(Incorrect)Ī comma alone between two independent clauses creates an incorrect comma splice. The kind man studied hard, his wife read a book. Please note again that in the above examples a comma alone is NOT one of the correct options. (examples of subordinating conjunctions - no comma required) The table below demonstrates the four correct options. When two independent clauses appear in a sentence, try to imagine a middle column in which only four possibilities exist to join the two clauses: First independent clause When two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, this error is called a comma splice. Notice that joining the independent clauses by a comma alone is NOT a choice. The simplest way to accomplish this is to add a subordinating conjunction between the clauses. When two independent clauses appear in one sentence, they must be joined (or separated) in one of four ways:ġ. The two clauses can be made into two separate sentences by adding a period.Ģ. The two clauses can be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction ( comma plus: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).ģ. The two clauses can be joined by a semicolon.Ĥ. The two clauses can be rewritten by adding, changing, rearranging, or deleting words. Once you can identify a run-on sentence by its incorrect structure, it is not hard to find a way to correct it. Without the correct separation, the two independent clauses written together form a run-on sentence. If we divide the sentence into subject/predicate pairs (each an independent clause), we see that two independent clauses exist, one following the other: First independent clause The kind man studied hard his wife read a book.
Look at the following example of a run-on sentence: When one subject/predicate pair is followed by an additional subject/predicate pair within one sentence (forming separate independent clauses), they need to be separated (or joined) according to very specific rules of punctuation and grammar. Run-ons and comma splices occur when more than one subject/predicate pair exists in the sentence. The sentence has ended, and a new sentence will begin. If the independent clause forms a complete thought, a period at the end demonstrates that the sentence is complete. Studied hard, read books, and ate dinner. Studied hard for the test and read a book. Together the subject and predicate form the two basic and separate parts of each clause. When looking at the structure of an independent clause, it is helpful to think of all elements of the subject separately from all elements of the predicate.
Subjectīy dividing the noun and verb, we can add modifiers to a simple sentence and still see the two basic parts, the subject and the predicate. To demonstrate the basic structure of a simple sentence, find the noun that forms the subject and divide it from the verb.
#Define fragment sentence plus#
The predicate refers to what the subject does or is (the predicate contains the verb or verbs). Both the subject and predicate can contain additional descriptive elements, such as adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, or other modifying phrases, but in its most basic form the subject is the part of the sentence that contains the noun, and the predicate contains the verb.Ī sentence can be complete and correct with one basic independent clause made up of one subject plus its corresponding predicate. The subject refers to someone or something (the subject contains at least one noun or pronoun). An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and forms a complete thought when standing alone. In order to better understand run-on sentences and comma splices, it is important to review the basics of writing a grammatically correct simple sentence: A simple sentence is made up of only one independent clause. As you will see, the sentence structure and use of punctuation determine whether a sentence is a run-on. The flowers are beautiful because they brighten the room.Ī run-on sentence is not defined by its length! The fact that a sentence is very long does not automatically make it a run-on sentence. The flowers are beautiful, and they brighten the room. The flowers are beautiful they brighten the room. The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room. The second is called a comma splice, which occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined by just a comma and no coordinating conjunction. The first occurs when a writer puts no mark of punctuation and no coordinating conjunction between independent clauses. Run-on sentences can be divided into two types.
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