Sentences, Fragments, and Run-Ons

Sentences, Fragments and Run ons

Information about what the subject is doing.

Examples: is running home / ate my homework / loves basketball.

Predicate

Who or what your sentence is about.

Examples: She / my dog / Carter

Subject +

What makes a complete sentence?

Complete sentence examples

Subject + predicate

She is running home.
My dog ate my homework.
Carter loves basketball.

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is missing either the subject or the main verb that indicates what the subject is doing. It is an incomplete thought.

Examples:

Ran to the store. (WHO ran to the store?)

Because it was snowing. (What happened because it was snowing?)

A great time. (WHAT was a great time?)

Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences have too much information. They are usually two complete sentences that were not joined together properly.

To revise run-on sentences, split the sentences into two or more separate sentences, or add commas to make the sentence more readable.

Example: I love to play hockey I could play it all day it is my favourite sport.

Think: How could you fix this sentence?

Fix the sentence

I love to play hockey I could play it all day it is my favourite sport.

There are 3 ideas in this sentence. They need to be split up.

Fix #1: I love to play hockey. I could play it all day long. It is my favourite sport.
(3 separate complete sentences)

Fix #2: I love to play hockey. I could play it all day long because it is my favourite sport.
(2 sentences. The last 2 ideas were joined properly using the word because.)

GAME TIME!

Now it's time to test your knowledge of run-on sentences, complete sentences and sentence fragments!

Read each sentence, then choose if it is a run-on sentence, a complete sentence or a sentence fragment.

Remember, a complete sentence contains a subject (someone or something) and a predicate (description of what someone or something is doing).

Multiple Choice

She played.

• Sentence

• Fragment

• Run on

Multiple Choice

All the time.

• Sentence

• Fragment

• Run on

Multiple Select

Complete sentences must have a

• subject

• adjective

• predicate

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Matt wanted to go to the park and play football.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

Carson didn't want to play in the game he wasn't feeling well.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

He ran.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The big red barn by the road.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The Rams and the Patriots are playing in the Superbowl the Eagles are my favorite team.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

I did go.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

I will go to the store on Monday I need milk.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The little girl on the bus.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The teacher graded the student's project she gave him a good grade.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Select

The most amazing teachers in the middle school.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The school had no school because of the snow the kids were sad.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on

Multiple Choice

The baseball team didn't win the first game, but they won the second game.

• sentence

• fragment

• run on