Run-on Sentences

1. Run-on Sentences

2. Objectives • You will learn to recognize a run-on sentence. • You will be able to apply any of three techniques to correctly fix a run-on sentence. • Language Arts 9th Grade Standard 9 Objective 2: • Identify and correct errors in usage, e.g., incorrectly combined sentences, misplaced modifiers, run-on sentences, unnecessary fragments, incorrect use of adverbs, incorrect pronoun antecedent, incorrect use of present and past tenses.

3. Anticipatory Set In my hands money doesn’t last long my aunt sent me ten dollars it was a birthday present. I held onto the money for about ten minutes, my brother demanded repayment I had borrowed two dollars from him a week before. Marcia and Jennie are me best friends they had treated me to lunch a long time ago they suddenly suggested that I return the favor and I did get to buy something I wanted with my money there is this comic book that I’ve wanted for a long time and I was able to buy it with the last of my birthday money. My mother’s birthday is next week, I am almost broke, maybe I can make her a cake or something else that doesn’t cost any money maybe I can earn some money and then I can buy her something nice I would really like to buy her something nice since she’s my mother and I really love her.

4. Review: What is a sentence? • Remember that a complete sentence must have these things: • A subject (noun) • A predicate (verb) • A complete idea • A sentence that doesn’t have all of these things is considered a fragment.

5. So, what’s a run-on? • A run-on sentence occurs when we try and combine more than one subject-predicate (noun-verb) pair in one sentence incorrectly. • It’s important to understand that a sentence can definitely have more than one subject-predicate pair (in fact, your writing sounds much more intelligent if you have sentences like this). • The problem comes when we combine subject-predicate pairs incorrectly.

6. subject-verb pair subject-verb pair Give me some examples Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts of meat. This sentence is a run-on sentence because the two subject-verb pairs (sentences, if you will) are combined incorrectly. They are run together, without any proper punctuation or grammar.

7. Practice • Which of the following sentences would be considered run-on? • His father was an artist his mother was an accountant. • The farmer was riding his tractor through the fields. • We always had bonfires grandma loved having all the family over to talk about past times.

8. How do I fix run-ons? • Make two sentences out of the run-on sentence: • Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts of meat. • Eric is a bodybuilder. He eats only large amounts of meat. • This is the easiest way to fix the problem, but also results in choppy writing.

9. How do I fix run-ons? • Combine the two subject-verb pairs with a comma and a conjunction (and, or, but, yet, for, nor): • His father was an artist his mother was an accountant. • His father was an artist, but his mother was an accountant. • Don’t put “naked” commas in your run-on sentences (without conjunctions).

10. Did you say “naked”? • Yup. If you just stick a comma in the middle of a run-on sentence, you haven’t fixed anything. In fact, you’ve created a “comma splice” (which is a no-no). • Eric is a bodybuilder he eats only large amounts of meat. • Eric is a bodybuilder, he eats only large amounts of meat. • A comma splice is just another term for a run-on sentence and you are to avoid them!

11. One last way to fix run-ons • Combine the sentences with a semicolon: • He had never seen Alex so prepared he even had backup copies of his study sheets! • He had never seen Alex so prepared; he even had backup copies of his study sheets! • This is a great way to fix a run-on, because semicolons look sophisticated. You can only use them on subject-verb pairs that are closely related, though.

12. Not just for run-ons! • The best way to fix run-ons in your writing is to use a combination of all three techniques. • In fact, you can even use these techniques to fix short, choppy sentences: • He ran to the store. He bought bread, milk, and eggs. • He ran to the store; there he bought bread, milk, and eggs. • He ran to the store and bought bread, milk, and eggs.

13. A bit o’ practice • On Saturdays I help around the house I also help around the yard. • On Saturdays I help around the house, and I also help around the yard. • On Saturdays I help around the house; I also help around the yard. • On Saturdays I help around the house and around the yard.

14. More practice • Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania this summer we plan to drive through the Southwest. • Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania, but this summer we plan to drive through the Southwest. • Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania; this summer we plan to drive through the Southwest. • Last year we spent our vacation in Pennsylvania. This summer we plan to drive through the Southwest.

15. What have we learned? • A run-on sentence is a sentence with more than one subject-verb pair, punctuated incorrectly. • There are many ways to fix a run-one sentence: • Make separate sentences • Join the subject-verb pieces with a conjunction (and, but, for) and a comma • Join the subject-verb pieces with a semicolon

16. Independent Practice • Switch drafts with someone. • Using a highlighter, highlight run-on sentences in the other person’s draft. • When you receive your draft back, fix any run-on problems. • If you don’t have run-on problems, then look for places where you can combine short sentences into a longer, more complex sentence.