Complete Sentences
Complete Sentences
Fragments
Run-On Sentences
Compound Sentences
Complete Sentences
 A complete sentence has a subject
and a predicate that work together to
make a complete thought.
Bobby smiled until he
thought his face
would crack.
Fragment Sentences
 A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be
a sentence in the sense that it cannot
stand by itself.
Fragment Sentences
 may locate something in time
and place, but lack a subjectverb relationship.
Last Saturday after the
ballgame at the ice cream
shop.
Fragment Sentences
 may describe something, but
have no subject-verb
relationship.
Shooting just before the
buzzer rang and hoping to
score the winning point.
Fragment Sentences
 may have most of the makings of
a sentence but still be missing an
important part of a verb string.
Some of the girls going
together to the mall.
Fragment Sentences
may have a subject-verb
relationship, but cannot stand
by itself.
Even though she was
the prettiest girl and
had a great talent
presentation.
Run-On Sentences
 A RUN-ON SENTENCE
(sometimes called a fused
sentence) has at least two parts,
either one of which can stand by
itself, but the two parts have
been connected together with
one or two words instead of
becoming two sentences.
Run-On Sentences
 Remember: The length of a
sentence really has nothing to do with
whether a sentence is a run-on or
not; even a very short sentence could
be a run-on.
The books are heavy don’t carry them.
The books are heavy. Don’t carry them.
Run-On Sentences
 When two clauses are connected
by only a comma, they are a runon sentence that is called a
comma-splice.
The books are heavy,
don’t carry them.
Run-On Sentences happen
 when an independent clause
gives an order or directive based
on what was said in the prior
independent clause.
The game is going to
be very close you have
to play your best.
Run-On Sentences happen
 when two clauses are connected
by words such as however,
moreover, nevertheless.
Mother packed my
lunch today however
she forgot to put in
my desert.
Ready for a drill?
Is it a complete
sentence, run-on, or a
fragment? Read each of
the following and click
your choice!
Walking through
the dark forest.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Bob was running in
the yard.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
This is my first ball
game but I think we
will win.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
All of the other
girls at the mall.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
I have walked to
school everyday.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
My arm hurts a
little.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
A big crowd of
people have arrived.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Mother washed the
clothes and she waxed
the floor.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
What a day for a
party!
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Even though it was
late and very dark.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
The babies are crying
and they are sleepy.
a)Complete Sentence
b)Fragment
c)Run-On
Sorry! Click the arrow
below to try again.
Yes, that is correct! Click
the arrow to move on.
Combining Sentences
Sentences have to be
combined to avoid the
boredom that would
happen if all
sentences were the
same length.
A Compound Sentence
consists of two or more
independent clauses. That
means that there are at least
two units of thought within
the sentence, either one of
which can stand by itself as
its own sentence.
Compound Sentences
Words that combine are
called conjunctions. The two
most common conjunctions
are and and but. (The others
are or, for, yet, and so.)
Susan likes to read.
She likes to play piano.
Susan likes to read and play the piano.
Ready for practice?
On your paper combine
each pair of sentences. A
suggested answer will be
supplied.
Danny ran a mile.
John ran a mile.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
Danny and John
ran a mile.
We ate dinner.
We had dessert.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
We ate dinner and
had dessert.
I went to the game.
Joey went skating.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
I went to the
game, but Joey
went skating.
You can come with
us.
We are leaving
early.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
You can come with
us, but we are
leaving early.
He studied late.
He finally went to
bed.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
He studied late but
finally went to bed.
Canada is a beautiful
country.
It is cold in the
winter.
ANSWER
Compound sentence:
Canada is a
beautiful country,
but it is cold
in the winter.