
2
Objectives

• You will learn to recognize a run-on sentence.
• You will be able to apply any of three techniques
  to correctly fix a run-on sentence.
• Language Arts 9th Grade Standard 9 Objective 2
• Identify and correct errors in usage, e.g.,
  incorrectly combined sentences, misplaced
  modifiers, run-on sentences, unnecessary
  fragments, incorrect use of adverbs, incorrect
  pronoun antecedent, incorrect use of present and
  past tenses.

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Anticipatory Set
In my hands money doesnt last long my aunt sent
me ten dollars it was a birthday present. I held
onto the money for about ten minutes, my brother
demanded repayment I had borrowed two dollars
from him a week before. Marcia and Jennie are me
best friends they had treated me to lunch a long
time ago they suddenly suggested that I return
the favor and I did get to buy something I wanted
with my money there is this comic book that Ive
wanted for a long time and I was able to buy it
with the last of my birthday money. My mothers
birthday is next week, I am almost broke, maybe I
can make her a cake or something else that
doesnt cost any money maybe I can earn some
money and then I can buy her something nice I
would really like to buy her something nice since
shes my mother and I really love her.
4
Review What is a sentence?

• Remember that a complete sentence must have these
  things
• A subject (noun)
• A predicate (verb)
• A complete idea
• A sentence that doesnt have all of these things
  is considered a fragment.

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So, whats a run-on?

• A run-on sentence occurs when we try and combine
  more than one subject-predicate (noun-verb) pair
  in one sentence incorrectly.
• Its important to understand that a sentence can
  definitely have more than one subject-predicate
  pair (in fact, your writing sounds much more
  intelligent if you have sentences like this).
• The problem comes when we combine
  subject-predicate pairs incorrectly.

6
Give me some examples

• Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts
  of meat.

This sentence is a run-on sentence because the
two subject-verb pairs (sentences, if you will)
are combined incorrectly. They are run together,
without any proper punctuation or grammar.
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Practice

• Which of the following sentences would be
  considered run-on?
• His father was an artist his mother was an
  accountant.
• The farmer was riding his tractor through the
  fields.
• We always had bonfires grandma loved having all
  the family over to talk about past times.

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How do I fix run-ons?

• Make two sentences out of the run-on sentence
• Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts
  of meat.
• Eric is a bodybuilder. He eats only large amounts
  of meat.
• This is the easiest way to fix the problem, but
  also results in choppy writing.

9
How do I fix run-ons?

• Combine the two subject-verb pairs with a comma
  and a conjunction (and, or, but, yet, for, nor)
• His father was an artist his mother was an
  accountant.
• His father was an artist, but his mother was an
  accountant.
• Dont put naked commas in your run-on sentences
  (without conjunctions).

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Did you say naked?

• Yup. If you just stick a comma in the middle of a
  run-on sentence, you havent fixed anything. In
  fact, youve created a comma splice (which is a
  no-no).
• Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts
  of meat.
• Eric is a bodybuilder, he eats only large amounts
  of meat.
• A comma splice is just another term for a run-on
  sentence and you are to avoid them!

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One last way to fix run-ons

• Combine the sentences with a semicolon
• He had never seen Alex so prepared he even had
  backup copies of his study sheets!
• He had never seen Alex so prepared he even had
  backup copies of his study sheets!
• This is a great way to fix a run-on, because
  semicolons look sophisticated. You can only use
  them on subject-verb pairs that are closely
  related, though.

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Not just for run-ons!

• The best way to fix run-ons in your writing is to
  use a combination of all three techniques.
• In fact, you can even use these techniques to fix
  short, choppy sentences
• He ran to the store. He bought bread, milk, and
  eggs.
• He ran to the store there he bought bread, milk,
  and eggs.
• He ran to the store and bought bread, milk, and
  eggs.

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A bit o practice

• On Saturdays I help around the house I also help
  around the yard.
• On Saturdays I help around the house, and I also
  help around the yard.
• On Saturdays I help around the house I also help
  around the yard.
• On Saturdays I help around the house and around
  the yard.

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More practice

• Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania
  this summer we plan to drive through the
  Southwest.
• Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania,
  but this summer we plan to drive through the
  Southwest.
• Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania
  this summer we plan to drive through the
  Southwest.
• Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania.
  This summer we plan to drive through the
  Southwest.

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What have we learned?

• A run-on sentence is a sentence with more than
  one subject-verb pair, punctuated incorrectly.
• There are many ways to fix a run-one sentence
• Make separate sentences
• Join the subject-verb pieces with a conjunction
  (and, but, for) and a comma
• Join the subject-verb pieces with a semicolon

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Independent Practice

• Switch drafts with someone.
• Using a highlighter, highlight run-on sentences
  in the other persons draft.
• When you receive your draft back, fix any run-on
  problems.
• If you dont have run-on problems, then look for
  places where you can combine short sentences into
  a longer, more complex sentence.