Writing in Complete

Sentences

Run Ons and Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is:

Not a sentence because it fails to contain all necessary parts of speech to express the idea.

Example:

Went to the store to buy coffee.

What is missing?

The subject

How to make the fragment into a sentence:

(add subject) SHE went to the store to buy coffee.

Lets compare FRAGMENTS to COMPLETE SENTENCES.

COMPLETE SENTENCE

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

A run on sentence is:A sentence that expresses two complete ideas.

Example:

She went to the store to get some coffee, then she went home to enjoy the coffee she just bought.

What’s missing?

A period to separate the two ideas.

How to fix it:

(Add period)

She went to the store to get some coffee. Then she went home to enjoy the coffee she just bought.

Lets compare RUN ONS and

COMPLETE SENTENCES.RUN ON SENTENCES

COMPLETE SENTENCES

LETS REVIEW

FRAGMENTS

Do not express a complete idea.

Missing parts of speech (verb and subject)

HOW TO FIX: add necessary part of speech.

RUN ONS

Express two or more complete ideas.

Are often found with commas or semi colons.

HOW TO FIX: Separate complete ideas by adding a period.