Transcript Fragments, Run-ons, and Everything Else that Scares You About

Fragments,
Run-ons, and
Those Scary
Commas!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ADVOCACY CENTER
NVC JH, 308
Every Complete Sentence Must Contain:

A subject

A verb

A complete thought or
meaning
What is a Fragment?

You will know it is a fragment
if there is a missing part:

No Subject

No Action

No Message or No
Complete Thought
Some Examples of
Fragments:

The brown dog with the fluffy fur.


So happy today.


Who is happy? (missing subject.)
The job of my dreams.


What did the dog do? (complete the thought.)
What about the job? (complete the thought.)
Dancing wildly in the streets.

Who is dancing wildly in the streets?
(missing subject.)
How do I Fix a Fragment?

Connect it to another sentence.

Add the missing part.
Corrected Fragments

The brown dog with the fluffy fur.

So happy today.
I
bought the brown dog with the fluffy fur.
I
am so happy today.
 I slept well last night, so I am happy today.

The job of my dreams.
 The

job of my dreams pays well.
Dancing wildly in the streets.
 The
crowd was out of control and dancing
wildly in the streets.
What is a Run-On?

2 or more sentences

Joined together

Without proper punctuation

Other types of run-on sentences:


Comma splice

Fused Sentence
Run-on sentences will generally read as if the
person who wrote it just didn’t take time to
breathe in between their thoughts.
Some Examples of
Run-Ons

I went shopping on Saturday the mall was packed.


I spent more money than I anticipated I should have
budgeted better.


How many messages does this sentence have?
What kind of run-on sentence is this? (comma splice.)
By the time I got home I was tired, hungry, and broke, I didn’t
have enough money left to even go by myself a hamburger I
had to make myself a sandwich instead.

How many sentences can we get from this one?
How Do I Fix a Run-On?
Make separate
sentences or
clauses by
using proper
punctuation:
.
?
!
;

Join with a comma
and a FANBOY
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
for
and
nor
but
or
yet
so
Corrected Run-Ons

I went shopping on Saturday the mall was packed.
I
went shopping on Saturday. The mall
was packed.

I spent more money than I anticipated I should have
budgeted better.
I
spent more money than I had
anticipated; I should have budgeted
better.
Another Corrected
Run-On

By the time I got home I was tired, hungry, and broke, I
didn’t have enough money left to go by myself a
hamburger I had to make myself a sandwich instead.
By
the time I got home, I was tired, hungry, and
broke. I didn’t have enough money left to go by
myself a hamburger, so I had to make myself a
sandwich instead.
Why Commas are
Important

Commas are the most misused punctuation mark in written
English. We must use them correctly to avoid confusion.

When lightning struck, James Harvey fainted.

When lightning struck James, Harvey fainted.
Using commas incorrectly makes a BIG difference in the overall
meaning of a sentence!
Learn How to Use Commas
Properly…
These are some of the
Major Rules…
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
#1: Commas with Conjunctions

Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction (One of the
FANBOYS):

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So
• Comma comes before the
conjunction
• Make sure the word is functioning
as a conjunction before adding
the comma.
Examples of Conjunction
Use

I enjoy watching movies, and I like reading too.

I would have gone with Sam, but I was tired.

I don’t like frogs, nor do I like snakes.

We could go to the lake, or we could go to the
zoo.

She was feeling sick, so she took a long nap.
#2: Introductory Word/Phrase:
 Introductory
words or phrases
 Always
at the beginning of a sentence
 Extra Information
 Added to complete sentences
 Added for emphasis
 Always followed by a comma
Examples:
Moreover,
However,
When
I was five,
Examples of Introductory Phrases:
• By
the time I got home, my friends
had already left.
• In
addition to her class, Sara had
to go to work every day.
• During
the summer, the heat is
unbearable.
#3: Commas in a Series
 Series:
any list with 3 or more
items in a row.
 Use
commas between each item except for
the final two items.
 Include
the word and or or between the last
two items.
Examples of Commas in a Series:
•
I went to the store and bought
eggs, milk and bread.
•
When I graduate, I want to be a
teacher, a lawyer or an artist.
 Matt
likes skating, running and
taking pictures.
#4: Non-Essential Elements
 Non-Essential
Where
Elements
there is extra information
Where
there is information added to
complete a sentence.
Commas
Use
may be added for emphasis
a comma before and after the
additional information.
Examples of Non-Essential Elements

I drove my car, the red one, to the
park.

I saw his dog, the terrier, at
PetSmart.

We went to the bank, the one on
410, late on Wednesday.

She took her favorite toy, a stuffed
bear, with her.
#5: Commas in Quotations

Use commas with quotes.

Use with all dialogue.

Use before and after a quote.

First comma goes before the quotation marks.

Last comma goes INSIDE of the quotation marks.*

The starting word of the quote is capitalized.
Examples of Quotes:
 Rick
said, “That’s a cute dog,”
as he reached to pet Fluffy.
 John
said, “I want you to call
me,” as he walked away.
 Lisa
told her sister, “You’ll never
guess what I just did.”
#6-7: Other Comma Uses
 Geographical
names/Addresses

We live in San Antonio, Texas.

I’ve always wanted to go to Sydney, Australia.
 Dates

He was born October 7, 1996.

We left on June 6, 2006.
#8: Phrases that Contrast
 Phrases
other

that contrast each
When you have two parts of a single sentence that
contrast each other, you should separate them with
a comma.
For example . . .

My son is cute, but he can be
very messy.

The cake was good, but it was also dry.
#9: Multiple Adjectives

When using several words (adjectives) to describe a noun,
separate them with commas so that you do not confuse the
reader.
For example . . .

Confusing: She wore a light brown jacket.


Is it a lightweight jacket that is brown in color? Or light-brown, as in a
beige color?
Clear: She wore a light, brown jacket.

Oh, I get it! She is wearing a thin jacket that is brown.
A Little More Practice . .
.
Indentifying Fragments

Which of these sentences are fragments?
1.
Before I make any major decisions.
2.
In the cabinet above the bookshelf.
3.
When you go to the party.
4.
His first appointment at the dentist.
5.
Hoping for a new car.

How do you know they are fragments?

How can you fix them? (What is missing in each
sentence? (subject, verb, or complete meaning.)
Identifying Run-Ons

Can you identify which are run-ons?
1.
Most people who drink coffee don’t know where it
comes from it is actually the fruit of an evergreen
tree.
2.
She walked towards the park he ran down the
alley.
3.
He fell on the sidewalk and skinned his knee he hurt
his knee so badly that it began to bleed.

How do you know it is a run-on?

How can you fix these sentences?
Some Final Hints to Help

Break sentences down.

Examine all of the commas.

Examine or add FANBOYs.