12

Grade

NAME

Lesson 12.6.5 Correcting Run-on Sentences

pp. 149–150
Exercise Correcting Run-on Sentences
Rewrite each of these run-on sentences to correct the run-on. In at least two sentences,
use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression in your revised
sentence.

EXAMPLE He never sailed on voyages of discovery, Prince Henry of Portugal is known as

“the Navigator.”

He never sailed on voyages of discovery; however, Prince Henry of Portugal is

known as “the Navigator.”
When you join two 1. Prince Henry’s father was the king of Portugal, his mother was an English princess.
sentences with a Prince Henry'
s father was the King of Portugal, and his mother was an English princess.
conjunctive adverb ________________________________________________________________________________
or a transitional
expression, be 2. His brother, Prince Pedro, gave him a copy of the book that described Marco Polo’s
sure to put a travels, these accounts of the wonders of the East stirred Henry’s imagination.
comma after the His brother, Prince Pedro, gave him a copy of the bookthat described Marco Polo'
s travels; these
conjunctive adverb ________________________________________________________________________________
accounts of the wonders of the East stirred Henry's imagination.
or the transition.
________________________________________________________________________________
Run-on:
The Portuguese 3. Prince Henry was interested in navigation he founded a school of seamanship in 1419.
wanted gold, they Prince Henry was interested in navigation, and he founded a school of seamanship in 1419.
colonized Africa. ________________________________________________________________________________
Correct:
The Portuguese 4. Henry believed it was possible to reach India by sailing around Africa, he began

Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Grammar for Writing.
wanted gold; thus, sending ships south along Africa’s western coast.
they colonized
Africa. ________________________________________________________________________________
Henry believed it was possible to reach India by sailing around Africa. He began sending ships
south along Africa's western coast.
________________________________________________________________________________

5. Henry’s captains sailed in a new type of ship, it was more maneuverable.

Henry'
s captains sailed in a new type of ship that was more maneuverable.
________________________________________________________________________________

6. By 1418, Henry’s ships had reached Madeira, by 1432, they had located the Azores.

In 1418, Henry'
s ships had reached Madeira; by 1432, they had located the Azores.
________________________________________________________________________________

7. Cape Bojador is on the west coast of Africa, its Arabic name means “father of danger.”
Cape Bojador is situated on the west coast of Africa; its Arabic name means "father of danger."
________________________________________________________________________________

8. Henry’s sailors feared this area, they believed monsters lived in the waters beyond it.
Henry'
s sailors feared this area; they believed that monsters lived in the waters beyond it.
________________________________________________________________________________

9. Prince Henry died before his goal was reached, in 1497, the Portuguese explorer Vasco
da Gama sailed around Africa to India.
Prince Henry died before his goal was reached; in 1497, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama
________________________________________________________________________________
sailed around Africa to India.
________________________________________________________________________________