Fragments and Run-Ons

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Fragments and Run-Ons

• In order to understand, you must know some
  definitions first.

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Definitions

• Sentence a group of words that contains a noun,
  a verb, and completes a thought.
• Clause a group of words that contains a noun, a
  verb, and is part of a sentence.

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Clauses

• 2 types of clauses
• Independent a clause that could stand on its
  own as a sentence.
• Ex. I went to the store when I had money.
• This sentence has two clauses ---- an
  independent and a dependent. Which is which?
• Dependent a clause that could not stand on its
  own as a sentence.
• Which is the dependent clause in the sentence
  above?

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FRAGMENTS

• Almost all fragments are dependent clauses that
  you have left to function as sentences.
• Ex. My brother saw the accident. That happened
  outside of our house.
• Ex. I went to see my grandma. When my parents
  told me about Johns death.

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Run-Ons

• Run-Ons are much trickier. In fact we need a
  definition to help us out.
• RUN-ON SENTENCE Two or more independent clauses
  separated incorrectly or not separated at all.

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Run-Ons (Cont.)

• Which one of these is correct?
• I went to the store I bought a cow.
• I went to the store, I bought a cow.
• I went to the store and I bought a cow.

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Run-Ons (Cont.)

• You are right! NEITHER
• The correct way isI went to the store, and I
  bought a cow.
• (Without the conjunction (and), this is a comma
  splice)

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Run-Ons (Cont.)

• 3 ways to fix a run-on
• Put a period between clauses and make it two
  sentences.
• Ex. I went to the store. I bought a cow.
• Put a semi-colon between the clauses.
• Ex. He went to the store he
• bought a cow.
• Put a comma plus a conjunction.
• Ex. He went to the store, and he bought a cow.

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Conjunctions

• FANBOYS
• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So