Run-On Sentences

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Run-On Sentences

• Time to Master!

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Run-On Sentences

• Look at the following sentence.
•      I saw a teacher who cares.
• The author may have wanted to write
•      I saw a teacher.  Who cares?

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Run-On Sentences

• Using periods (and other forms of punctuation)
  and knowing when to end a sentence are very
  important.  If you don't end a sentence
  appropriately, the intended meaning can be
  changed, or it can be misunderstood.  Sometimes
  the meaning is simply incomprehensible. 

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Run-On Sentences

• When a person learns to write English sentences
  and compositions, one common problem is writing
  sentences that are too long.  When a sentence
  ends too quickly, it is called a sentence
  fragment.  When a sentence has too many ideas and
  runs on too long, it is called a run-on
  sentence.  If you have this problem, don't worry.
   It is quite easy to fix.

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Run-On Sentences

• The first thing you need to do is identify when a
  sentence is a run-on. 
• A run-on (or run-on sentence) is a sentence that
  really has TWO sentences (or complete ideas)
  INCORRECTLY combined into one. 
• It is okay to combine two sentences into one, but
  you must follow some rules.  

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Run-On Sentences

• You might be wondering "What is a sentence?"  A
  sentence consists of 3 things
• 1 subject the person, place, or thing
  performing or doing the action
• 2 verb the action
• 3 complete idea the reader isn't left waiting
  for another word

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Run-On Sentences

• I hit the ball.
• Birds fly.
• I take.
• I take the bus to school mom drives her car to
  work.

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Run-On Sentences

• This last example is a run-on sentence  Two
  complete sentences (ideas) incorrectly combined. 
  This sentence lacks signal words which tell the
  reader when to stop or pause.  A part of a
  sentence that can be a sentence by itself is
  called an independent clause.  This last example
  has TWO independent clauses.

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Run-On Sentences

• Method 1
• Write the two independent clauses as separate
  sentences using periods.
• Incorrect Carmen loved traveling in Italy she
  felt Rome was too hot.

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Run-On Sentences

• Method 2
• Use a semicolon to separate the two independent
  clauses. 
• Incorrect Scott loves playing basketball he
  hates practicing.

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Run-On Sentences

• Method 3
• Use a comma and any one of the following
  connecting words
• for      and      nor          but or         
  yet          so
• Incorrect Megan applied to thirteen different
  colleges she forgot to take the ACT so she didnt
  get accepted.

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Run-On Sentences

• Method 4
• Use a semicolon and one of the following words
• therefore,  thus,   however,  consequently,
  furthermore,   also,   nevertheless,  
• NOTE If you use any of these connecting words
  with method 4, a comma must follow it.
• Incorrect Billy Joe practiced the drums
  everyday for three years he was the best drummer
  in school.

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Run-On Sentences

• NOTE When using semicolons, the two independent
  clauses must share a related or common idea.  You
  cannot write the following sentence
• Christine loves hot chocolate I am watching
  TV.  

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Run-On Sentences

• Complete the exercise in the book.
• Page and Ex. are on the board.

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Fragments

• Since he came to New York.
• Because my dog loves it.
• Unless you see me.
• Is there anything wrong with these sentences? 
  All of these sentences end too quickly.  After
  reading these sentences, the reader asks
  questions because he/she needs more information.

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Fragments
Sentence Fragment The Reader Asks...
Since he came to New York.   Since he came, what (has he been doing)?
Because my dog loves it.    Because the dog loves it, (so what)?
Unless you see me.   Unless you see me, what (will happen)?
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Fragments

• A sentence fragment has nothing to do with size
  or amount of words. 
• Therefore, a very short sentence with a complete
  idea is NOT a sentence fragment. 
• A sentence fragment is a sentence that is
  incomplete.  It is incomplete because it is
  either a phrase or a dependent clause.  

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Fragments

• Sometimes the sentence has a subject, verb, and
  direct object, but it is still a sentence
  fragment.  How?  If a sentence contains one of
  any of the words on the following 2 blackboards,
  the sentence requires a second part to finish the
  idea.  Therefore, if you use any of the words on
  these lists, you MUST add another part.

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Fragments

• after  even if once whenever
• although even though
• only if  whereas as every time
• Since whether or not as if if because
  unless before while about above beneath
  in till above beside into to across
  besides like toward after between near
  under against beyond of underneath by
  off

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Fragments

• For example
• Look at the following sentence
• Because you wanted it.
• Since you bought the radio.

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Fragments

• Do these two sentences have subjects, verbs, and
  direct objects (if needed)?  YES.  Are they
  sentence fragments?  YES.  Why?  They both
  contain words from the two blackboards.  They
  need second parts
• I gave you the ice cream because you wanted it.
• Since you bought the plane tickets, I will pay
  for the hotel room.

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Fragments

• Method 1
• Attach the sentence fragment to another
  sentence.  That other sentence could be before or
  after the sentence fragment. 

Sentence Fragment Fixed and Now a Complete Sentence
After seeing the doctor. I felt much better after seeing the doctor.    -or- After seeing the doctor, I felt much better.
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Fragments

• Method 2
• Add a subject, verb, or both to make the sentence
  complete.

Sentence Fragment Fixed and Now a Complete Sentence
Under the bed.   I found my socks under the bed.  
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Fragments

• Method 3  
• Take away the word or phrase that makes it a
  sentence fragment.
• NOTE  If you use method 3, make sure the
  meaning does not change. 

Sentence Fragment Fixed Sentence
While Fred was in Paris. Fred was in Paris
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Fragments

• Do the exercise assigned in the book.
• Page and Ex. are on the board.