Download Complete Sentences

Complete Sentences
Complete Sentences
Clauses
Fragments
Run-On Sentences
Complete Sentences
 A complete sentence has a subject
and a predicate (a clause) that work
together to make a complete thought.
Bobby smiled until he
thought his face
would crack.
Clauses
 A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb
Subject
You
Sally
Verb
stink.
is talking.
 Most clauses have further information after the verb
Subject
I
Verb
hate
grammar
Sally
is talking
loudly
Two Types of Clauses
 Independent clause (Main clause)
 Can stand alone as a sentence
 Can be joined to another clause
 Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder.
 Dependent clause (Subordinate
clause)
 Cannot stand alone as a sentence
 Must be joined to an independent clause
 Because he wanted to make his own
firecrackers.
A word that joins clauses is a conjunction
Fragment Sentences
 A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be
a sentence in the sense that it cannot
stand by itself.
Fragment Sentences
 may locate something in time
and place, but lack a subjectverb relationship.
Last Saturday after the
ballgame at the ice cream
shop.
Fragment Sentences
 may describe something, but
have no subject-verb
relationship.
Shooting just before the
buzzer rang and hoping to
score the winning point.
Fragment Sentences
 may have most of the makings of
a sentence but still be missing an
important part of a verb string.
Some of the girls going
together to the mall.
Fragment Sentences
may have a subject-verb
relationship, but cannot stand
by itself.
Even though she was
the prettiest girl and
had a great talent
presentation.
Fragments
 Fragments look like sentences but are
missing a subject or a verb, or they are put
together incorrectly.
Fragment
Told everyone to get out
of the way.
Disposable lighter in his
hand.
Error
No subject
Before he lit the fuse.
A dependent
clause by itself
No verb
Correcting Fragments
 Subjects or verbs can be added
 Fragments can be joined together
 All of the following are correct
 With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told
everyone to get out of the way. Then he lit the
fuse.
 Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told
everyone to get out of the way before he lit the
fuse.
 He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told
everyone to get out of the way and then he lit the
fuse.
Run-On Sentences
 A RUN-ON SENTENCE
(sometimes called a fused
sentence) has at least two parts,
either one of which can stand by
itself, but the two parts have
been connected together with
one or two words instead of
becoming two sentences.
Run-On Sentences
 Remember: The length of a
sentence really has nothing to do with
whether a sentence is a run-on or
not; even a very short sentence could
be a run-on.
The books are heavy don’t carry them.
The books are heavy. Don’t carry them.
Run-On Sentences
 When two clauses are connected
by only a comma, they are a runon sentence that is called a
comma-splice.
The books are heavy,
don’t carry them.
Run-On Sentences happen
 when an independent clause
gives an order or directive based
on what was said in the prior
independent clause.
The game is going to
be very close you have
to play your best.
Run-On Sentences happen
 when two clauses are connected
by words such as however,
moreover, nevertheless.
Mother packed my
lunch today however
she forgot to put in
my desert.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
1. Join the clauses with a comma and a
coordinating conjunction


And, or, but, so, yet
He wanted to put the lighter away first, so Fred
placed the firecracker between his legs, and he
didn’t throw it.
2. Join the clauses with a subordinating
conjunction


Because, although, if, when, since, after
Because the fuse burned too quickly before he
could throw it, the explosive blew up between his
legs.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
3. Make the clauses into separate
sentences
X Fred fell down screaming when the
smoke cleared we all expected to see a
bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. The smoke
cleared. We all expected to see a
bloody mess.
 Fred fell down screaming. When the
smoke cleared, we all expected to see a
bloody mess.
Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
4.
Join two independent clauses with a semicolon
(;)if they are closely related.


X

You may include a conjunctive adverb along with the
semicolon:
however, for example, therefore, moreover, indeed,
consequently
Fred hadn’t taped the tube properly and most of the force was
released out the ends of the tube the explosion did direct some
pressure against his groin.
Fred hadn’t taped the tube well and most of the force was
released out the ends of the tube; however, the explosion did
direct some pressure against his groin.
Notice how the sentence
is punctuated
Ready for a drill?
Is it a complete
sentence, run-on, or a
fragment? Read each of
the following and click
your choice!
Walking through
the dark forest.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Bob was running in
the yard.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
This is my first ball
game but I think we
will win.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
All of the other
girls at the mall.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
I have walked to
school everyday.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
My arm hurts a
little.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
A big crowd of
people have arrived.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Mother washed the
clothes and she waxed
the floor.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
What a day for a
party!
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Even though it was
late and very dark.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
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below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
The babies are crying
and they are sleepy.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
One Last Thing!
Don’t forget to vary
your sentence lengths.
Using variety helps
avoid the boredom
that would happen if
all sentences were the
same length.