Fragments and Run-Ons

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

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.

Clauses 2 types of clauses:

Independent = a clause that could stand on its own as a sentence.

Ex. I went to the storeI 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?

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 John’s death.

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.

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.

Run-Ons (Cont.)

You are right! NEITHER

The correct way is:

I went to the store, and I bought a cow.

(Without the conjunction (and), this is a comma splice)

Run-Ons (Cont.)3 ways to fix a run-on:

1. Put a period between clauses and make it two sentences.Ex. I went to the store. I bought a cow.

2. Put a semi-colon between the clauses.Ex. He went to the store; hebought a cow.

3. Put a comma plus a conjunction.Ex. He went to the store, and he bought a cow.

Conjunctions

FANBOYSFANBOYS::

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So