Sentence StructureMrs. Wright

What is a sentence?Group of words

that completes a thought

Has a subject and a verb

Some are short, some are long◦ Length does not

determine if a sentence is complete

Examples:◦ Mary reads every

night before she goes to sleep

◦ I’m hungry

What is a fragment?A group of words

that does NOT COMPLETE A THOUGHT

Some fragments are short, some fragments are long◦ Length is not a

determiner

Fragment sentence examplesExample #1

Wrong◦ Because I have a

headache.

Correct◦ Because I have a

headache, I am going to take a nap

Example #2

Wrong◦ After eating three

cheeseburgers and a plate of French fries at lunch with my friends at Heavenly Hamburgers.

Correct◦ I was stuffed after eating

three cheeseburgers and a plate of French fries at lunch with my friends at Heavenly Hamburgers.

What is a run-on sentence?Two or more

sentences improperly joined by no punctuation at all

Often longer than fragments, but length does not determine if a sentence is a run-on

Examples of a run on sentenceExample #1

Wrong◦ I really like Joe he is

such a nice guy. (no punctuation)

Correct◦ I really like Joe; he is

such a nice guy. (semicolon works)

Example #2

Wrong◦ I really like Joe he

is such a nice guy.

Correct◦ I really like Joe

because he is such a nice guy. (because works)

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon

Too ShortSome sentences are

grammatically correct, but they are too short

Short sentences create a choppy effect and sound elementary

A series of short sentences often repeats words or ideas

Too short exampleExample #1

Wrong◦ I liked the movie. It

was funny. It had a surprise ending.

Correct◦ I liked the movie

because it was funny and had a surprise ending.

Good things about short sentencesIt is easy to

understand

One short sentence in the middle of longer sentences can have a strong impact

Short sentences give the reader a break…a moment to breathe.

Clause

A group of words that contain a subject and a verb

Two types of clauses:

◦ Independent Can stand alone

◦ Dependent Cannot stand alone

Independent Clauses/Complete Sentence

Definition:

Can stand alone

It is a complete sentence

Example:

◦ The woman sang a song.

Dependent Clauses/FragmentDefinition:

Needs more complete thought

Cannot stand alone

Example:

◦ Because she was happy

Why was she happy?

Independent + Dependent ClausesThe woman sang a

song because she was so happy

Which part is the independent?

Which part is the dependent?

◦ (independent + dependent)

Because she was so happy, the woman sang a song.

Which part is the independent?

Which part is the dependent?

◦ (dependent + independent)

Comma SpliceA run-on sentence

Writer has connected two main clauses (complete sentences) with a comma alone

A main clause makes a complete thought, so a comma is not strong enough to join such powerful clauses together

Comma Splice Example

Eliza ran to the store, then she stopped at clown school to pick up her homework.

Eliza ran to the store; then she stopped at clown school to pick up her homework.

Eliza ran to the store and then she stopped at clown school to pick up her homework.