04
Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’ You can start a sentence with because if you follow it with a complete independent clause.<br>
05
Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’ These are complete sentences:
Because the newspapers
reported it, the neighbors
believed it.
Because the river ran dry, the dam
would no longer provide
electricity.<br>
06
Comma Splices Comma Splices
A comma splice is a type of run-on whereby two independent clauses—or complete sentences—are incorrectly joined by a comma.<br>
07
Comma Splices Example
Today I am tired, I will take a nap later.<br>
08
Comma Splices Grammatical Error: This comma splice has two independent clauses or complete sentences joined incorrectly by only a comma.<br>
09
Comma Splices Reasoning: The first part of the sentence ("Today I am tired") is an independent clause or complete sentence, and the second phrase ("I will take a nap later") is also an independent clause or complete sentence. The two sentences need to be joined by more than just a comma.<br>
10
Comma Splices There are three ways to correct a comma splice, and they are similar to the three ways of correcting a run-on.<br>
11
Comma Splices Corrected Example
1. Replace the comma with a period and make two different sentences. Today I am tired. I will take a nap later.<br>
12
Comma Splices 2. Join the two sentences correctly by adding a coordinate conjunction after the comma. Today I am tired, so I will take a nap later.<br>
13
Comma Splices 3. Join the two separate sentences correctly by inserting a semi colon (;). Today I am tired; I will take a nap later.<br>
14
Comma Splices Decide if the following sentences are comma splices or a complete sentences.<br>
15
Comma Splices 1.) John is always late for
work, nobody seems to
care.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
16
Comma Splices Comma splice<br>
17
Comma Splices 2.) Hot summer weather is nice, high temperatures are dangerous for certain people.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
18
Comma Splices Comma Splice<br>
19
Comma Splices 3.) Emily broke her ankle on the weekend; now she is in a great deal of pain.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
20
Comma Splices Complete sentence<br>
21
Comma Splices 4.) Driving the car is fast and comfortable, riding the bicycle is better for one's health.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
22
Comma Splices Comma Splice<br>
23
Comma Splices 5.) When a student likes his class, he is more likely to achieve good grades.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
24
Comma Splices Complete sentence<br>
25
Comma Splices 6.) James has an interview with the PBS, I might get a job as his assistant.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
26
Comma Splices Comma splice<br>
27
Comma Splices 7.) After I was paid last week, I was able to do the grocery shopping.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
28
Comma Splices Complete sentence<br>
29
Comma Splices 8.) Due to the fact that I am so busy this week, I don't have time for my animals.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
30
Comma Splices Complete sentence<br>
31
Comma Splices 9.) Whenever Janis does not sleep enough, she gets a horrible migraine.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
32
Comma Splices Complete sentence<br>
33
Comma Splices 10.) The air conditioner is too loud, Cleo can't sleep.
a.) Comma splice
b.) Complete sentence<br>
34
Comma Splices Comma splice<br>
35
Fragments A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It is missing one or more of the following parts:
a subject
a verb
a coherent thought<br>
36
Fragments Example #1
Yesterday, while I was driving to work and saw a bird in the middle of the road out in the storm.<br>
37
Fragments Grammatical Error: This sentence fragment does not contain an independent clause because of the word "while." Therefore, it does not contain a complete thought even though there is a subject and a verb.<br>
38
Fragments Reasoning: This sentence fragment does not tell you what happened when you saw a bird sitting in the middle of the road out in the storm.<br>
39
Fragments Example #1 (corrected)
Yesterday, while I was driving to work and saw a sitting bird in the middle of the road out in the storm, I thought it must have wandered away from its nest.<br>
40
Fragments Example #2
When I went to the movies last week and I ran into a friend.<br>
41
Fragments Grammatical Error: This sentence fragment does not contain an independent clause because of the word "when." Therefore, it does not contain a complete thought even though there is a subject and a verb.<br>
42
Fragments Reasoning: This sentence fragment does not tell you what happened when you went to the movies last week and ran into a friend.<br>
43
Fragments Example 2 (corrected)
When I ran into a friend at the movies last week, I suggested we sit together.<br>
44
Fragments Select the choice that tells whether the clause is a fragment or a complete sentence.<br>
45
Fragments 1.) While I was driving to work and there was an accident on the road.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
46
Fragments Fragment<br>
47
Fragments 2.) When I took my exam today, I was very nervous.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
48
Fragments Complete Sentence<br>
49
Fragments 3.) Wherever I go, I take my cell phone with me.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
50
Fragments a.) Complete Sentence<br>
51
Fragments 4.) If I don't take my cell phone, and I need to make a call.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
52
Fragments b.) Fragment<br>
53
Fragments 5.) As soon as I finish this grammar exercise, I will eat lunch.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
54
Fragments 6.) Because I didn't have time to write my paper and the computer was broken anyway.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
55
Fragments b.) Fragment<br>
56
Fragments 7.) Before I go to the mall or maybe I will see a movie instead.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
57
Fragments b.) Fragment<br>
58
Fragments 8.) Whether I complete this course and get credit for it in the fall.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
59
Fragments b.) Fragment<br>
60
Fragments 9.) Until I can learn to manage my time better, I am afraid I will always be late.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
61
Fragments a.) Complete Sentence<br>
62
Fragments 10.) So that I don't spend too much time on any of my projects, I make sure I take frequent breaks.
a.) Complete Sentence
b.) Fragment<br>
63
Fragments a.) Complete Sentence<br>
64
Run-on Sentences A run-on contains two independent clauses combined without proper punctuation (or two sentences in one).<br>
65
Run-on Sentences Example #1 (run-on)
Today I am tired I will take a nap later.<br>
66
Run-on Sentences Grammatical Error: This run-on has two separate independent clauses, or complete sentences, with no conjunction and no punctuation.<br>
67
Run-on Sentences Reasoning: The first part of the sentence "Today I am tired" is an independent clause or a complete sentence, and the second phrase "I will take a nap later" is also an independent clause or a complete sentence. Therefore, we have two sentences in one without proper punctuation to connect them.<br>
68
Run-on Sentences There are three ways to correct a run-on:<br>
69
Run-on Sentences 1. Separate the run-on by making two different sentences. Today I am tired. I will take a nap later.<br>
70
Run-on Sentences 2. Join the two sentences correctly by adding a comma and a coordinate conjunction. Today I am tired, so I will take a nap later.<br>
71
Run-on Sentences 3. Join the two sentences correctly by inserting a semi colon (;). Today I am tired; I will take a nap later.<br>
72
Run-on Sentences 1.) My academic advisor told me not to take 18 credit hours for the fall semester I'm regretting not having listened to her.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
73
Run-on Sentences a.) Run-on<br>
74
Run-on Sentences 2.) My cat was upset all day he didn't get canned food for breakfast.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
75
Run-on Sentences a.) Run-on<br>
76
Run-on Sentences 3.) Organizations that promise students a scholarship if they pay an extraordinarily high application fee are most likely scams.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
77
Run-on Sentences b.) Complete sentence<br>
78
Run-on Sentences 4.) Because Rose was late for the all-you-can-eat buffet, she had to order from the main menu.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
79
Run-on Sentences b.) Complete sentence<br>
80
Run-on Sentences 5.) The student fell asleep in class everyone thought this was rude behavior.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
81
Run-on Sentences a.) Run-on<br>
82
Run-on Sentences 6.) Although an immigration lawyer might help me to stay in this country, his fees are too expensive for me to afford.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
83
Run-on Sentences b.) Complete sentence<br>
84
Run-on Sentences 7.) I like the history class because the material is explained so well.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
85
Run-on Sentences b.) Complete sentence<br>
86
Run-on Sentences 8.) We followed the map we ended up in Canada instead.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
87
Run-on Sentences a.) Run-on<br>
88
Run-on Sentences 9.) Although the trip to Montreal was not very well planned, we had a great time.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
89
Run-on Sentences b.) Complete sentence<br>
90
Run-on Sentences 10.) I received an A on my Psychology test I am happy.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence<br>
91
Run-on Sentences a.) Run-on<br>
