1. Fragments, Comma Splices & Fused Sentences LBB, Section 35A So you WON’T do this: I love the beach, it is my favorite place.

2. Check for fragments: 1. Find the verb (action words + /is/are/am/was/were) No verb? Provide one... My girlfriend’s wealthy parents. NO! My girlfriend’s wealthy parents like me. YES! 2. Find the subject (Ask :“Who or what is doing this?”) No subject? Provide one... Slowly walked to the front porch. NO! She slowly walked to the front porch. YES!

3. 3. Check for subordinate clauses Does sentence begin with a subordinating conjunction? –See LBB 35a list—If so, make sure there is a comma later followed by a complete sentence. For example... After the movie, we went for drinks. OK After the most incredible movie. NOT OK!

4. Fix fragments by... 1. Providing the missing verb 2. Providing the missing subject 3. Finishing the subordinate clause, or 4. Connecting the fragment to the sentence before or after...for example, She rode the horse like a pro. Until the sun set.NO! She rode the horse like a pro until the sun set. YES!

5. Check for fused sentences (run-ons): 1. Comma splices I wrote my paper, then we enjoyed the weekend. A comma alone can’t do the job of a period! What can? A period! Or… a) a semicolon I wrote my paper; then we enjoyed the weekend. b) a comma + a FANBOYS word I wrote my paper, so then we enjoyed the weekend.

6. 2. Fused sentences I wrote my paper we enjoyed the weekend. NO! I wrote my paper. We enjoyed the weekend.YES! I wrote my paper; we enjoyed the weekend.YES! I wrote my paper, and we enjoyed the weekend. YES!