Grammar GuideReleasing our Inner

Grammarian…

Fragments

When a group of words fails to tell us:

• Who or what did something (the subject),

• What happened (the verb),

• Or both (the subject and the verb),

We have what is known as a sentence fragment.

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What's Missing?

1. Sat behind me in science class.

2. The bag of groceries on the kitchen table.

3. After the rain stopped.4. My sister and I swam in the

lake.3

Run-ons and Comma Splices

• A run-on is two complete sentences put together without any punctuation between them. • A comma splice is two

complete sentences separated only by a comma.

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Run-ons and Comma Splices

There are three ways to correct run-ons:

1.Put a semicolon between the sentences.

2.Put a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

3.Put a period and capitalize the first letter of the second sentence.

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Fix these Run-ons and Comma Splices

1. She went to the store they were out of her favorite chips.

2. The boys wouldn’t stop talking, the girls were even worse than the boys.

3. The candy was stolen, and it was hard to tell who did it.

4. The dogs were barking, they wouldn’t stop.

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Apostrophes

Apostrophes are used to: • Show possession (the girl’s

book; the boys’ books)• Take the place of letters (didn’t)• Beware of the It’s and Its

problem: (It’s=It is Its=possessive)

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Fix the Apostrophe Mistakes

1. The boys books are missing.2. You cant see the candy from

here. 3. Its such a long way to the

store.4. The school wouldnt talk

about its new rules. 8

True and False1. Fragments are incomplete sentences. 2. Fragments are often missing a

subject, verb, or preposition. 3. A run-on sentence is two sentences

put together with no punctuation between them.

4. A comma splice is two complete sentences with a semicolon between them.

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True and False5. A comma is strong enough to separate

two complete sentences. 6. Semicolons are stronger then commas

and can fix either a run-on or a comma splice.

7. You can also fix a run-on sentence by putting a semicolon and a coordinating conjunction.

8. Separating sentences with a period is the final way to correct run-ons.

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True and False9. Apostrophes are used to show

possession. 10. Apostrophes are also used to take

the place of nouns.

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Multiple Choice11. Although he had been an often decorated

soldier during World War II and had fought many battles for the losing cause of liberation in Congress.

A . Fragment: just add a subjectB. Run-on: put a comma after World War IIC. Run-on: put a semicolon after World War IID. Fragment: put a comma after Congress and finish

the sentence. E. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice12. This is going to be the most difficult exam of

your college career, you had better start studying for it immediately.

A . Comma splice: put a semicolon after careerB. Run-on: put a period after careerC. Run-on: put a semicolon after studyingD. Comma splice: put a period after start E. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice13. Coach Espinoza really wants this job with Notre

Dame University she is very excited about returning to the college she graduated from.

A . Comma splice: put a semicolon after UniversityB. Run-on: put a comma after UniversityC. Run-on: put a semicolon after UniversityD. Comma Splice: put a period after college E. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice14. Its right after the Christmas holidays and

during those three weeks before class begins in January.

A . Fragment: just add a subjectB. Apostrophe: put an apostrophe after the “s” in

ChristmasC. Apostrophe: put an apostrophe after the “t” in ItsD. Fragment: put a comma after January and finish

the sentenceE. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice15. She ran.

A . Fragment: just add a verbB. Run-on: put a comma after ran and end the

sentenceC. Fragment: add both a subject and a verbD. Fragment: add a prepositional phrase at the end

of the sentenceE. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice16. Annabel realizes what she is doing, I think, but

she doing it anyway.A . Comma Splice: put a semicolon after doingB. Fragment: missing part of a verbC. Comma Splice: put a semicolon after thinkD. Fragment: add another subjectE. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice17. The ten girls hats were all hanging on the pegs

by the door.A . Fragment: add a prepositional phrase at the endB. Apostrophe: add an apostrophe after the “s” in

girlsC. Fragment: put a comma at the end of the

sentence and finish itD. Apostrophe: add an apostrophe after the “l” in

girlsE. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice18. Perplexed by the rising rates of inflation, and

alarmed by the decline in major construction projects.

A . Fragment: put a comma at the end of the sentence and finish it

B. Comma Splice: change the comma after inflation to a semicolon

C. Comma Splice: put a semicolon after declineD. Fragment: add a subject at the beginning of the

sentenceE. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice19. He didn’t have any way of helping her; she

didnt want his help anyway.A . Run-on: change the semicolon to a commaB. Apostrophe: put an apostrophe after the “t” in

didnt C. Run-on: add a period after helpD. Apostrophe: add an apostrophe after the “n” in

didnt E. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice20. Which is the best way to fix this sentence?

The girls and boys wouldnt listen to the teacher the teacher was very frustrated, but determined to teach them, anyway.

A . The girls and boys wouldnt listen to the teacher, the teacher was very frustrated, but determined to teach them, anyway.

B. The girls’ and boys’ wouldn’t listen to the teacher; the teacher was very frustrated, but determined to teach them, anyway.

C. The girls and boys wouldn’t listen to the teacher. The teacher was very frustrated. But determined to teach them, anyway.

D. The girls and boys wouldn’t listen to the teacher; the teacher was very frustrated, but determined to teach them, anyway.

E. There is nothing wrong with this sentence.

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Multiple Choice21. Whew! The girls love to talk fast to anyone

who will listen.What part of speech is the highlighted word?A . VerbB. PrepositionC. PronounD. NounE. Interjection

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Multiple Choice22. Whew! The girls love to talk fast to anyone

who will listen.What part of speech is the highlighted word?A . VerbB. PrepositionC. PronounD. NounE. Interjection

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Multiple Choice23. Whew! The girls love to talk fast to anyone

who will listen.What part of speech is the highlighted word?A . VerbB. PrepositionC. PronounD. NounE. Interjection

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Multiple Choice24. Whew! The girls love to talk fast to anyone

who will listen.What part of speech is the highlighted word?A . VerbB. AdverbC. PronounD. AdjectiveE. Interjection

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Multiple Choice25. Whew! The girls love to talk fast to anyone

who will listen.What part of speech is the highlighted word?A . VerbB. AdverbC. PronounD. AdjectiveE. Interjection

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Final QuizLabel all of the parts of speech in the

following sentence and fix the errors.

Ms. Schaefer loves the students in her class

its made up of some very interesting students.

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