Complete Sentences Reference Sheet

Words to Know:
Run-on sentence:
two or more sentences written as if they were one
words and punctuation fail to show where one idea ends and another
begins.
Conjunction:
Word that links two independent thoughts together to form a single
sentence
and, or, yet, nor, for, but, so
Comma:
shows a slight pause but does NOT signal the end of a thought
Semicolon:
Separates two independent thoughts within one sentence
End mark:
punctuation that separates one sentence from another by ending a
complete thought
Sentence Fragment:
part of a sentence that is written as if it were a complete sentence
Does not have a subject, a predicate, or both
Does not express a complete thought
Subject:
tells whom or what the sentence is about
Predicate:
states what the subject does or is
Dependent clause:
has both a subject and a verb, but does not express a complete
thought

Run-on Sentences Rules:

Two types of run-on sentences:

1. One sentence with two complete thoughts; there is no
punctuation to separate thoughts
They made a team they played at Gus Macker.
I like watching all the teams play the adult teams are my
favorite to watch.
2. Two complete sentences separated only by a comma

I love playing team sports, I am too uncoordinated to play

on the basketball team.
My favorite team in the NBA is the San Antonio Spurs, Tim
Duncan is one of the best players of all time.
ways to correct run-on sentences:
Add a conjunction and remove a subject
Run-on: They made a team they played at Gus Macker.
Correction: They made a team and played at Gus Macker.
Add a comma followed by a conjunction
Run-on: I like watching all the teams play the adult teams
are my favorite to watch.
Correction: I like watching all the teams play, but the adult
teams are my favorite to watch.
Replace a comma with a semicolon
Run-on: I love playing team sports, I am too uncoordinated to

Four
1.
2.

3.

play on the basketball team.

Correction: I love playing team sports; I am too uncoordinated
to play on the basketball team.

4. Replace a comma with an end mark

Run-on: My favorite team in the NBA is the San Antonio Spurs,

Tim Duncan is one of the best players of all time.

Correction: My favorite team in the NBA is the San Antonio
Spurs. Tim Duncan is one of the best players of all time.

Sentence Fragments Rules:

Four steps to identifying fragments:

1. Look for the subject of the sentence
Fragment: Was probably a talkative child.
Correction: Kanye West was probably a talkative child.
2. Look for the predicate of the sentence
Fragment: Michael Jackson, because of his influence on music in

the 1980s and 1990s.

Correction: Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame because of his influence on music in the
1980s and 1990s.

3. Rewrite the sentence to include the missing piece

4. Check for dependent clauses
Fragment: When One Direction first arrived at the venue.
Correction 1: When One Direction first arrived at the venue,

there may have been as many as 10,000 screaming fans

waiting outside.
Correction 2: When One Direction first arrived at the venue.