run-on sentences time to master!. run-on sentences look at the following sentence. look at the...

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences

Time to Master!Time to Master!


Look at the following sentence. Look at the following sentence. I saw a teacher who cares.I saw a teacher who cares. The author may have wanted to write The author may have wanted to write I saw a teacher. Who cares?I saw a teacher. Who cares?


Using periods (and other forms of Using periods (and other forms of punctuation) and knowing when to punctuation) and knowing when to end a sentence are very important. end a sentence are very important. If you don't end a sentence If you don't end a sentence appropriately, the intended meaning appropriately, the intended meaning can be changed, or it can be can be changed, or it can be misunderstood. Sometimes the misunderstood. Sometimes the meaning is simply meaning is simply incomprehensible. incomprehensible.


When a person learns to write English When a person learns to write English

sentences and compositions, one common sentences and compositions, one common problem is writing sentences that are too problem is writing sentences that are too long. When a sentence ends too quickly, it long. When a sentence ends too quickly, it is called a is called a sentence fragmentsentence fragment. When a . When a sentence has too many ideas and runs on sentence has too many ideas and runs on too long, it is called a too long, it is called a run-on sentencerun-on sentence. . If you have this problem, don't worry. It is If you have this problem, don't worry. It is quite easy to fix.quite easy to fix.


The first thing you need to do is identify The first thing you need to do is identify when a sentence is a run-on. when a sentence is a run-on.

A run-on (or run-on sentence) is a A run-on (or run-on sentence) is a sentence that really has TWO sentences sentence that really has TWO sentences (or complete ideas) INCORRECTLY (or complete ideas) INCORRECTLY combined into one. combined into one.

It is okay to combine two sentences into It is okay to combine two sentences into one, but you must follow some rules. one, but you must follow some rules.


You might be wondering: "What is a You might be wondering: "What is a sentence?" A sentence consists of 3 sentence?" A sentence consists of 3 things:things:

1: subject :the person, place, or 1: subject :the person, place, or thing performing or doing the thing performing or doing the actionaction

2: verb: the action2: verb: the action 3: complete idea: the reader isn't 3: complete idea: the reader isn't

left waiting for another wordleft waiting for another word


I hit the ball.I hit the ball. Birds fly.Birds fly. I take.I take. I take the bus to school mom drives I take the bus to school mom drives

her car to work.her car to work.


This last example is a This last example is a run-on run-on sentencesentence: Two complete sentences : Two complete sentences (ideas) incorrectly combined. This (ideas) incorrectly combined. This sentence lacks signal words which sentence lacks signal words which tell the reader when to stop or tell the reader when to stop or pause. A part of a sentence that can pause. A part of a sentence that can be a sentence by itself is called an be a sentence by itself is called an independent clauseindependent clause. This last . This last example has example has TWOTWO independent independent clausesclauses. .


Method #1 Method #1 Write the two independent clauses as Write the two independent clauses as

separate sentences using periods. separate sentences using periods. • Incorrect: Carmen loved traveling in Incorrect: Carmen loved traveling in

Italy she felt Rome was too hot. Italy she felt Rome was too hot.


Method #2 Method #2 Use a semicolon to separate the two Use a semicolon to separate the two

independent clauses. independent clauses. • Incorrect: Scott loves playing basketball Incorrect: Scott loves playing basketball

he hates practicing.he hates practicing.


Method #3 Method #3 Use a comma and any one of the Use a comma and any one of the

following connecting words:following connecting words: for and nor but for and nor but

or yet soor yet so

• Incorrect: Megan applied to Incorrect: Megan applied to thirteen different colleges she thirteen different colleges she forgot to take the ACT so she didn’t forgot to take the ACT so she didn’t get accepted. get accepted.

Run-On SentencesRun-On Sentences Method #4 Method #4 Use a semicolon and one of the following words:Use a semicolon and one of the following words: therefore, thus, however, consequently, therefore, thus, however, consequently,

furthermore, also, nevertheless, furthermore, also, nevertheless,

NOTE: If you use any of these connecting words NOTE: If you use any of these connecting words with method #4, a comma must follow it.with method #4, a comma must follow it.

Incorrect: Billy Joe practiced the drums everyday Incorrect: Billy Joe practiced the drums everyday for three years he was the best drummer in for three years he was the best drummer in school.school.


NOTE: When using semicolons, the NOTE: When using semicolons, the two independent clauses two independent clauses must must share a related or common ideashare a related or common idea. . You cannot write the following You cannot write the following sentence:sentence:• Christine loves hot chocolate; I am Christine loves hot chocolate; I am

watching TV. watching TV.


Complete the exercise in the book.Complete the exercise in the book.• Page # and Ex. # are on the board. Page # and Ex. # are on the board.

FragmentsFragments

Since he came to New York.Since he came to New York. Because my dog loves it.Because my dog loves it. Unless you see me.Unless you see me.

• Is there anything wrong with these Is there anything wrong with these sentences? All of these sentences end sentences? All of these sentences end too quickly. After reading these too quickly. After reading these sentences, the reader asks questions sentences, the reader asks questions because he/she needs more information.because he/she needs more information.

FragmentsFragments

Sentence Fragment Sentence Fragment The Reader Asks... The Reader Asks...

Since he came to Since he came to New York. New York.

Since he came, what Since he came, what (has he been doing)? (has he been doing)?

Because my dog Because my dog loves it. loves it.

Because the dog Because the dog loves it, (so what)? loves it, (so what)?

Unless you see me. Unless you see me. Unless you see me, Unless you see me, what (will happen)? what (will happen)?

FragmentsFragments

A sentence fragment has nothing to A sentence fragment has nothing to do with size or amount of words. do with size or amount of words.

Therefore, a very short sentence with Therefore, a very short sentence with a complete idea is NOT a sentence a complete idea is NOT a sentence fragment. fragment.

A sentence fragment is a sentence A sentence fragment is a sentence that is incomplete. It is incomplete that is incomplete. It is incomplete because it is either a because it is either a phrasephrase or a or a dependent clausedependent clause. .

FragmentsFragments

Sometimes the sentence has a Sometimes the sentence has a subject, verb, and direct object, but it subject, verb, and direct object, but it is still a sentence fragment. How? If is still a sentence fragment. How? If a sentence contains one of any of the a sentence contains one of any of the words on the following 2 words on the following 2 blackboards, the sentence requires a blackboards, the sentence requires a second part to finish the idea. second part to finish the idea. Therefore, if you use any of the Therefore, if you use any of the words on these lists, you MUST add words on these lists, you MUST add another part. another part.

FragmentsFragments

after even if once wheneverafter even if once whenever although even though although even though only if whereasonly if whereas as every time as every time Since whether or not as if if Since whether or not as if if

because unless before while because unless before while about above beneath in till about above beneath in till above beside into to across above beside into to across besides like toward after between besides like toward after between near under against beyond of near under against beyond of underneath by off underneath by off

FragmentsFragments

For example For example Look at the following sentence:Look at the following sentence:

• Because you wanted it.Because you wanted it.• Since you bought the radio.Since you bought the radio.

FragmentsFragments

Do these two sentences have subjects, Do these two sentences have subjects, verbs, and direct objects (if needed)? verbs, and direct objects (if needed)? YESYES. Are they sentence fragments? . Are they sentence fragments? YESYES. . Why? They both contain words from the Why? They both contain words from the two blackboards. They need second parts: two blackboards. They need second parts: • I gave you the ice creamI gave you the ice cream because you because you

wanted it.wanted it.• Since you bought the plane tickets,Since you bought the plane tickets, I will pay I will pay

for the hotel roomfor the hotel room. .

FragmentsFragments

Method #1 Method #1 Attach the Attach the

sentence fragment sentence fragment to another to another sentence. That sentence. That other sentence other sentence could be before or could be before or after the sentence after the sentence fragment. fragment.

Sentence Sentence Fragment Fragment

Fixed and Now a Fixed and Now a Complete Complete Sentence Sentence

After seeing the After seeing the doctor. doctor.

I felt much I felt much better after better after seeing the seeing the doctor. doctor.

-or--or-

After seeing the After seeing the doctor, I felt doctor, I felt much better.much better.

FragmentsFragments

Method #2 Method #2 Add a subject, Add a subject,

verb, or both to verb, or both to make the sentence make the sentence complete.complete.

Sentence Sentence Fragment Fragment

Fixed and Fixed and Now a Now a Complete Complete Sentence Sentence

Under the Under the bed. bed.

I found my I found my socks socks under the under the bed. bed.

FragmentsFragments

Method #3 Method #3 Take away the Take away the

word or phrase word or phrase that makes it a that makes it a sentence fragment.sentence fragment.

NOTE: If you use NOTE: If you use method #3, make method #3, make sure the meaning sure the meaning does not change. does not change.

Sentence Sentence FragmentFragment

Fixed Fixed Sentence Sentence

While Fred While Fred was in was in Paris.Paris.

Fred was in Fred was in ParisParis

FragmentsFragments

Do the exercise assigned in the book.Do the exercise assigned in the book.• Page # and Ex. # are on the board.Page # and Ex. # are on the board.

run-on sentences time to master!. run-on sentences look at the following sentence. look at the...

Documents

following sentence

runon sentences time

english sentences

complete sentences ideas

sentence lacks signal

complete ideas

word slide

common problem