Contents
To be a complete sentence, a group
of words must have:
1. Subject
2. Predicate
A word group must have both of these things to be considered a complete sentence. If one of them is missing, it is considered an incomplete sentence or a fragment.
Examples
Incomplete: Any sentence fragments, if you want to be clearly understood.
Complete: You should not write any sentence fragments, if you want to
be clearly understood.
Incomplete: Shifted into lower gear.
Complete: The trucker shifted into lower gear.
Incomplete: The quarterback near the ten-yard line.
Complete: The quarterback fumbled near the ten-yard line.
Incomplete: The storm struck. Without warning.
Complete: The storm struck without warning.
Incomplete: What lesson did we learn? About planning ahead?
Complete: What lesson did we learn about planning ahead?
Practice
Correct any sentence fragment below either by combining it with an independent clause or by making it an independent clause. If an item contains no sentence fragment, circle the number preceding it.
Example:
Robert missed only one question on his chemistry quiz. Even though he
had not studied the night before.
Robert missed only one question on his chemistry quiz, even though he had not studied the night before.
- I enjoy New England more in the winter than in the summer. Especially now that I have learned to ski.
- Freshman English is not as difficult as people say. Unless someone is not willing to do the work.
- Sarah worked many hours perfecting
her double somersault. Before summer ended it had become
her best dive. - Whenever they lose touch with their children. Parents blame themselves.
- The judgements of movie critics are often unreliable. Because they look for qualities that many people do not care about.
- Drag racing is a mixed pleasure. Being both exciting and dangerous.
- Having a hobby can be important to a fulfilling life. Engaging people in things outside there work.
- Just to stay awake. That is the major challenge of long-distance driving.
- Whipping back and forth in the wind. The flag made a frightening sound.
Answers
- I enjoy New England more in the winter than in the summer especially now that I have learned to ski.
- Freshman English is not as difficult as people say unless someone is not willing to do the work.
- Sarah worked many hours perfecting
her double somersault before summer ended it had become
her best dive. - Whenever they lose touch with their children, parents blame themselves.
- The judgements of movie critics are often unreliable because they look for qualities that many people do not care about.
- Drag racing is a mixed pleasure. being both exciting and dangerous.
- Having a hobby can be important to a fulfilling life engaging people in things outside there work.
- Just to stay awake, that is the major challenge of long-distance driving.
- Whipping back and forth in the wind, the flag made a frightening sound.
Run-on
Sentences and Comma Splices
A run-on sentence is two or more sentences written incorrectly as one.
A run-on sentence occurs when two independent
clauses are joined without any punctuation between them. Two complete
sentences can be joined with these two things:
1. a comma and a coordinating
conjunction
2. a semicolon
A comma by itself cannot join two complete sentences; this is called a comma splice.
Examples
Comma Splice: Avoid run-on sentences, they are hard to understand.
Correct: Avoid run-on sentences; they are hard to understand.
Correct: Avoid run-on sentences because they are hard to understand.
Correct: Avoid run-on sentences. They are hard to understand.
Run-on: The contestant hesitated too long the buzzer sounded.
Correct: The contestant hesitated too long, and the buzzer sounded.
Correct: The contestant hesitated too long. The buzzer sounded.
Comma Splice: Ray began as a backup singer, now he sings lead.
Correct: Ray began as a backup singer. Now he sings lead.
Practice
Correct the run-on sentences and comma splices below.
Example:
Judith slept deeply at night, she had worked hard all day.
Judith slept deeply at night because she had worked hard all day. [subordination]
Judith slept deeply at night, for she had worked hard all day. [coordinating
conjunction]
- The election was held on a rainy day, the weather kept people away from the polls.
- My brother enlisted in the Marines for three years he will probably reenlist when his hitch is up.
- We lost the game against Colliersville, though we had been favored to win.
- Marian never seems to stop she has so much energy.
- Snow fell for three days in a row, consequently the superintendent had to shut down the schools.
- Sean bought a new suit for the interview, he didn’t get the job.
- Little orphan Annie used to be just a comic-strip character now however she has become a character in a musical.
- Politicians rarely deal squarely with complex issues, they are too worried about alienating potential supporters.
- Many homeowners are rebelling against property taxes, they believe they should not have to bear the expense of local government.
- The apartment has an excellent view it looks out over a parking lot at the expansive town dump.
Answers
- The election was held on a rainy day. The weather kept people away from the polls.
- My brother enlisted in the Marines for three years. He will probably reenlist when his hitch is up.
- We lost the game against Colliersville though we had been favored to win.
- Marian never seems to stop. She has so much energy.
- Snow fell for three days in a row. Consequently the superintendent had to shut down the schools.
- Sean bought a new suit for the interview. He didn’t get the job.
- Little orphan Annie used to be just a comic-strip character. Now, however, she has become a character in a musical.
- Politicians rarely deal squarely with complex issues. They are too worried about alienating potential supporters.
- Many homeowners are rebelling against property taxes. They believe they should not have to bear the expense of local government.
- The apartment has an excellent view. It looks out over a parking lot at the expansive town dump.