Definitions and Examples of Basic Sentence Elements

Key: Yellow, bold = subject; green underline = verb; blue, italics = object; pink, regular font =
prepositional phrase
Independent clause: An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a
sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.
Dependent clause: A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb
but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It
must be attached to an independent clause to become complete. This is also known as a
subordinate clause.
• Although I like spaghetti,…
• Because he reads many books,…
Subject: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that does an action. Determine the
subject in a sentence by asking the question “Who or what?”
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.
Verb: Expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or concept does. Determine the verb
in a sentence by asking the question “What was the action or what happened?”
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.
• The movie is good.
Object: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that receives the action. Determine the
object in a sentence by asking the question “The subject did what?” or “To whom? For
whom?”
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.
Prepositional Phrase: A phrase that begins with a preposition (i.e., in, at for, behind, until,
after, of, during) and modifies a word in the sentence. A prepositional phrase answers one of
many questions. Here are a few examples: “Where? When? In what way?
• I like spaghetti for dinner.
• He reads many books in the library.

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English Sentence Structure
So a sentence in English would needs to begin with a CAPITAL letter. So here we've got
“She finished her results section”, and "she" is capitalized. A sentence ends with punctuation.
It might end with a period/full stop, a question mark, or an explanation point. We've got to
have something at the end. A sentence also contains a subject that is only given once. So
here I could say “Johnson finished her results section”, or I could say “She finished her results
section”, but I don't need to say “Johnson she finished her results section”, right, so the
subject is only given once.
The following statements are true about sentences in English:
• A new sentence begins with a capital letter.
o He obtained his degree.
o She finished her results section.
• A sentence ends with punctuation (a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point).
o He obtained his degree.
o She finished her results section.
• A sentence contains a subject that is only given once.
o Smith he obtained his degree.
o Johnson she finished her results section.
A sentence contains a verb or a verb phrase. So here we've got, “She finished her results
section”; finished is the verb. “Finished her results section” could be known as the verb
phrase, or you might also know this as a predicate.
A sentence follows subject-verb-object word order. So this might differ in English than in other
languages, so if you are a multilingual speaker, in your native language this might not work
the same way. But in English, our sentences do start with subjects. So here we have “she,”
verb “finished,” and object, “her results section.”
And then, a sentence must have a complete idea that stands alone, and this might also be
known as an independent clause.
• A sentence contains a verb or a verb phrase.
o He obtained his degree.
o She finished her results section.
• A sentence follows Subject + Verb + Object word order.
o He (subject) obtained (verb) his degree (object).
o She (subject) finished (verb) her results section (object).

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 • A sentence must have a complete idea that stands alone. This is also called an
independent clause.
o He obtained his degree.
o She finished her results section.
Types of Sentences
There are different types of sentences. And we're going to briefly go through them. These
are more for your information than anything else. But you can use simple sentences,
compound sentences, complex sentences, or compound-complex sentences. And I'm going
to give a brief description of all of these.
Below is the following text:
1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Compound-Complex
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and
modifiers. However, it contains only one independent clause. So, a simple sentence is just
an independent clause. It's just one independent clause that stands by itself.
Key: Yellow, bold = subject; green underline = verb, blue, italics = object, pink, regular
font =prepositional phrase. Here are a few examples:
• He performed research.
• She wrote.
• She completed her literature review.
• He organized his sources by theme.
• They studied APA rules for many hours.
• I kicked the ball.

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Simple Sentence Structure
Basic sentence structure:
Well, I’d like to just keep talking more about simple sentence structure here and break it down
into a simpler way for you. Again, basically, a simple sentence needs to have a subject and
a predicate.
The subject then is who or what is responsible for the action of the sentence. The predicate,
again this also might be known as a verb phrase depending on your history with grammar,
this is what the subject does or what the subject is. There needs to be some kind of
punctuation at the end. And in this case, we've got a period. And again, we have to have a
complete idea or a complete thought.
1. Subject [Who or What is responsible for the action of the sentence.]
2. + Predicate [What the subject does or is.]. [Period / Full stop at the end]
3. + Complete idea

Simple Sentence Structure

Subject + Predicate
Examples:
Let's take a look at a couple of examples of this. So, if I look at this first example, I've got “I
write in my journal every day.” Well, in this case, the subject is “I,” and the predicate is “write
in my journal every day.” “Write” is the verb, right, and then “write in my journal every day” is
the noun phrase or the predicate.
• I write in my journal every day.
Here we have “Maria is a doctor at Mercy Hospital.” So similar to the first one, we've got
“Maria” is the subject. And then we have “is a doctor at Mercy Hospital” as the predicate. “Is”
is your main verb there.
• Maria is a doctor at Mercy Hospital.
In this next example, we have a more complex subject. So here we have “All of the fifth-grade
students”. That is all the subject. And then we have “will take a test next week”. That's the
predicate, and “will take there” is your verb. You can see again at the end of these we always
have punctuation at the end.
• All of the 5th grade students will take a test next week.

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Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is where you have more than one independent clause together. You
might have, "He performed the research, and he won an award for his strong work." You
have two complete sentences, two independent clauses combined together, and that is a
compound sentence. These two independent clauses can be combined with a comma and a
coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon.
Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma or semicolon = pink, regular font;
coordinating conjunction = green, underlined. Here are a few examples:
• She completed her literature review, and she created her reference list.
• He organized his sources by theme; then, he updated his reference list.
• They studied APA rules for many hours, but they realized there was still much to learn.
• I kicked the ball, and it hit Tom.

Independent clauses are basically complete sentences. They are simple sentences. Now,
we call them independent clauses, it's just kind of another name for that structure. We're
just going to focus on independent clauses, which are those complete sentences.
So, here are a couple of examples: “I am often busy and tired. I struggle to meet my
deadlines.”
Combining independent clauses
Independent clauses = Complete sentences
I am often busy and tired. I struggle to meet my deadlines.
They have a subject, a predicate, meaning a verb, and extra information, and a period at the
end. They are complete ideas.
If we decide that it's appropriate to combine independent clauses, there are a few ways to do
it. The first one is to use a semicolon. So in this case, “I'm often very busy and tired; I struggle
to meet my deadlines.” Rather than separating them into two separate sentences, I could use

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a semicolon to show that the ideas are connected into a compound sentence. Notice that I
do not add any other words, no "and" or other words to the sentence. It's not needed. A
semicolon is a strong connector, so it doesn't really need any other words or extra information
to connect the ideas.
Combining two independent clauses:
1. Use a semicolon
I am often very busy and tired; I struggle to meet my deadlines.

Notice here that I have an incorrect example of the semicolon. This sentence has an "and,"
the one on the bottom, do not need the "and." And also, just remember, a semicolon should
really only be used to connect two sentences or two ideas that are very closely related. It
would be inappropriate to use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are kind
of unrelated where the meaning is unrelated.
Incorrect: I am often very busy and tired; and I struggle to meet my deadlines.

Another option is to use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. So, coordinating

conjunction, that might be a new phrase to some people. I'll explain those as well. So, here's
my example again: “I'm often very busy and tired. I struggle to meet my deadlines.” Here's
an example where I used a comma and a coordinating conjunction. So, coordinating
conjunctions are words like and, so, but, or. Those words work along with a comma to
connect two independent clauses. So notice that the comma comes first after the first
independent clause, and then we have the coordinating conjunction, in this case, "and," and
then the second independent clause.
Combining two independent clauses:
2. Use a comma + a coordinating conjunction
I am often very busy and tired. I struggle to meet my deadlines.
I am often very busy and tired, and I struggle to meet my deadlines.

Notice in the incorrect example that only a comma here is problematic. The comma's not
really, I guess, strong enough in this case to hold the two sentences together. This actually
creates what we call a run-on sentence or a comma splice, meaning that there are two
independent clauses connected by a comma but the comma is not strong enough on its own,
it needs to work along with one of those coordinating conjunctions.
Incorrect: I am often very busy and tired, I struggle to meet my deadlines.

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Coordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that join clauses into sentences. Conjunctions not only join clauses
together; they also show how the meanings of the two clauses are related.
We brought the food, and they supplied the drink. (addition)
She was poor, but she was honest. (contrast)
We can go swimming, or we could stay here. (alternative)
People disliked her, because she was so rude. (cause)
I’ll phone you when I arrive. (time)
So here's kind of the basic formula that you can use when combining compound sentences.
On the formula, there are independent clauses on either side, and then the ways that you
could connect them are by using a period, so, that would not be connecting them, but they
would stand next to each other and they would be grammatically correct. You could use a
semicolon. Or, you could use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, of course, choosing
the coordinating conjunction that's appropriate to show the relationship between the two
ideas.

.
;
, for
, and
Independent clause , nor Independent clause
, but
, or
, yet
, so

And I have all seven of the coordinating conjunctions listed here. If you read down, the first
letter of each word, it spells out “FAN BOYS,” and that was kind of a little trick that I use to
remember them when I learned about them, so if you ever kind of forget, what are those
seven words that can function as coordinating conjunctions, think about the acronym “FAN
BOYS,” and that might help you remember what they all are.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and at least one dependent
clause. So we have the sentence "Although he had never been a good student in high school,

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he graduated from university summa cum laude." To make up the complex sentence, we
have our independent clause, "he graduated from university summa cum laude," and we
have our dependent clause, "Although he had never been a good student in high school."
If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this clause. If, on the
other hand, the sentence begins with an independent clause, there is not a comma separating
the two clauses.
Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma = pink, regular font; dependent clause
= blue, italics. Here are a few examples:
• Although she completed her literature review, she still needed to work on her methods
section.
o Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
• Because he organized his sources by theme, it was easier for his readers to follow.
o Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
• They studied APA rules for many hours as they were so interesting.
o Note that there is no comma in this sentence because it begins with an
independent clause.
• Tom cried because the ball hit him.

We're going to talk about combining independent and dependent clauses to talk about
complex sentences.
Combining independent & dependent clauses
Independent clauses = Complete sentences
Dependent Clause = Sentence Fragments
I am often very busy and tired.
I struggle to meet my deadlines.

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Independent clauses = Complete sentences
Independent clauses are complete sentences. They can function all by themselves. They
could be their own sentence, but we can also combine them to make compound sentences.

Dependent Clause = Sentence Fragments

Now, we're going to bring in here, we're going to talk about dependent clauses. Dependent
clauses are also called sentence fragments. Dependent clauses have some of the same
aspects as an independent clause. They typically have a subject and a predicate, but they
also have extra information. A complete sentence needs (a) a subject, (b) a verb, and (c) a
complete idea.
Because I am often very busy and tired, I struggle to meet my deadlines.
Note: *A complete sentence needs (a) a subject, (b) a verb, and (c) a complete idea.

So, as you can see, this first part of the sentence is a dependent clause because it cannot
function independently as its own complete idea. If I just write, “because I am often very busy
and tired”, and I stop it there, it does not indicate a complete idea, does not communicate a
complete idea. It seems like there is something missing. And, so, that's how dependent
clauses are often a good, you know, a part of an idea that really needs extra information to
be complete.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Many (but not all) dependent clauses use them. They join a subordinate clause to a main
clause and establish a relationship between the two.

after before though

although how unless
as soon as if until
as long as in order to when
as though once whether
because since while

* Subordinate means that the clause does not express a complete idea, even if it contains a
subject and predicate.

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Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunction. Another kind of big word or
phrase that we use when we talk about grammar. It's not 100%, like, necessary that you use
the term subordinating conjunction, but at least understanding the idea will be important here.
So, many, but not all, dependent clauses use them. They join a subordinate clause to a main
clause and establish a relationship between the two. So these dependent clauses that begin
with subordinating conjunctions, they begin with words like after, although, because, before,
once, since, though. So, we can kind of pick them out of our sentences or out of our writing
by looking for some of these words. And this is not an exhaustive list. There are many other
subordinating conjunctions, but this is a list of a few that you will see probably on a regular
basis. And subordinate means that the clause does not express a complete idea, even if it
has that subject and the predicate.

Complex Sentence

Main (independent) clause

(simple sentence)

+
Dependent clause/phrase
(incomplete sentence)

So, we'll look at a few more examples. So, our basic formula for a complex sentence is that
we're going to combine the, the independent clause, and combine it with a dependent clause.

Complex Sentences: Basic Models

Introductory:

Dependent clause/phrase , Main clause

Ending:

Main clause ø Dependent clause/phrase

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And there are two main ways that we do that. We can use the dependent clause at the
beginning, and it acts kind of like an introductory clause. Conversely, we can have the
dependent clause at the end. So notice the structure in the introductory clause, it's the
dependent phrase or clause, comma, main clause or independent clause. So, two main
structures, introductory, so the dependent clause is at the beginning, we have a comma, if
the dependent clause is at the end, notice that there's no comma needed. So that's one of
the main differences between the two, when we, when we put them in order, is that if the
dependent clause starts the sentence, we need a comma.
So here's an example. We have our dependent clause, “if the flight is on time”. Notice, like I
said previously, that this does not communicate a complete idea. We need more information.
If the flight is on time, what happens? You know, then what happens? So we need more
information. And the independent clause, “Tim will get home tonight”. Notice that this could
function as a complete sentence, if necessary, or in the right context.
Complex Sentences: Basic Models

Dependent: Independent:
If the flight is on time Tim will get home tonight

If the flight is on time , Tim will get home tonight.

Tim will get home tonight ø if the flight is on time.

So, by following our two formulas, we can put the dependent clause at the beginning, “if the
flight is on time” comma, “Tim will get home tonight.” Or we can switch it around and say
“Tim will get home tonight” -- notice no comma needed – “if the flight is on time.”

Compound-Complex Sentences
Sentence types can also be combined. A compound-complex sentence contains at
least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. So here we are giving you
examples of how you can combine your phrases and clauses, specifically our clauses
together, to create different varieties of sentences.
The rain was falling, and the weather was cold, thought it was supposed to be spring.

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Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma or semicolon = pink, regular font;
coordinating conjunction = green, underlined; dependent clause = blue, italics
• She completed her literature review, but she still needs to work on her methods
section even though she finished her methods course last semester.
• Although he organized his sources by theme, he decided to arrange them
chronologically, and he carefully followed the MEAL plan for organization.
• With pizza and soda at hand, they studied APA rules for many hours, and they decided
that writing in APA made sense because it was clear, concise, and objective.
• Tom cried because the ball hit him, and I apologised immediately.

Combining Compound + Complex

2 independent clauses + (independent) + dependent clause
Belinda must be at work early today because there is an important meeting, but she
is feeling sick.
Pay close attention to comma usage in complex-compound sentences so that the reader is
easily able to follow the intended meaning.

Combining Sentences
Why Combine Simple Sentences
§ Too many short sentences in a row can seem choppy.
§ Simple sentences can be redundant.
§ Combining sentences allows your writing to become more sophisticated.
So, simple sentences are great. They're very important in academic writing and all types of
writing. And in academic writing, I encourage you to use simple sentences. However, using

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simple sentences all of the time would cause a couple of issues. Like I have on the blue slide
below, too many short sentences in a row can seem choppy. It can also make the writing
seem a little bit redundant. So, sometimes combining sentences can allow your writing to
become more sophisticated and really be more engaging to the reader. It’ll also help you
show some of the connections between ideas. So I have an example of few sentences
together here. They're all simple sentences: “I am often busy and tired. I struggle to meet my
deadlines. I also struggle to fulfil my other obligations. I need to work on my time management
skills.”

I am often busy and tired. I struggle to meet deadlines. I also struggle to fulfil my other
obligations. I need to work on my time management skills.
As I mentioned, it seems a little bit choppy, and notice how every sentence begins the same,
“I am…I struggle…I also struggle…I need to work.” So it’s the same subject beginning every
sentence, and it just seems a little bit redundant.
So, one way we could change this to make it maybe more sophisticated, show the
relationships between ideas, and also just make it more engaging to the reader, is to kind of
combine some of those sentences and add a little bit of information to help show the
relationships between the ideas. So, in this case: “I'm often busy and tired, and I struggle to
meet my deadlines. Because I also struggle to fulfil my other obligations, I need to work on
my time management skills.”
I am often busy and tired I struggle to meet deadlines. I also struggle to fulfil
my other obligations I need to work on my time management skills.

So, notice how just a couple of commas and a couple of words really kind of help to bring the
ideas together and show how the ideas are related.

Common Error: Unclear Subjects

Sentence includes confusing or redundant subjects. So this is where we have a sentence
that includes a confusing or a redundant subject.
Unclear Subject Examples:
§ Asking for help this can be difficult for many students.
o Revision: Asking for help can be difficult for many students.
§ By conducting research it has enabled me to learn more about effective leadership
strategies.

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 o Revision: Conducting research has enabled me to learn more about effective
leadership strategies.
The first example we have is “Asking for help this can be difficult for many students.” Well, in
this case, we've got the subject that's repeated. We've got “asking for help” and we have
“this,” and that's where it becomes a little bit confusing. So to clarify this, we could just say
“Asking for help can be difficult for many students.” We can get rid of the “this” because we
don't need a redundant subject, or we don't need to repeat the subject, and then it will make
sense.
In the second example, we got “By conducting research it has enabled me to learn more
about effective leadership strategies.” So here again, this gets confusing because we've got
“by conducting research it,” and the grammar here isn't really working. So we can simplify it,
and we can just say “Conducting research has enabled me to learn more about effective
leadership strategies.”

Mastering the Mechanics: Punctuation as Symbols

Think of punctuation as symbols on a map— They have specific meanings, and they guide
your readers through the territory of your ideas. Students very often find punctuation, even
more than other elements of grammar, to be quite tricky. Punctuation rules can seem
arbitrary. They can seem unclear and elusive and it can seem like, you know, only picky,
strict people care about where I'm putting my comma or my period. The goal is not to have
you memorize a whole bunch of rules. Instead, think of these punctuation marks as symbols
that guide your reader through the territory of your ideas. These punctuation marks really do
guide your reader and it tells your reader how the different elements of your sentence fit
together and relate to each other to express your ideas.
Punctuation as Symbols
And I want to show you a very common joke that's going around. I'm re-evaluation my
grammar geek side, but I happen to love punctuation humour this little comma is the
difference between "Let's eat, grandma!" you know, calling your grandma to the dinner table,
and "Let's eat grandma!"—You know, let's devour my mother's mother. So punctuation not
only helps your reader understand your ideas more clearly, but it does indeed save lives as
well.

Let’s eat Grandma!

Let’s eat, Grandma!
Punctuation Saves Lives.

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Mastering the Mechanics: Commas
Now commas are quite a bit trickier than periods. And I do see quite a few comma errors in
student writing, and I feel as though part of that is because people just get nervous about
commas. You know, you probably learned about commas in elementary school or middle
school but you don't really focus on them too much after that. So a lot of people either, they're
nervous to use commas, so they don't use any, or they know that they should use commas,
so they use too many. And then also, complicating matters is the fact that commas are very
stylistically specific. And there are four main places that you'll want to use commas.
1. After introductory clauses: Despite the delay, I expect to complete the study on time.
The first is "after introductory clauses." Introductory clauses provide extra information for a
sentence, but aren't really part of the main action of the sentence. For example, "Despite the
delay, comma, I expect to complete the study on time."
2. On either side of a non-essential clause: Mary, the newest employee, just finished
training. You also want to use commas on either side of non-essential clauses. A non-
essential clause is a group of words that provide additional information in a sentence but
aren't necessary for the sentence to make sense. "Mary, the newest employee, just finished
training." It makes sense if I were to just say "Mary just finished training," right? I could cut
out this phrase from the sentence and the sentence would still make sense. So this is called
a non-essential clause and you want to use commas on either side of it to set it apart from
the rest of the sentence.
3. In a list of three or more elements: He has written three books: a novel, a memoir, and
a biography. You want to use commas in a list of three or more. So for example, "He has
written three week books, a novel, comma, a memoir, comma, and a biography." Now this
comma right here, this comma before the word "and" is called an Oxford comma, and not all
types of writing require you to use an Oxford comma, but most universities do require it, so
you just want to make sure you include a comma before the final item in your list.
4. Between two independent clauses joined by a conjunction: And then finally, when you
have two complete sentences but you're joining them with a conjunction, so a conjunction is
a word like "and," "but," "or," words like that. When you're using a conjunction to join two
independent clauses, you want to use a comma between those two clauses. "I turned in the
paper late." That's a complete sentence. "At least I finished it." That's another complete
sentence, and then I have the conjunction "but" here, so I want to use this comma to separate
these two independent clauses.

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Mastering the Mechanics: Periods
Periods should go at the end of every sentence. A couple of specific nuances, places where
I often see errors with periods: when you have a parenthetical citation like this one, at the
end of the sentence, the period should go after the citation, not before.
1. At the end of a complete sentence: All faculty are required to attend the meeting.
2. After a parenthetical citation: All participants were under the age of 10 (Wilson, 2003).
3. In certain abbreviations: i.e., et al., U.S."

Mastering the Mechanics: Semicolons

Semicolons are a little bit less common and frequently misused in scholarly writing. There
are three places in writing that you'll want to use semicolons. The first is when you have two
independent clauses, two complete sentences that you're joining to form a single sentence:
"Half of the staff is out sick." That's a complete sentence. "however, the meeting will still go
on as planned." That's another complete sentence. So I want to use a semicolon to join these
independent clauses.
You want to use semicolons between elements in a list that contains internal commas. I know
that sounds a little bit confusion so let me unpack that a little bit. "I grouped my students into
teams as follows: Mary and Patrick; Kelsey, Eric, and Kara; and Ashley and Zach." Now the
reason I'm using semicolons instead of commas to separate these items, is that these two
commas right here, these are commas within this one specific item in my larger list. So in
other words, I sort of have a list within a list here, so I use commas to separate these items,
but then between the larger items in my larger list, I need to use semicolons. It's just for the
sake of clarity for your reader.
And then finally when you're citing multiple sources in a single parenthetical citation, you'll
use semicolons between your different sources.
1. Between two independent clauses
Half of the staff is out sick; however, the meeting will still go on as planned.
2. Between elements in a list that contains internal commas
I grouped my students into teams as follows: Mary and Patrick; Kelsey, Erik, and Cara;
and Ashley and Zach.
3. Between multiple sources in a single citation
(Wilson, 2010; Peters, 2007; Ruiz, 2004)

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Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete
sentences) are connected improperly.
Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.
There are two complete sentences in the above example:
Sentence 1: I love to write papers.
Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time.

One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when
two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.
Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any time, they needed to
indicate their preference.
Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time.
Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference.
Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the
middle of a sentence.
Example of a comma splice: The results of the study were inconclusive, therefore more
research needs to be done on the topic.
Sentence 1: The results of the study were inconclusive
Transitional expression (conjunctive adverb): therefore
Sentence 2: More research needs to be done on the topic
To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and add
a comma after it. See more examples of this on the semicolon page.
Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive; therefore, more research needs to be
done on the topic.

You can correct a run-on sentence by connecting or separating its parts correctly. There are
several easy ways to connect independent clauses.
Correcting Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to
connect independent clauses.
1. Use a period. The easiest way to fix a run-on is to split the sentence into smaller
sentences using a period. This revision works especially well with longer sentences.

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 Check, however, to make sure that this solution does not result in short, choppy
sentences.
Revision example: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.
2. Use a semicolon. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a
grammatically correct sentence. Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a
close relationship between the two sentences.
Revision example: I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had the time.
3. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. A comma, paired with a coordinating
conjunction (such as and, but, or or), corrects a run-on sentence. This method
emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.
Revision example: I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I had the time.
4. Use a subordinating conjunction. Turn one of the independent clauses into
a dependent clause. A subordinating conjunction (such as because, unless,
and although) connects two clauses to create a complex sentence. This option works to
cement the relationship between the two parts of the sentence and may improve the flow
of the clauses.
Revision example: Because I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had
the time.

Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a string of words that does not form a complete sentence; there is
a necessary component of a complete sentence missing. This missing component may be
a subject (usually a noun) or a predicate (verb or verb phrase) and/or when the sentence
does not express a complete idea.
There are four possible reasons for why a group of words is a fragment.
1. It is missing a subject.
2. It is missing a verb.
3. It is missing a subject and a verb.
4. It is a subordinate clause.
Missing Subjects
If the subject is missing, we are left wondering who or what performed the action.
Run around the tree. (who ran around the tree?)
Will walk into the room. (who will walk into the room?)

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 Shot through the sky. (what shot through the sky?)
We can fix each of those fragments and turn them into sentences by adding a subject.
The dog ran around the tree.
The President will walk into the room.
A rocket shot through the sky.
Now they are all complete sentences!

Missing Verbs
If the verb is missing, we are left wondering what the subject did or what the subject is.
My little sister. (My little sister did what?)
My cute little dog. (The cute little do did or is what?)
We can fix these types of fragments by adding a verb.
My little sister ran away.
My cute little dog is cuddly.
Now, both of those group of words are complete sentences.

Missing Subject and Verb.

Some fragments are missing both subject and verbs. That means that we don’t know whom
the sentence is about or what they did or are.
On the table.
Over there.
We can fix these group of words by adding a subject and a verb.
The sugar is on the table.
My cat ran over there.

Dependent clause (Subordinate clauses)

Subordinate clauses (dependent clauses) are groups of words that contain a subject and a
verb, but they don’t express complete thoughts. If you use them alone, they are fragments.
Whenever I walk the dog.
Until my littles sister walks into the room.
You can fix these kinds of fragments by connecting dependent clause to independent
clauses. You can add independent clauses before or after dependent clauses.
Whenever I walk the dog, I feel great.

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Here, I added I feel great, an independent clause, after the dependent clause. Notice that
you need to use a comma to separate them.
I will stay here until my little sister walks into the room.
For this one, I added the independent clause I will stay here before the dependent clause.
When you do this, you don’t need a comma between the two.

Example of a fragment: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

The sentence above is a fragment since there is no subject (Who shows no improvement?).
Fragments can be corrected by identifying the missing element and including it.
Revision: The patient shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

Here is an example of a fragment with a missing predicate, or action:

Example of a fragment: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that
contributed to the body of knowledge in their fields, which was obstetrics.
Notice here that although the sentence is quite long, it still contains no action (What are the
doctors doing?). Once identified, the sentence can be corrected easily.
Revision: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to
the body of knowledge in their field, improved their knowledge of obstetrics.

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