English III (Sentence Fragments and Run- ons)

                                                AVOIDING SENTENCE ERRORS

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS AND RUN-ONS

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

- these are phrases that lack one of the major components of a sentence: a subject or a verb. It can also be a clause that has a subject or a verb, but begins with a subordinating word (because, since, than, if, when, where, which, why, how, or unless)


A. PHRASE FRAGMENTS

1. Noun Fragment
- detached from the words they should modify or does not have a verb.

Ex.
1. A hawk perched in the treetop.
√ The hunter saw a strange creature, a hawk perched in a treetop.
2. The crowded school bus.
 √ The crowded school bus stopped.

2. Verb Fragment
- does not have a subject.

Ex.
1. Has almost finished the assignment.
 √ John has almost finished his assignment.
2. Went to the office.
 √ Mom went to the office.

3. Prepositional Fragment
- add a subject and a verb

Ex.
1. Out of the woods.
 √ I saw a deer running out of the woods.
2. In the early morning.
 √ Bill jogged in the early morning.

4. Participial Fragment
- add a subject and a verb or a subject and a helping verb

Ex.
1. Thrown too hard.
 √ The ball was thrown too hard.
 √ Thrown too hard, the ball sailed over the fence.
2. Sitting down now.
 √ The runner sitting down now is my cousin.

5. Gerund Fragment
- add a verb, a subject and a verb, or a subject and a helping verb

Ex.
1. Preparing the sauce.
 √ Preparing the sauce is our first task.
 √ Our task, preparing the sauce, must be done soon.

6. Infinitive Fragment
- add a verb or a subject and a verb

Ex.
1. To address the envelopes.
 √ To address the envelopes was a tedious job.
 √ I am ready to address the envelopes.

B. CLAUSE FRAGMENTS
- subordinate clauses can not stand alone as sentences. Either connect them to nearby independent clauses or add the missing sentence parts.

1. Adjective Clause Fragment
Ex.
That I have never heard before.
 √  Patrick sang a song that I have never heard before.
2. Adverb Clause Fragments
Ex.
When I stared at the empty room.
 √ When I stared at the empty room, I felt sad.

3. Noun Clause Fragment
Ex.
Whatever the doctor says.
 √  I will do whatever the doctor says.




                                                        SEATWORK  (NB)
Directions: Study each item below. If the item forms a sentence/s, draw a smiley (☺). If the item contains a fragment, rewrite it to make it a complete sentence.
Ex. Dozens of young athletes gathered for the final meet.
      √ There were dozens of young athletes gathered for the final meet.

1. Sipped at the steaming cup of coffee.
_______________________________________________________________
2. The young boy impressed by the sight of the men marching off to war.
_______________________________________________________________

3. The apartment manager gave the tenants their notice. They had thirty days to vacate.
_______________________________________________________________
4. Just as Mr. Decear said goodbye.
_______________________________________________________________
5. The footsteps echoing down the long deserted corridor.
_______________________________________________________________
6. A report to write and Math problems to solve before tomorrow.
_______________________________________________________________

7. Their faces shining with delight at seeing the movie star.
_______________________________________________________________
8. I needed another quarter for the washing machine.
_______________________________________________________________
9. The classified ads filled the pages of the newspaper.
_______________________________________________________________
10. I finally found the missing book. A collection of quotations from famous contemporary politicians.
_______________________________________________________________

                                        
                                           RUN-ON SENTENCES
- occurs when two or more complete sentences are run together without the proper punctuation and/or connecting words.

TYPES:
1. Fused Sentence- occurs when two sentences are written together  without any punctuation at all. 

Ex. The waves lashed the shore the beach houses were washed away.

2. Comma Splice- occurs when a comma is used between two sentences
  without any connecting word (such as "and, but,   or, nor, for, so, yet").

Ex. In the morning the house was cold, however the sun soon warmed it   up.
     
    

How do we correct a run-on?

1. By using end marks
Ex. Do most people like criticism I don’t think so.
2. By using commas and conjunctions
Ex. The sky became dark it began to rain.
3. By using semicolons (;)
Ex. The camper wasn’t frightened by the bear he was terrified.
      She swims often water relaxes her.

* when using transitions such as however, for example, or moreover

Our team played hard, however we lost by a simple mistake.

4. By forming a simple sentence
Ex. Ms. Lim is the coach of our volleyball team, she has placed us on a rigorous training program.
      √ Ms. Lim, the coach of our volleyball team, has placed us on a rigorous training program.
      Mr. Chua often runs with us, his assistant also runs with us.
      √ Mr. Chua and his assistant often run with us. 
5. By forming complex sentence
Ex. Some people do not go to college it costs too much.

      I helped wash the car, Dad did most of the work.

                                       
                                                                       SEATWORK (NB)

Directions: If the item is a complete sentence as written, write correct. If the item is a run-on, rewrite it to make it a complete sentence. Use any of the five ways to correct it.

1. Just inside the room is a large desk, to the left is the door to the supply room.
2. He looked really great he had his hair styled.
3. Carla turned off the lights she left the room.
4. You will probably get the job you have some experience in similar work.
5. They will deliver the things you buy right to your home, you can see and try the products before you pay for them.
6. My aunt stayed with us for a week, my cousins came too.
7. I called him, however he had already driven away.
8. She baked the cake this morning, I have not frosted it yet.
9. The roads were crowded with families leaving for the four- day   weekend.

10. The first raindrops fell, we raised for cover.