In chapters 1-4, we learned that sentences can be simple, compound, or complex, and that sentence structure is based on clauses and how we combine them. Now, you will learn more about sentence problems. If we do not combine clauses correctly, we call the mistakes Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma splices. We will look more carefully at each type of sentence mistake.
As we learned earlier, every clause needs a subject and a verb. You must check your sentences for complete clauses, and you must make sure that clauses are connected properly (with coordinating conjunctions or subordinating conjunctions). When we don’t check these things carefully, we can end up with sentence problems, such as a sentence fragment, a run-on, or a comma splice.
Fragments
A fragment is a piece of something, so a sentence fragment is part of a sentence.
Every verb needs its own subject. If a subject is missing, this is a fragment.
How to Fix It:
- Add a subordinating conjunction that takes the place of the subject.
- Add another subject noun and separate the sentences or join them to create a compound sentence.
Examples
Fragment: Students study and work every day are very busy.
Correct:
- Students who study and work every day are very busy.
- Students study and work every day. They are very busy.
- Students study and work every day, so they are very busy.
Note: “Students study and work every day” is complete; however, the verb “are” is left without its own subject. If we make one clause into an adjective clause, then each verb has its own grammatical subject: who is the subject of the dependent clause and students is the subject of the main clause.
If the sentence is a dependent clause without a main clause, this is also a fragment.
Clauses that start with a dependent word—such as since, because, when, or unless—can be fragments if they are not connected to an independent clause containing a subject and a verb. In other words, be very careful with punctuation and capitalization.
How to Fix It:
You can add such a fragment to the beginning or end of a sentence. If the dependent clause is added at the beginning of a sentence, add a comma.
Examples
Fragment: He has been seeing a physical therapist. Since he broke his arm.
Correct: Since he broke his arm, he has been seeing a physical therapist.
Correct: He has been seeing a physical therapist since he broke his arm.
Fragment: Because we lost power. The entire family overslept.
Correct: Because we lost power, the entire family overslept.
Correct: The entire family overslept because we lost power.
If the verb is incomplete, this also creates a fragment.
How to Fix It:
When you see a word ending in -ing in a sentence, identify whether or not this word is used as a verb in the sentence. If the word is not used as a verb, the verb is being used as a noun. An -ing verb form used as a noun is called a gerund. Gerunds may be used in the same way as regular nouns, i.e. as the subject of a sentence or as the object of a preposition.
Examples
Fragment: He working until midnight.
Correct Verb: He was working until midnight.
Correct Gerund: Working until midnight makes me tired the next morning.
Correct Gerund: After working late, he went home and slept.
Exercise A
Exercise B
Are these sentences complete, or do you see a problem?
Exercise C
Identify the fragments below. Then, use one of the ways to fix it to make complete sentences. Write your sentences on paper and check them with a partner or with your teacher.
1. We working without taking a break. We need to meet the deadline.
2. I needed to bring work home. To meet the deadline.
3. When spring arrives. The flowers start to blossom.
4. Turning the lights off when he leaves the room. Robert is trying to conserve energy.
5. You’ll find what you need. If you look on the shelf.
6. Jenny searched every day. Because she needed to find an apartment.
Writing Tip:
Work with a partner and find examples of fragments in your own writing. Correct each fragment.
Run-ons and Comma-splices
These two types of sentence mistakes are sometimes called fused sentences. Essentially, they are two clauses that come together incorrectly, or run into one another. Just as short, incomplete sentences can be problematic, sentences that are too long can be problematic too.
Sentences with two or more independent clauses that have been incorrectly combined are known as run-on sentences. A run-on does not have any punctuation, and a comma-splice has a comma, but is missing a conjunction that would join the clauses correctly
Examples
Run-on sentence: A family of foxes lived under our shed young foxes played all over the yard.
Comma-splice: We looked outside, the kids were hopping on the trampoline.
Think About It:
What is the difference between a run-on and a comma-splice?
One way to correct run-ons or comma-splices is to add a period and start a new sentence with a capital letter.
Examples
Run-on: By the time we arrived, there were no seats left we had to stand in the back.
Correct: By the time we arrived, there were no seats left. We had to stand in the back.
Another way to correct this problem is to use a semicolon between the two complete sentences if they are closely related.
A semicolon allows you to keep the two closely related ideas together in one sentence. When you punctuate with a semicolon, make sure that both parts of the sentence are independent clauses. Do not use a capital letter after a semicolon.
Examples
Run-on: The accident closed both lanes of traffic we waited an hour for the wreckage to be cleared.
Correct: The accident closed both lanes of traffic; we waited an hour for the wreckage to be cleared.
When you use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses, you may wish to add a transition word to show the connection between the two ideas. After the semicolon, add the transition word and follow it with a comma.
Examples
Comma-splice: The project was put on hold we didn’t have time to slow down, so we kept working.
Correct: The project was put on hold; however, we didn’t have time to slow down, so we kept working.
Another way to fix run-ons or comma-splices is by adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
A coordinating conjunction acts as a link between two independent clauses. We saw these conjunctions when we looked at compound sentences. These are the seven coordinating conjunctions that you can remember by using the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. The most commonly used coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, and so.
Examples
Run-on: The new printer was installed no one knew how to use it.
Correct: The new printer was installed, but no one knew how to use it.
Finally, making one clause dependent is another way to connect two clauses.
Like the coordinating conjunctions, dependent words, or subordinating conjunctions, show a relationship between two independent clauses.
Example 1
Run-on: We took the elevator the others still got there before us.
Correct: Although we took the elevator, the others got there before us.
Example 2
Comma-splice: Dust covered the furniture, the room hadn’t been cleaned in years.
Correct: Dust covered the furniture because the room hadn’t been cleaned in years.
Exercises
Writing Tip:
Work with a partner to check your use of commas in your own writing. Look for examples of Run-ons and Comma Splices in your own writing and correct them.
