Name: ________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________
Period: _______
#:_____
Section: GRAMMAR
RUN-ONS AND FRAGMENTS
RUN-ON SENTENCES
Read this: The ice-cream man stopped at the pool and left ice cream in the sun. He dove in the pool. The ice cream
in the truck melted.
If you write: He dove in the ice cream. In the truck was melted glop.
Readers think: He dove IN the ice cream. In the truck was melted glop.
You mean: He dove in. The ice cream in the truck was melted glop.
THE LOGIC
Leaving out the boundaries between sentences confuses the reader. It is not clear which words go with which
sentence.
THE RULE
Separate sentences to communicate clearly. Use a capital at the beginning, place ending punctuation after the first
complete thought, and start a new sentence with a capital letter.
PRACTICE
PART I
1. Add a period and write three lines under the letter that should be capitalized. This will show where the
sentences should be divided. Make exactly two sentences for each line. The first one is done for you.
a. We watch the man as he runs. he gets tired quickly.
b. She gave me a watch that works I know the right time.
c. I thought it was noon when will we be going?
2. Add a period and a capital where needed. Think about the meaning!
a. The man runs as long as he has energy he gets tired quickly.
b. The doctor got rid of the pain that makes me feel good.
c. She hates that bully he took her stuffed bear that makes her feel good.
PART TWO
1. Add a period and write three lines under the letter that should be capitalized. This will show where the
sentences should be divided. Make exactly two sentences for each line.
a. I have a turtle it loves to swim.
b. She drove around the town seemed large.
c. She drove around town she was lost.
d. She has a car we love to drive it.
e. She has a car we love to drive it is fast.
PART THREE
1. Below is a run-on sentence. Circle the letter that shows the best way to fix it according to the clue.
The day is sunny and warm birds glide lazily in the sky.
Clue: The birds are NOT warm.
a. The day is sunny. Warm birds glide lazily in the sky.
b. The day is sunny and. Warm birds glide lazily in the sky.
c. The day is sunny and warm. Birds glide lazily in the sky.
2. Below is a run-on sentence. Circle the letter that shows the best way to fix it.
She crawled on the ground, and she surprised a grasshopper and it jumped high, and it landed on her nose.
a. She crawled on the ground. And she surprised a grasshopper and it jumped high, and it landed on her nose.
b. She crawled on the ground, and she surprised a grasshopper. It jumped high, and it landed on her nose.
c. She crawled on the ground, and she surprised a grasshopper. And it jumped high, and it landed on her nose.
d. She crawled on the ground, and she surprised a grasshopper and it jumped high. It landed on her nose.
PART FOUR
1. Make each run-on into two sentences by adding a period and a capital.
a. We played with the fish we fed the monsters at noon.
b. We played with the fish that we fed the monsters we ate, too.
c. I thought Thursday would never come on Wednesday I was excited.
d. She said Thanksgiving would never come on Wednesday I knew that long ago.
2. Fix the run-on sentence by doing only this: Cross out one “and” then add a period and a capital.
I bent down, and I tied my shoe and the runner took off just then, and I missed seeing the race begin.
3. In each blank, write the number of the matching clue.
Clue 1: “It’s about time” means it’s about time for you to get out the plow.
Clue 2: “It’s about time” means it’s about time for it to snow again.
__________
a. You finally got out the plow. It’s about time. It snowed again!
__________
b. You finally got out the plow. It’s about time it snowed again!