Download Grammar Exercises Quiz – Comma Splice

Grammar Exercises Quiz – Comma Splice, Fragments, Irr. Verbs
Ms. Weltchek
English
1.
Julie is a real hypochondriac when her stomach hurts, she is certain that
she has a bleeding ulcer, and if she has a backache, she starts to believe
that she has cancer of the spine.
Is this sentence a comma splice? Or is the sentence a fused sentence?
2.
Choose the underlined part where a comma splice or fused sentence occurs.
Hoping to relax after a busy week at work and school, Cheryl smoothed
on some sunscreen, settled onto her pool raft, and opened her new
Stephen King novel, then her neighbor cranked up the lawnmower,
ruining the quiet.
3.
Choose the part that is a fragment for 3 and 4.
Maria wasn't watching her plate of barbecue very carefully. So Santana,
the family beagle, snatched a chicken leg hanging over the edge. As
baked beans and potato salad slid onto Maria's new sandals.
4.
While Cynthia was dressing for her sister's wedding, Murphy, the family dog, was
eating the straps off the only shoes that matched Cynthia's pale blue dress. Her
replacement options were inappropriate. Like rubber flip-flops, Nike running
shoes, fuzzy pink rabbit slippers, or brown leather pumps.
5.
Choose the correct verb form from the list.
When Mom __________ out the kitchen rug, dog hair, bread crumbs,
coffee grounds, and spaghetti noodles flew through the air and dusted the
sidewalk.
A. shaked
B. shook
C. had shook
6.
A strong wind __________ through the trees, loosening clumps of moss,
dead branches, old kites, and baby squirrels, all of which fell to the wet
ground below.
A. had blew
B. blew
C. blowed
Grammar Rules for Comma Splice, Irregular Verbs, and Fragments
A comma splice contains two main clauses illegally joined by a comma. The problem
looks like this:
Main Clause + , + Main Clause =
A fused sentence, on the other hand, contains two main clauses illegally run together with
no punctuation whatsoever. The problem looks like this:
Main Clause + Ø + Main Clause =
As a writer, you must keep in mind that comma splices and fused sentences make you
look like an amateur. They tell your reader that you cannot control the construction of a
sentence, the most basic building block of a piece of writing. Learning to identify comma
splices and fused sentences is the first step to fixing the problem.
For Using Irregular Verbs
Understand the problem.
All verbs, whether regular or irregular, have five forms [often called principal parts].
These forms are the infinitive, simple present, simple past, past participle, and present
participle.
The difference between a regular and an irregular verb is the formation of the simple
past and past participle. Regular verbs are dependably consistent--the simple past ends
in -ed as does the past participle. Check out this chart.
Infinitive
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Past
Participle
Present
Participle
to laugh
laugh(s)
laughed
laughed
laughing
to start
start(s)
started
started
starting
to wash
wash(es)
washed
washed
washing
to wink
wink(s)
winked
winked
winking
Irregular verbs, on the other hand, can end in a variety of ways, with absolutely no
consistent pattern. Here are some examples:
Infinitive
to drive
Simple
Present
drive(s)
Simple Past
drove
Past
Participle
driven
Present
Participle
driving
to feel
feel(s)
felt
felt
feeling
to put
put(s)
put
put
putting
to swim
swim(s)
swam
swum
swimming
Writers make two frequent errors with irregular verbs: either adding an incorrect ed to
the end of an irregular verb or accidentally interchanging the simple past and past
participle. Read this sentence:
Olivia feeled like exercising yesterday, so she putted on her bathing suit and
drived to the YMCA, where she swum so far that only an extra large pepperoni
pizza would satisfy her hunger.
What are the problems with this sentence? First, feeled should be felt. Next, putted
needs to be put. The correct past tense form of drive is drove. And we must change
swum to swam.
Know the solution.
To avoid making mistakes with irregular verbs, learn the very long chart below.
Infinitive
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Past
Participle
Present
Participle
to arise
arise(s)
arose
arisen
arising
to awake
awake(s)
awoke or
awaked
awaked or
awoken
awaking
to be
am, is, are
was, were
been
being
to bear
bear(s)
bore
borne or
born
bearing
to beat
beat(s)
beat
beaten
beating
to become
become(s)
became
become
becoming
to begin
begin(s)
began
begun
beginning
to bend
bend(s)
bent
bent
bending
to bet
bet(s)
bet
bet
betting
to bid (to
offer)
bid(s)
bid
bid
bidding
to bid (to
bid(s)
bade
bidden
bidding
command)
to bind
bind(s)
bound
bound
binding
to bite
bite(s)
bit
bitten or bit
biting
to blow
blow(s)
blew
blown
blowing
to break
break(s)
broke
broken
breaking
to bring
bring(s)
brought
brought
bringing
to build
build(s)
built
built
building
to burst
burst(s)
burst
burst
bursting
to buy
buy(s)
bought
bought
buying
to cast
cast(s)
cast
cast
casting
to catch
catch(es)
caught
caught
catching
to choose
choose(s)
chose
chosen
choosing
to cling
cling(s)
clung
clung
clinging
to come
come(s)
came
come
coming
to cost
cost(s)
cost
cost
costing
to creep
creep(s)
crept
crept
creeping
to cut
cut(s)
cut
cut
cutting
to deal
deal(s)
dealt
dealt
dealing
to dig
dig(s)
dug
dug
digging
to dive
dive(s)
dived or
dove
dived
diving
to do
do(es)
did
done
doing
to draw
draw(s)
drew
drawn
drawing
to drink
drink(s)
drank
drunk
drinking
to drive
drive(s)
drove
driven
driving
to eat
eat(s)
ate
eaten
eating
to fall
fall(s)
fell
fallen
falling
to feed
feed(s)
fed
fed
feeding
to feel
feel(s)
felt
felt
feeling
to fight
fight(s)
fought
fought
fighting
to find
find(s)
found
found
finding
to flee
flee(s)
fled
fled
fleeing
to fling
fling(s)
flung
flung
flinging
to fly
flies, fly
flew
flown
flying
to forbid
forbid(s)
forbade or
forbad
forbidden
forbidding
to forget
forget(s)
forgot
forgotten or
forgot
forgetting
to forgive
forgive(s)
forgave
forgiven
forgiving
to forsake
forsake(s)
forsook
forsaken
forsaking
to freeze
freeze(s)
froze
frozen
freezing
to get
get(s)
got
got or
gotten
getting
to give
give(s)
gave
given
giving
to go
go(es)
went
gone
going
to grow
grow(s)
grew
grown
growing
to hang (to
suspend)
hang(s)
hung
hung
hanging
to have
has, have
had
had
having
to hear
hear(s)
heard
heard
hearing
to hide
hide(s)
hid
hidden
hiding
to hit
hit(s)
hit
hit
hitting
to hurt
hurt(s)
hurt
hurt
hurting
to keep
keep(s)
kept
kept
keeping
to know
know(s)
knew
known
knowing
to lay
lay(s)
laid
laid
laying
to lead
lead(s)
led
led
leading
to leap
leap(s)
leaped or
leapt
leaped or
leapt
leaping
to leave
leave(s)
left
left
leaving
to lend
lend(s)
lent
lent
lending
to let
let(s)
let
let
letting
to lie (to
rest or
recline)
lie(s)
lay
lain
lying
to light
light(s)
lighted or lit
lighted or lit
lighting
to lose
lose(s)
lost
lost
losing
to make
make(s)
made
made
making
to mean
mean(s)
meant
meant
meaning
to pay
pay(s)
paid
paid
paying
to prove
prove(s)
proved
proved or
proven
proving
to quit
quit(s)
quit
quit
quitting
to read
read(s)
read
read
reading
to rid
rid(s)
rid
rid
ridding
to ride
ride(s)
rode
ridden
riding
to ring
ring(s)
rang
rung
ringing
to rise
rise(s)
rose
risen
rising
to run
run(s)
ran
run
running
to say
say(s)
said
said
saying
to see
see(s)
saw
seen
seeing
to seek
seek(s)
sought
sought
seeking
to send
send(s)
sent
sent
sending
to set
set(s)
set
set
setting
to shake
shake(s)
shook
shaken
shaking
to shine (to
glow)
shine(s)
shone
shone
shining
to shoot
shoot(s)
shot
shot
shooting
to show
show(s)
showed
shown or
showed
showing
to shrink
shrink(s)
shrank
shrunk
shrinking
to sing
sing(s)
sang
sung
singing
to sink
sink(s)
sank or
sunk
sunk
sinking
to sit
sit(s)
sat
sat
sitting
to slay
slay(s)
slew
slain
slaying
to sleep
sleep(s)
slept
slept
sleeping
to sling
sling(s)
slung
slung
slinging
to sneak
sneak(s)
sneaked or
snuck
sneaked or
snuck
sneaking
to speak
speak(s)
spoke
spoken
speaking
to spend
spend(s)
spent
spent
spending
to spin
spin(s)
spun
spun
spinning
to spring
spring(s)
sprang or
sprung
sprung
springing
to stand
stand(s)
stood
stood
standing
to steal
steal(s)
stole
stolen
stealing
to sting
sting(s)
stung
stung
stinging
to stink
stink(s)
stank or
stunk
stunk
stinking
to stride
stride(s)
strode
stridden
striding
to strike
strike(s)
struck
struck
striking
to strive
strive(s)
strove
striven
striving
to swear
swear(s)
swore
sworn
swearing
to sweep
sweep(s)
swept
swept
sweeping
to swim
swim(s)
swam
swum
swimming
to swing
swing(s)
swung
swung
swinging
to take
take(s)
took
taken
taking
to teach
teach(es)
taught
taught
teaching
to tear
tear(s)
tore
torn
tearing
to tell
tell(s)
told
told
telling
to think
think(s)
thought
thought
thinking
to throw
throw(s)
threw
thrown
throwing
to
understand
understand(s) understood
understood
understanding
to wake
wake(s)
woke or
waked
waked or
woken
waking
to wear
wear(s)
wore
worn
wearing
to wring
wring(s)
wrung
wrung
wringing
to write
write(s)
wrote
written
writing
In addition to learning the chart above, you must also understand the difference between
the simple past and past participle.
A simple past tense verb always has just one part. You need no auxiliary verb to form
this tense. Look at these examples:
Because dinner time was near, my dog Oreo bit the spine of Moby Dick and pulled
the novel off of my lap.
Because Denise had ignored bills for so long, she wrote out checks for an hour
straight.
Despite the noise, jolts, and jerks, Alex slept so soundly on the city bus that he
missed his stop.
Many multipart verbs, however, require the past participle after one or more auxiliary
verbs. Read these sentences:
Raymond had bitten into the muffin before Charise mentioned that it was her
infamous chocolate-broccoli variety.
had = auxiliary verb; bitten = past participle
Once Woody has written his essay for Mr. Stover, he plans to reward himself with
a packet of Twinkies.
has = auxiliary verb; written = past participle
Cynthia might have slept better if she hadn't watched The Nightmare on Elm
Street marathon on HBO.
might, have = auxiliary verbs; slept = past participle
For regular verbs, knowing the distinction between the simple past and past participle is
unnecessary because both are identical. Check out these two sentences:
Diane giggled as her beagle Reliable pushed his cold wet nose into her stomach,
searching for cookie crumbs.
giggled = simple past
Until the disapproving Mrs. Wittman elbowed Latoya in the ribs, the young girl had
giggled without stop at the toilet paper streamer attached to Principal Clemens's
shoe.
had = auxiliary verb; giggled = past participle
When you choose an irregular verb for a sentence, however, the simple past and past
participle are often different, so you must know the distinction. Here are two examples:
Essie drove so cautiously that traffic piled up behind her, causing angry drivers to
honk their horns and shout obsenities.
drove = simple past
Essie might have driven faster if she hadn't forgotten her glasses and saw more
than big colored blurs through the windshield.
might, have = auxiliary verbs; driven = past participle
In addition, past participles can function as adjectives in sentences, describing other
words. When you use a past participle in this manner, you must choose the correct form.
Read these sentences:
The calculus exams given by Dr. Ribley are so difficult that his students believe
their brains will burst.
Delores discovered the stolen bologna under the sofa, guarded fiercely by Max,
her Chihuahua.
The written reprimand so shamed poor Pablo that he promised his boss never to
throw another scoop of ice cream at a customer again.
Remember that you can always consult a dictionary when you have a question about the
correct form of an irregular verb.
Recognize the difference between a sentence and a fragment.
A fragment resembles a sentence in a number of ways. Both are groups of words that begin with a
capital letter and conclude with an end mark--usually a period [.] but sometimes a question mark
[?] or an exclamation point [!]. The one important difference is that a fragment does not contain a
main clause. Like an engine, the main clause powers a complete sentence, propelling the reader
through the development of an idea. A fragment, missing this essential component, stalls on the
page.
When you analyze a group of words looking for the main clause, you have to find three things: a
subject, a verb, and a complete thought. If one of these three items is missing, a fragment results.
Here are examples of fragments:
And yawned loudly enough to make everyone in class turn around.
Subject = Ø | verb = yawned | complete thought = Ø
The boy sitting on the fire escape dropping water balloons on the pedestrians below.
Subject = boy | verb = Ø | complete thought = Ø
After Gabriel ate half a box of Devil Dogs.
Subject = Gabriel | verb = ate | complete thought = Ø
Know how to identify the type of fragment that you have found.
You can correct a fragment two ways: 1) adding the necessary main clause or 2) connecting the
fragment to a main clause already in the passage. Whether you add or connect, you must use the
right punctuation.
Some fragments, for example, will require a comma if you connect them at the beginning of a
main clause. If you choose to connect them at the end, however, these same fragments require no
punctuation at all. Other fragments will require a comma whether you connect them at beginning
or the end. To make the comma decision intelligently, you first have to identify the type of
fragment that you have.
The most common fragments are the following word groups: subordinate clauses, participle
phrases, infinitive phrases, afterthoughts, lonely verb phrases, and appositives. Each has a marker
that will help you recognize what type of fragment you have.
Subordinate Clause Fragments
A subordinate clause fragment [sometimes called a dependent clause fragment] will begin with a
subordinate conjunction, a relative pronoun, or a relative adverb. It will also contain a subject and
verb. Unfortunately, this combination of words will not express a complete thought by itself.
Think of the problem like this: At work, there are bosses and their employees, also known as
subordinates. When the bosses aren't directly supervising, many subordinates goof off. In a
sentence, the main clause is the boss. If the boss is absent, the subordinate clause goofs off, and
the job doesn't get done.
Here are the words that will begin a subordinate clause fragment:
after
although
as
because
before
even if
even though
if
in order that
once
provided that
since
so [that implied]
so that
than
that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
which
whichever
while
who
whoever
whom
whomever
whose
These words are your markers for this type of fragment. Here are some examples:
Because Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.
Because = subordinate conjunction | Chase = subject | caught = verb [What happened? Was he
able to cheat on the test? Did he quickly ask her for a date? We don't know because the thought is
incomplete.]
Until Rachel notices the toilet paper stuck to her shoe.
Until = subordinate conjunction | Rachel = subject | notices = verb [What will happen? Will she
embarrass her date? Will people at the restaurant stare? We don't know because this is another
incomplete thought.]
Even though Fred stuck straws up his nose.
Even though = subordinate conjunction | Fred = subject | stuck = verb [What happened? Could
he still not pass as a walrus? Did the McDonald's manager offer him a job anyway? We don't
know because this thought is incomplete too!]
Participle Phrase Fragments
A participle phrase fragment will begin with a word ending in ing or ed, or with an irregular past
participle. More words will follow to finish the phrase, but nowhere will you find a main clause
to complete the thought. By itself, a participle phrase cannot be a sentence.
Your marker for this type of fragment is the present or past participle that you will find at the
beginning of the fragment. Take a look at these examples:
Sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet crashing down the
sidewalk.
All the while twirling the baton with the speed and ferocity of helicopter blades.
Sucked down the pipe with a hearty slurp.
Hidden in the bureau drawer underneath a pile of mismatched socks.
Infinitive Phrase Fragments
An infinitive phrase fragment will begin with to followed by the base form of the verb [infinitive
= to + verb ]. Although more words will follow to finish the phrase, you will not find a main
clause to finish the thought. An infinitive phrase--by itself--cannot be a sentence.
Look for the to + verb as your marker for this type of fragment. Study these examples:
Only to watch in dismay as Dr. Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.
To catch butterflies for her biology project.
To break a piece of plywood with his bare hands.
Afterthought Fragments
An afterthought clarifies earlier information by providing specific details. When an afterthought
does not contain a main clause, it is a fragment. The words below frequently begin afterthoughts.
except
excluding
for example
for instance
including
like
such as
These words are your markers for this type of fragment [although infrequently you will have just
the list of details]. Here are some examples:
For example, leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and paperclips.
Including the dog with three legs and the cat with one eye.
Such as leaving the stove on and teasing mean dogs.
Lonely Verb Fragments
Writers will sometimes forget to include a subject in a sentence. The result is a verb pining for its
partner. With the subject missing, the word group thus becomes a lonely verb fragment.
A lonely verb fragment will often begin with a coordinating conjunction [and, but, for, or, nor,
so, yet]. The marker for this type of fragment will be the immediate expression of action. Just
remember that a verb alone cannot be a sentence. Study these examples:
And dashed through the downpour as raindrops began to soften the hairspray shell
holding her elaborate coif in place.
But knew that all of his effort would prove useless in the long run.
Took the thick book and, with a heavy sigh, loaded it on top of her pile of research.
Appositive Fragments
An appositive is a noun phrase that renames and clarifies anther noun. Because some appositives
can be long, writers sometimes mistake them as complete sentences. By itself, however, an
appositive is not a sentence.
An appositive fragment will begin with a noun and usually include one or more clarifying phrases
or subordinate clauses after it. Here are some examples:
The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets
of blank paper.
A slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television.
A dog around whom people need to guard their fingers and food.
Know how to fix the fragment that you have found.
Every fragment can be fixed by either 1) revising the fragment so that it has a main clause or 2)
connecting the fragment to a main clause that comes before or after it. When you connect, you
have to know whether or not punctuation is required. Learning the nine punctuation rules that
follow will help you not only fix fragments but also punctuate all of your sentences correctly.
Fixing Subordinate Clause Fragments
When you have a subordinate clause fragment, removing one thing--the subordinate conjunction-will give you the necessary main clause. Look at this fragment:
Because Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.
Removing because makes the thought complete. Chase is the subject, caught the verb. Now you
have a sentence!
Chase caught the eye of the beautiful brunette in algebra.
If, however, you need the subordinate conjunction because of the meaning it provides, then you
must fix the fragment by connecting it.
If you attach the fragment after a main clause, use Punctuation Rule 1: Main clause + Ø
+ subordinate clause . Here is an example:
We will continue giggling Ø until Rachel notices the toilet paper stuck to her shoe .
If you attach the fragment in front of a main clause, use Punctuation Rule 2: Subordinate
clause + , + main clause . The fix looks like this:
Even though Fred stuck straws up his nose , Melissa ate her tuna fish sandwich and
continued to ignore him .
Fixing Participle Phrase Fragments
One way to fix a participle phrase fragment is to add the necessary main clause. Here is such a
fragment:
Sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet crashing down the
sidewalk.
Notice that you're not sure what type of creatures are enjoying the warmth. If you add this
information and complete the verb--sunning, a participle, is not a full verb--the problem would
be fixed. The correction would look like this:
Chameleons were sunning themselves on the hot concrete until they heard human feet
crashing down the sidewalk.
In addition, you can attach a participle phrase fragment after a main clause. Just follow
Punctuation Rule 3: Main clause + , + participle phrase . Check out this sample:
The majorette marched at the front of the parade , all the while twirling the baton with
the speed and ferocity of helicopter blades .
Or you can choose to use Punctuation Rule 4: Participle phrase + , + main clause . The
participle phrase introduces the main clause, like this:
Sucked down the pipe with a hearty slurp , the dirty bath water drained from the tub .
Fixing Infinitive Phrase Fragments
You can convert an infinitive phrase fragment into a sentence by adding a subject and
conjugating the verb. Take a look at this fragment:
Only to watch in dismay as Dr. Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.
When you read this fragment, you don't know who is involved. With a couple of minor changes,
however, you have the necessary main clause that every sentence requires:
Amber watched in dismay as Dr. Frazier poured her chemistry experiment into the sink.
If you don't like that option, you can attach an infinitive phrase fragment after a main clause. Just
follow Punctuation Rule 5: Main clause + Ø + infinitive phrase . Here's how it will
look:
Jossie enlisted the help of several spiders Ø to catch butterflies for her biology project .
Or you can use Punctuation Rule 6: Infinitive phrase + , + main clause . The infinitive
phrase introduces the main clause, like this:
To break a piece of plywood with his bare hands , Daniel followed his karate teacher's
advice and focused power .
Fixing Afterthought Fragments
You can fix an afterthought fragment one of two ways. One option is to insert the missing subject
and verb so that you have a main clause. This option works best when you have for example and
for instance as the transitions beginning the fragment. Take a look at this example:
For example, leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and paperclips.
The simple addition of a subject and verb will fix the problem:
For example, the desk drawer contained leaky pens, candy wrappers, dollar bills, and
paperclips.
Or you can attach the afterthought fragment to the end of a main clause. This option works best
when the fragment begins with except, excluding, including, like and such as. Use
Punctuation Rule 7: Main clause + , + afterthought transition + Ø + details . The
correction looks like this:
John has many unsafe habits , such as Ø leaving the stove on and teasing mean dogs .
Fixing Lonely Verb Fragments
One missing element--the subject--makes a lonely verb fragment an error. Here is such a
fragment:
And dashed through the downpour as raindrops began to soften the hairspray shell holding
her elaborate coif in place.
Who did the dashing? We don't know. The subject might be mentioned in a sentence that came
previously, but this word group is a fragment because no subject exists in it. To correct the error,
all you need to do is insert the subject, like this:
Betty dashed through the downpour as raindrops began to soften the hairspray shell holding
her elaborate coif in place.
If you want to connect this type of fragment to a main clause in front, use Punctuation Rule
8: Main clause + Ø + lonely verb phrase .*
With a heavy sigh, Darryl began counting the words of his essay Ø but knew that all of his
effort would prove useless in the long run .
*If the coordinating conjunction beginning the lonely verb phrase connects three or more
verbs, you will need to use a comma. See Comma Tip 4.
Fixing Appositive Fragments
You have two options when fixing an appositive fragment. Since an appositive contains a noun
which can conveniently become a subject, adding a verb will often fix the problem. Look at this
example:
The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets of
blank paper.
We know who we are talking about; now we need to know what this student did.
The unprepared student who was always begging for an extra pencil and a couple sheets of
blank paper screamed. [or cried, sang, protested the accusations, bit his lip, crossed his fingers,
flirted with Jasmine, etc.]
Another good option is to connect the appositive to a main clause. Punctuation Rule 9 says
this: No matter where you attach the appositive--at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end-always use comma(s) to separate it. Here are some samples:
A slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television , Brian opened a bag of potato
chips instead of his chemistry textbook .
Brian , a slacker wasting his afternoon in front of the television , opened a bag of potato
chips instead of his chemistry textbook .
On the lawn chair lay Rocket , a dog around whom people need to guard their fingers and
food .