Fragments vs. Run-On Sentences Claire Brownstone.
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Transcript of Fragments vs. Run-On Sentences Claire Brownstone.
Fragments vs. Run-On SentencesClaire Brownstone
FragmentsA sentence fragment is an
incomplete sentence.They lack either a subject or a
verb or both.The most common mistake
students make is with dependent clauses.
Dependent ClausesDependent clauses have a subject and
a verb, so they look complete, but do not express a complete thought.
Example: If you want to go with me. What makes this sentence incomplete is
the first word: If. Words like if, because, after, and when
are subordinating conjunctions. They join two sentences, make one
sentence dependent on another, and indicate a logical relationship.
How To Fix FragmentsRemember that every dependent
clause needs to be attached to an independent clause.
Scan sentences for subject, verb, and complete thought.
If you find a subordinating conjunction, identify the whole dependent clause and attach it to an independent clause.
Run-On SentencesYou are making a run-on when
you put two complete sentences (a subject and its predicate and another subject and its predicate) together in one sentence without separating them properly.
Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky.
Just because it is a long sentence does not mean it is a run-on!
Fixing Run-OnsTo find run-ons, form the sentence into a questionEx: Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus
is it very garlicky?Doesn’t work, does it? You must form it into two
separate questions. Fix run-ons using semicolons, commas and
coordinating conjunctions (and, but, yet), subordinating conjunctions, or dashes.
You can also make two separate sentences. NEVER use just a comma, or you end up with a
comma splice. Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is
hummus, it is very garlicky.