Sentence Errors

1
Sentence Errors

• How to identify and correct the errors
• that can ruin written sentences.

2
What do sentence errors do?

• The major errors break sentences up!
• A splice occurs if a comma wrongly replaces a
  period.
• Not We ate lunch, then left.
• But We ate lunch, and then we left.
• 2. A run-on happens when we forget to use a
  period.
• Not Carl drove home_ it was late.
• But Carl drove home. It was late.

Has there been an error?
3
What do sentence errors do?

• A fragment can occur if an extra period is used.
• Not She knew all the rules. Except one.
• But She knew all the rules, except one.
• An sv misfit happens when the subject doesnt
  match the verb.
• Not They has jobs.
• But They have jobs.

4
Can you identify sentence errors?

• Is it splice, run-on, fragment, or sv error?
• __1. Most students can write enough, a few cant
  write a full paper.
• __2. A complete essay five paragraphs on the
  topic.
• __3. The introduction and the conclusion mirrors
  each other.
• __4. The body paragraphs contain the evidence
  they support the argument of the paper.

How good is the grammar?
5
Can you identify sentence errors?

• Is it splice, run-on, fragment, or sv error?
• CS 1. Most students can write enough, a few cant
  write a full paper.
• FR 2. A complete essay five paragraphs on the
  topic.
• SV 3. The introduction and the conclusion mirrors
  each other.
• RO 4. The body paragraphs contain the evidence
  they support the argument of the paper.

How many errors are there?
6
What are splices and run-ons?

• If you have two independent clauses with nothing
  between them but a comma, you have failed to join
  them with a coordinator or to separate them with
  end-stop punctuation.
• Thus, you have a comma splice, which is a form of
  run-on sentence.
• Here is an example of a comma splice, followed by
  several different ways of correcting it

• Comma Splice  
• I got up late, I didn't have time for breakfast.
• Run-on Sentence
• I got up late_then I didnt have breakfast.
• Corrections
• I got up late. I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late, so I didn't have time for
  breakfast.

7
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
• __2. He arrived at college a little late his math
  class had already started.
• __3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes David
  missed the points.
• __4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
• __5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

Which sentence error did the boss make?
8
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• CS 1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
• RO 2. He arrived at college a little late his
  math class had already started.
• OK 3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes
  David missed the points.
• OK 4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
• CS 5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

Should an administrative assistant have good
spelling?
9
What is subject-verb agreement?

• Singular subjects use singular verbs.
• Eva writes great essays.
• Everyone has her own way to correct grammar.
• Plural subjects use plural verbs.
• Most students write_ better each attempt.
• Amber and Kevin take_ two classes each semester.

Is the kid a know-it-all?
10
Can you match subjects to verbs?

• 1. There (is, are) an empty cup and a paper bag
  on the floor.
• 2. My sister as well as two of my brothers
  (lives, live) in Florida.
• 3. The professor, together with twenty-five
  students, (is, are) happy that the term was
  almost over.
• 4. My grandmother and grandfather (look, looks)
  alike.
• 5. Either my brothers or my younger sister (is,
  are) owed my thanks.
• 6. One of her six children (run, runs) five miles
  every day.
• 7. Each of the students (spend, spends) six hours
  studying for classes every day of the week.

11
You can match subjects to verbs.

• 1. There (is, are) an empty cup and a paper bag
  on the floor.
• 2. My sister as well as two of my brothers
  (lives, live) in Florida.
• 3. The professor, together with twenty-five
  students, (is, are) happy that everyone is
  passing.
• 4. My grandmother and grandfather (look, looks)
  alike.
• 5. Either my brothers or my younger sister (is,
  are) owed my thanks.
• 6. One of her six children (run, runs) five miles
  every day.
• 7. Each of the students (spend, spends) six hours
  studying for classes every day of the week.

12
Can you match subjects to verbs?

• 8. Neither of the boys (is, are) willing to study
  during the weekends.
• 9. As a result of the conflict, there (is, are)
  bloodshed and chaos.
• 10. Do you think that the manager and our
  supervisor (understands, understand) the problem?
• 11. Neither my sister nor my brothers (is, are)
  planning to drive down from New York for my
  seventh marriage.
• 12. One of my shoes (is, are) missing.
• 13. Christopher or Laura (email, emails) me
  almost every day.
• 14. Maria's regular salary together with tips
  (are, is) just enough for her to survive.

13
You can match subjects to verbs.

• 8. Neither of the boys (is, are) willing to study
  during the weekends.
• 9. As a result of the conflict, there (is, are)
  bloodshed and chaos.
• 10. Do you think that the manager and our
  supervisor (understands, understand) the problem?
• 11. Neither my sister nor my brothers (is, are)
  planning to drive down from New York for my
  seventh marriage.
• 12. One of my shoes (is, are) missing.
• 13. Christopher or Laura (email, emails) me
  almost every day.
• 14. Maria's regular salary together with tips
  (are, is) just enough for her to survive.

14
What are sentence fragments?

• The four types of incomplete thought fragments
  are
• Dependent-word fragments
• I like writing. Because it helps me to think.
• 2. -ing or to phrase fragments
• Writing in class about various issues helps me.
  To focus on solutions.

• Added-detail fragments
• The writing process makes me think. About many
  things in my life.
• Missing-subject fragments
• Writing essays develops my own ideas. __ is a
  good way to grow my ability to think clearly.

15
Can you identify fragments?

• Which ones below are correct and which are
  fragments?
• Being the first student in the room.
• Keri sat in the front row.
• Wanting to hear every part of the lesson.
• She learned much more that way.
• Which helped her to get top grades.

How good is the spelling?
16
You can identify fragments.

• Which ones below are correct and which are
  fragments?
• FR 1. Being the first student in the room.
• CR 2. Keri sat in the front row.
• FR 3. Wanting to hear every part of the lesson.
• CR 4. She learned much more that way.
• FR 5. Which helped her to get top grades.

17
Can you identify fragments?

• Wishing that his Dad would forget about how long
  hed been in college.
• Marty walked into his room.
• With a letter from home in his sweating hand.
• Life was good at State U for Marty.
• The very idea of his money-hungry Dad
  understanding Martys good life.

18
Can you identify fragments?
FR 1. Wishing that his Dad would forget about how
long hed been in college. CO 2. Marty walked
into his room. FR 3. With a letter from home in
his sweating hand. CO 4. For Marty, life was
good at State College. FR 5. The pain of the idea
of his money-hungry Dad understanding Martys
good life.
19
Sentence errors in review

• The major errors break sentences up!
• A splice occurs if a comma wrongly replaces a
  period.
• Not We ate lunch, then left.
• But We ate lunch, and then we left.
• 2. A run-on happens when we forget to use a
  period.
• Not Carl drove home_ it was late.
• But Carl drove home. It was late.

• A fragment can occur if an extra period is used.
• Not She knew all the rules. Except one.
• But She knew all the rules, except one.
• An sv misfit happens when the subject doesnt
  match the verb.
• Not They has jobs.
• But They have jobs.

20
Can you identify major errors?

• What is each numbered item below?
• run-on sentence
• subject-verb misfit
• comma splice
• fragment
• ___1. If they are going to pass by a school. They
  dont watch out for little kids.
• ___2. When teenagers are having fun. They dont
  care about anything but themselves.
• ___3. Environmental education is the most
  important area because it involve everyone.
• ___4. Responsible drivers can make a big
  difference in how safe a person feel behind the
  wheel.

21
You can identify major errors.

• What is each numbered item below?
• run-on sentence
• subject-verb misfit
• comma splice
• fragment
• FR 1. If they are going to pass by a school. They
  dont watch out for little kids.
• FR 2. When teenagers are having fun. They dont
  care about anything but themselves.
• SV 3. Environmental education is the most
  important area because it involve_ everyone.
• SV 4. Responsible drivers can make a big
  difference in how safe a person feel_ behind the
  wheel.

22
Can you identify major errors?

• What is each numbered item below?
• run-on sentence
• subject-verb misfit
• comma splice
• Fragment
• ___1. Teens are not the only ones that speed,
  adults do that, too!
• ___2. Teens often drive faster than older people
  they need to learn that accidents definitely
  happen.
• ___3. My brother Jose is a teen he bought a
  Mustang three months ago now he races it all the
  time.
• ___4. Steve was a teen that died racing, not only
  did he kill himself he hurt others.

23
You can identify major errors.

• What is each numbered item below?
• run-on sentence
• subject-verb misfit
• comma splice
• Fragment
• CS 1. Teens are not the only ones that speed,
  adults do that, too!
• RO 2. Teens often drive faster than older people
  they need to learn that accidents definitely
  happen.
• RO 3. My brother Jose is a teen he bought a
  Mustang three months ago now he races it all the
  time.
• CS 4. Steve was a teen that died racing, not only
  did he kill himself he hurt others.