This document provides an overview of sentence fragments and run-ons, including definitions and examples. It discusses different types of fragments such as phrase, -ing, and infinitive fragments. It also covers dependent clause fragments and how to identify and correct fragments. For run-ons, it defines fused sentences and comma splices and gives five ways to correct them, such as using separate sentences, conjunctions, or semicolons. The document concludes with some practice examples of fragments and run-ons.

1. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Sentence Fragments
and Run-ons
A Brief Review
with Practice

2. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
What is a Sentence?
Also Called Independent Clause
Has a Subject (noun) and Verb in
agreement
Has Object (noun) sometimes
Has end punctuation
– Period
– Semicolon
– Question Mark
– Exclamation Mark

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Example Sentences
The cat ate the fish.
The fish swam away.

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What is a Fragment?
Group of words punctuated
like a sentence yet doesn’t
have a S and V in agreement.
Can lack S or V or both
Incomplete Sentence

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• Phrase
• -ing and –to
• Explanatory
• Dependent clause
Common Fragment Types?

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What is a Phrase?
Group of words with subject or
verb but not both
Noun Phrase: The big black cat
Verb Phrase: wanted to eat
Prep Pharse: in the kitchen

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What is a Phrase Fragment?
A phrase that is punctuated
as a sentence.
The big black cat. He wanted
to eat. In the kitchen. That
is where is his bowl is.

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Example Missing Subject
Fragments
Then changed his mind and
walked anyway.

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Correcting Missing Subject Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to
an Independent Clause
Then changed his mind and
walked anyway.

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Correcting Missing Subject Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to
an Independent Clause
Then changed his mind and
walked anyway.
Bob didn’t want to walk all
the way to town, but then…

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Correcting Missing Subject Fragments
2. Add a Subject
Then changed his mind
and walked anyway.

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Correcting Missing Subject Fragments
2. Add a Subject
Then changed his mind
and walked anyway.
he

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What is -ING word?
ING added to a word can be many
things.
Verb = Be + Verb + Ing
The cat is eating.
Noun = Verb + Ing
Crying is no fun.
Participle = Verb + Ing
The cat starts his day licking his fur.

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ING Fragment
REMEMBER
EVERY sentence needs a
subject and verb in
agreement!!

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Example ING Fragments
The cats are fighting. Hissing
at each other.
Jogging in the park on a
beautiful day.

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Correcting ING Fragments
1. Combine Phrases with
Independent Sentences.
The cats are fighting.
Hissing at each other.

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Correcting ING Fragments
1. Combine Phrases with
Independent Sentences.
The cats are fighting.
Hissing at each other.
and
hissing

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Correcting ING Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
Jogging in the park on a
beautiful day.

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Correcting ING Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
Jogging in the park on a
beautiful day.can be fun.

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What is Infinitive Phrase?
An infinitive is the base form of
the verb + to.
to go to eat to sleep
Can be used as verb phrase or
noun phrase
Infinitive NEVER a MAIN Verb

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Example Infinitive Fragments
Keeping a clean home is
important. To keep everyone
healthy.
To take advantage of sunlight in
photography.

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to an
Independent Clause
Keeping a clean home is
important. To keep everyone
healthy.

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to an
Independent Clause
Keeping a clean home is
important. To keep everyone
healthy.
to keep

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
To take advantage of
sunlight in photography.

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
To take advantage of
sunlight in photography.
is needed for quality pictures.

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What is an Explanatory
Fragment?
Adding examples to a
sentence
Often uses words like:
– Such as
– For instance
– For example

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Example Added Detail Fragments
Cats eat fish. Like Tuna.
For example, how he ate his
food.

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Correcting Added Detail
Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to
an Independent Clause
Cats eat fish. Like Tuna.,like Tuna.

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Correcting Added Detail
Fragments
1. Combine the Fragment to
an Independent Clause
Cats eat fish. Like Tuna.

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
For example, how he ate his
food.

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Correcting Infinitive Fragments
2. Add needed information
(subject or verb) to make
Independent Sentence.
For example, how he ate his
food.was quite disgusting.

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What is Dependent Clause?
Starts with a Subordinate
Conjunction
Has S and V in agreement
Cannot stand alone
“Depends” on independent
clause (sentence)

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After Before Until
Although Even
though
When
As If Whereas
Because Since While
Some Subordinating Conjunctions

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Examples Dependent Clause Fragment
If a tornado sweeps across
the plains.
Because snow is beautiful in
the moonlight.

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Correcting Dependent Clause Fragment
1. Join Dependent Clause to
Independent Clause
If a tornado sweeps
across the plains.

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Correcting Dependent Clause Fragment
1. Join Dependent Clause to
Independent Clause
If a tornado sweeps
across the plains.,towns
could be destroyed.

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Correcting Dependent Clause Fragment
1. Delete Subordinator from
Clause to make Independent
Because snow is beautiful
in the moonlight.

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Correcting Dependent Clause Fragment
1. Delete Subordinator from
Clause to make Independent
Because snow is beautiful
in the moonlight.
Snow

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How To Find Fragments?
1. Circle every period.
2. Locate the subject.
3. Locate the verb.
4. If a period, but NO S or
V then it is a FRG!!!!!!!!!

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Other Things to Check?
1. At the beginning, look
for Subordinators AND
Relative Pronouns (who,
which, that)..
2. Then make sure have an
Independent Clause too!

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Sentence?
Inspires many poets and
song writers.
Music inspires many poets.

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Sentence?
Inspires many poets and
song writers.
Music inspires many poets.

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Sentence?
I like the pleasant May
weather.
The pleasant weather of
May.

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Sentence?
I like the pleasant May
weather.
The pleasant weather of
May.

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Sentence?
The instructor who
students love.
That instructor is very nice.

47. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Sentence?
The instructor who
students love.
That instructor is very nice.

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Sentence?
As she is nice, I will take
her class.
Just because she is nice.

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Sentence?
As she is nice, I will take
her class.
Just because she is nice.

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Two Types of Runons
Fused Sentence ( RO)
Comma Splice (CS)

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Fused Sentence (Run On)
Incorrectly joining two
independent clauses without
conjunction or punctuation.
She eats pizza he drinks coke.

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Comma Splice
Incorrectly joining two
independent clauses with a
comma but no conjunction.
She eats pizza, he drinks
coke.

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Five Ways to Correct a
Run-on or Comma Splice
Use two separate
sentences:
Use this method especially
if the thoughts are not
closely related.

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Kristin plays the guitar
well she hopes to start
her own band.
Kristin plays the guitar well.
She hopes to start her own
band.
Example

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Five Ways to Correct a
Run-on or Comma Splice
Use a coordinating
conjunction:

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Coordinate Conjunctions
F A N B O Y S
For And Nor But Or Yet So

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Example
Kristin plays the guitar well, and
she hopes to start her own
band.
Kristin plays the guitar well, so
she hopes to start her own
band.

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Five Ways to Correct a
Run-on or Comma Splice
Use a
subordinating
conjunction:

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Common Subordinating Conjunctions
After Before Until
Although Even
though
When
As If Whereas
Because Since While

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Example
Because Kristin plays the guitar
well, she hopes to start her own
band.
Kristin hopes to start her own
band since she plays the guitar
well.

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Five Ways to Correct a
Run-on or Comma Splice
Use a semicolon:

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Five Ways to Correct a
Run-on or Comma Splice
Use a semicolon and
a conjunctive adverb:

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Common Conjunctive Adverbs
accordingly finally meanwhile
as a result furthermore moreover
consequently likewise nevertheles
s
instead however therefore

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Example
Kristin plays the guitar well;
thus, she hopes to start her
own band.
Kristin hopes to start her own
band; consequently, she plays
the guitar well.

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I am going to the store. I will buy bread
and peanut butter.
I am going to the store, so I will buy
bread and peanut butter.
I am going to the store; I will buy bread
and peanut butter.
I am going to the store; thus, I will buy
bread and peanut butter.
Because I am going to the store, I will buy
bread and peanut butter.

67. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Some Practice
FR and RO

68. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
One day, brothers Ed and
Tyler went to a restaurant
for dinner. As soon as the
waiter took out two steaks.
Ed quickly picked out the
bigger steak for himself,
Tyler wasn't happy about
that. "When are you going to
learn to be polite?" he asked.

69. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
One day, brothers Ed and
Tyler went to a restaurant
for dinner. As soon as the
waiter took out two steaks.
Ed quickly picked out the
bigger steak for himself,
Tyler wasn't happy about
that. "When are you going to
learn to be polite?" he asked.

70. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
One day, brothers Ed and
Tyler went to a restaurant
for dinner. As soon as the
waiter took out two steaks,
Ed quickly picked out the
bigger steak for himself, but
Tyler wasn't happy about
that. "When are you going to
learn to be polite?" he asked.

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Ed answered, "If you had the
chance to pick first. Which one
would you pick?"
"The smaller piece." said Tyler.
"What are you whining about then
the smaller piece is what you
want, right?" said Ed.

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Ed answered, "If you had the
chance to pick first. Which one
would you pick?"
"The smaller piece." said Tyler.
"What are you whining about then
the smaller piece is what you
want, right?" said Ed.

73. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Ed answered, "If you had the
chance to pick first, which one
would you pick?"
“I would pick the smaller piece."
said Tyler.
"What are you whining about
then. The smaller piece is what
you want, right?" said Ed.

74. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
Visit Coleman’s Classroom
www.clmn.net