Sentences,

Fragments, Run-
ons and Subject &
Verb agreement

By Jimena Rivadeneira, MTEFL.

 SENTENCE
A word or set or words that expresses a complete thought with subject and predicate.

The subject is what or who The predicate tells something about

the sentence is about. the subject.

Example:
Doctors save lives in hospitals everyday.
verb object

subject + predicate
 FRAGMENT
They are incomplete sentences which lack a subject or a predicate.
They can also be dependent clauses or leftover phrases.
DISTINGUISHING EXAMPLE OF FRAGMEMTS CORRECTION
FEATURES
1.It is missing a subject Ran to the store faster than a rabbit. Joseph ran faster to the store faster than a
(Who ran?) rabbit.

2. It is a leftover phrase For better or worse. We are going to start the therapy for better
(What is better or worse? What is it modifying?) or for worse.

3. It is an abandoned When my mother married my father. When my mother married my father,

clause (What happened when “my mother married my everybody attended the party. 
father?”)

4. It is a misuse of Such as, my brother was practicing martial Summer started when my brother was
“such as, for example, arts.   practicing martial arts.  
especially,” etc. (It is unclear; did something happen when my
brother was practicing martial arts?)
 RUN-ON SENTENCE
A combination of two sentences or independent clauses without a conjunction or proper punctuation .

TYPES OF RUN-ON SENTENCES

Fused sentences
When independent clauses run together with no marks of punctuation or coordinating
conjunctions to separate them.

Comma splices
When two or more independent clauses are joined only by a comma.
 SOLUTIONS TO RUN-ON SENTENCES
1. Use a comma and a
coordinating conjunction
(and, but, yet, so, or, nor, for)
2. Use a semicolon
You can use a semicolon alone
or with a transitional expression
(e.g., however, at any rate, in contrast, as a
result, etc.).
Run-on:
My professor read my paper she said it was excellent.
Correction:
My professor read my paper, and she said it was excellent.
Run-on:
My cat meowed angrily, I knew she wanted food.
Correction:
My cat meowed angrily; I knew she wanted food.
Correction with a transitional expression:
My cat meowed angrily; therefore, I knew she wanted food.
 SOLUTIONS TO RUN-ON SENTENCES
3. Separate the
independent clauses into
sentences.
Especially when one of the
independent clauses is very
long.
4. Restructure the sentence
by subordinating one of the
clauses.
Subordinate the clause which
seems less important than the
other.
Run-on:
It seemed to Wanda that her daughter had crayons strewn across the bedroom floor and
some of them were broken, and, worse still, someone had used the stub of a red crayon
to mark a sinister smiley face on the wall.
Correction:
It seemed to Wanda that her daughter had crayons strewn across the bedroom floor, and
some of them were broken. Worse still, someone had used the stub of a red crayon to
mark a sinister smiley face on the wall.
Run-on:
Toni Morrison is a professor at Princeton University, she wrote the novel The Bluest Eye.
Correction:
Toni Morrison, a professor at Princeton University, wrote The Bluest Eye.
Run-on:
The largest tree by volume in the world is the General Sherman Sequoia, it is a little over
52,500 cubic feet.
Correction:
The largest tree by volume in the world is the General Sherman Sequoia, which is a little
over 52,500 cubic feet.
 SUBJECT & VERB AGREEMENT PROBLEMS
1. The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, everybody, Example of correct use
someone, no one, nobody are always singular and, Everybody has finished his homework.
therefore, require singular verbs.

2. Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along Example of correct use
with do not compound the subject The mayor as well as his brothers is going to
prison.

3. The pronouns neither and either are singular and Example of correct use

require singular verbs even though they seem to be Neither my brothers nor my father is going to
referring, in a sense, to two things. sell the house.

4. Words such as glasses, pants, pliers, and scissors Example of correct use
preceded by the phrase pair of require singular verbs. A pair of plaid trousers is in the closet.

Adapted from Faytong, M. Workshop for the Academic Writing Center ESPOL.