Sentence Fragments Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors Les

Sentence Fragments Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors Les Hanson 2002

Introduction w This presentation explains the following grammatical concepts: Ø Clauses (dependent and independent) Ø Sentences Ø Fragments

Clauses w A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb Subject You Sally Verb stink. is talking. w Most clauses have further information after the verb I Subject Sally Verb hate grammar is talking loudly

Two Types of Clauses w Independent clause (Main clause) Can stand alone as a sentence Ø Can be joined to another clause Ø Ø Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder. w Dependent clause (Subordinate clause) Cannot stand alone as a sentence Ø Must be joined to an independent clause Ø Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers. Ø A word that joins clauses is a conjunction

Joining Clauses w A dependent clause can be joined to an independent clause to make a sentence Ø Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder because he wanted to make his own firecrackers. Or Ø Because he wanted to make his own firecrackers, Fred filled a cardboard tube with gunpowder. When the sentence starts with the dependent clause, it must have a comma before the independent clause

Fragments w Fragments look like sentences but are missing a subject or a verb, or they are put together incorrectly. Fragment Error Told everyone to get out of No subject the way. Disposable lighter in his No verb hand. Before he lit the fuse. A dependent clause by itself

Correcting Fragments w Subjects or verbs can be added w Fragments can be joined together w All of the following are correct With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told everyone to get out of the way. Then, he lit the fuse. Ø Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told everyone to get out of the way before he lit the fuse. Ø He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told everyone to get out of the way, and then he lit the fuse. Ø