Sentences Fragments and RunOns What is a sentence
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Sentences, Fragments and Run-Ons
What is a sentence? Duh, that’s easy. Well, it’s a. . . well, you know. . . um. . . That’s a tough one. A sentence is a group of words that: 1. Expresses a complete idea. 2. Contains at least a subject and a verb.
Subject When most people hear the term subject, they think of the topic or what something is about, but that’s not how it is in grammar. • The subject is who or what is doing the action in a sentence. • The subject is the person, place or thing (noun) that controls whatever is being done or is happening (verb). • The subject answers the question who/what did it or who/what is it? The cat slept.
Fragments A fragment is a group of words that is either: 1. Missing a subject 2. Missing a verb 3. Or doesn’t make complete idea
Run-On Sentences A run on sentence is a group of words that is: 1. Ungrammatical 2. And has more than one complete idea (has more than one independent clause) I like chicken I eat it all the time. (run-on) I like chicken. I eat it all the time. I like chicken; I eat it all the time. I like chicken, and I eat it all the time.
How do you know if it’s a complete sentence? Test #1 Can you turn it into a yes/no question? I eat chicken Do you eat chicken? Test #2 Can you make it into a question by adding a tag word? I eat chicken You eat chicken, don’t you?
Putting it all in perspective. . . Too little Too much Just right RUN-ON fragment Complete Sentence
