Understanding Sentences, Run-Ons, and Fragments in English Language Arts
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of sentences in English Language Arts, covering essential concepts such as complete thoughts, types of sentences, and common issues like run-on sentences and fragments. You will learn how to correct run-on sentences using various methods, including punctuation and conjunctions. Additionally, the guide explains the different styles of sentences—simple, compound, and complex—along with the roles of subjects and predicates. Improve your writing skills by mastering these foundational elements of sentence structure.
Understanding Sentences, Run-Ons, and Fragments in English Language Arts
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Language Arts Notes Sentences
Sentences, Run-On Sentences, and Fragments • A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. A sentence names someone or something and tells what that person or thing is or does. • Example: Sam went to the store. • A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction. • Example: I am a woman I am a truck driver. • A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. • Example: Spent hours in gift shops. (Who?)
How to fix run-on sentences. • Method #1 • Write the two independent clauses as separate sentences using periods. • Example: • INCORRECT Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. • CORRECTCarmen loved traveling in Italy. She felt Rome was too hot. • Method #2 • Use a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses. • Example: • INCORRECT Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. • CORRECTCarmen loved traveling in Italy; she felt Rome was too hot. • Method #3 • Use a comma and any one of the following connecting words: for* and nor butor yet so** *when for means because **when so means as a result • Example: • INCORRECT Carmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. • CORRECTCarmen loved traveling in Italy, but she felt Rome was too hot. • Method #4 • Use a semicolon and one of the following words: therefore, thus, however, consequently, furthermore, also, nevertheless, NOTE: If you use any of these connecting words with method #4, a comma must follow it. • Example: • INCORRECTCarmen loved traveling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot. • CORRECTCarmen loved traveling in Italy; however, she felt Rome was too hot.
Let’s Practice! Sentence or Not? • My family visited many places this year. • Going to the house. • Make things by hand. • Machines change people’s lives. • I love to watch movies the T.V. is not working.
Did you get them right? • My family visited many places this year. (Sentence) • Going to the house. (Fragment) • Make things by hand. (Fragment) • Machines change people’s lives. (Sentence) • I love to watch movies the T.V. is not working. (Run-On Sentence)
Four Kinds of Sentences • Declarative- (.) makes a statement • Interrogative- (?) asks a question • Imperative- (.) gives a command • Exclamatory- (!) shows strong feeling or emotions
Remember • Don’t forget that a sentence always begins with a capital letter and ends with an end mark.
Lets Practice! • What kind of candy do you like • Go get the paper off the porch • Wow, you did great • I love to watch old movies
Did you get them right? • What kind of candy do you like?(interrogative) • Go get the paper off the porch. (imperative) • Wow, you did great! (exclamatory) • I love to watch old movies. (declarative)
Three different styles of sentences • Simple sentences • Compound Sentences • Complex Sentences
What is a Simple Sentence? • Simple sentences contain only one independent clause. • Example: Ms. Rockwell enjoys teaching writing.
What is a Compound Sentence? • A compound sentence joins two or more independent clauses with a conjunction. • Conjunctions a words like and, or, or but. • Example: Ms. Rockwell enjoys teaching writing, and she wants her students to succeed.
What is a Complex Sentence? • A complex joins one or more dependent clauses to an independent clause. It contains at least one clause that is not a complete sentence. • Example: While Ms. Rockwell was editing her PowerPoint, she found lots of mistakes to correct!
Remember! Successful writers use a variety of sentence styles in their writing!
Subjects and Predicates • Subject: • Naming part of the sentence • The subject tells you who or what the sentence is about. • Example: My friend Mark loves to write. • Mark is who the sentence is about. • Predicate: • The telling part of the sentence • The predicate tells you what the subject is doing or has already done. • Example: My friend Mark loves to write. • Love is the predicate of the sentence.
Lets Practice! • Milky-colored glass is used to make light bulbs. • Some kinds of glass does not break. • Other kinds of glass can be heated to very high temperatures.
How did you do? • Simple subject: glass • Simple predicates: • Is • Does not • Can