Key Elements of Sentence Structure

1. Key Elements of Sentence Structure Avoiding Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices

2. Introduction • Defining, Identifying, and Avoiding - Run-ons / Fused sentences - Comma Splices - Fragments

3. What is a Run-on sentence? • A Run-on sentence is created when no punctuation separates INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (complete thoughts that can stand ON THEIR OWN) Independent Clauses - Professional athletes can earn huge salaries. - Some are paid millions of dollars per year. Fused Sentence - Professional athletes can earn huge salaries some are paid millions of dollars per year.

4. Identify the independent clauses and separate with a period. • Last summer we took a trip to Amsterdam it was a great vacation. • Our tour guide suggested that we keep a travel journal she said that it is an enjoyable way of recording impressions of a new culture. • We took her advice our journals turned out to be part of our daily routine.

5. Answers • Last summer we took a trip to Amsterdam. It was a great vacation. • Our tour guide suggested that we keep a travel journal. She said that it is an enjoyable way of recording impressions of a new culture. • We took her advice. Our journals turned out to be part of our daily routine.

6. What is a Comma Splice? • A comma splice is created when only a comma is used to separate INDEPENDENT CLAUSES. Independent Clauses Roger and Shasta are friendly dogs. They get along with everybody. Comma Splice Roger and Shasta are friendly dogs, they get along with everybody.

7. How can I correct a Comma Splice? • Place a semicolon in place of the comma • Place a period in place of the comma • Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. -My brother is coming to visit, and he is expecting homemade lasagna.

8. Correct the following comma splices • Professional athletes can earn huge salaries, some are paid millions of dollars per year. • The mayor presented her budget plans, however, the council had its own ideas. • The weather report was over, we knew the storm was rapidly approaching.

9. Possible Answers • Professional athletes can earn huge salaries. Some are paid millions of dollars per year. • The mayor presented her budget plans; however, the council had its own ideas. • The weather report was over, and we knew the storm was rapidly approaching.

10. What is a fragment? • Fragments often look and sound like sentences, making them difficult to spot. Some fragments may lack subjects, verbs, or both. Knowing how to identify INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (which have a noun and a verb) will help you identify fragments (which are missing a noun or a verb).

11. Fragments (con’d) • The butterfly in the garden [fragment] - The butterfly rested in the garden. [add verb] • I saw Ana yesterday. Driving her new car. [fragment] - She was driving her new car [add subject and complete the verb]

12. Correct the following fragments • The truck hit the guardrail. Then spilled chickens and feathers across the landscape. • I was in the library when I saw him. The famous writer visiting our campus. • She stood in the middle of the public square. Screaming at the top of her lungs.

13. Possible Answers • The truck hit the guardrail. Then it spilled chickens and feathers across the landscape. • I was in the library when I saw the famous writer visiting our campus. • For hours, she stood in the middle of the public square screaming at the top of her lungs.

14. Summary • Defining and Identifying INDEPENDENT CLAUSES to avoid - Run-ons / Fused sentences - Comma Splices - Fragments

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