Run-On SentencesAt this time, you are ready to study RUN-ON SENTENCES. These sentence errors are just the opposite of FRAGMENTS.  A fragment is too short; a run-on is too long.  If you forget the subject or verb, the sentence is a FRAGMENT. If you try to combine too many clauses, or you forget to use the correct punctuation or coordinating conjunctions, the sentence is a RUN-ON.  (If you write more than one complete sentence and connect them with just commas, they are a special kind of run-on called COMMA SPLICE.)  EXAMPLES OF RUN-ON SENTENCESWrong: It's raining we need to take an umbrella with us.Wrong: It's raining, we need to take an umbrella with us.  (comma splice)Correct: It's raining.  We need to take an umbrella with us.Correct: It's raining, so we need to take an umbrella with us.Correct: Because it's raining, we need to take an umbrella with us.Correct: It's raining; therefore, we need to take an umbrella with us.

How to fix a run-on sentence There are at least five easy ways to connect sentences properly and avoid writing a run-on sentence:1  Use a coordinating conjunction:              They need to stay awake at work, so they drink coffee.2.  Use a subordinating conjunction:            Because  they need to stay awake at work, they drink coffee.            They drink coffee at work  because  they need to stay awake.3.  Use a transitional expression:            They need to stay awake at work ; therefore,  they drink coffee.            They need to stay awake at work .  Therefore,  they drink coffee.

4.  Use end punctuation:            They need to stay awake at work.  They drink coffee.                  (This option doesn't show a logical relationship between                 the ideas, so use one of the other options when possible.5. Use relative clauses.  (You will learn this later)The teacher that we admire most is our Chemistry professor.This is the place where I grew up. 

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Exercise 1:Instructions:  Fix these run-on sentences 2 ways.1.  I see you you see me.

a.  

b.  

2.  That is a good book do you like it?

a.  

b.  

3.   It is sunny we are going to the beach.

a.  

b.  

4.   Run-on sentences are wrong don't write them!

a.  

b.  

 Exercise 2   Instructions:  Correct these sentences.  The first have explanations to guide you through the corrections.  The ones on the bottom do not.  

1. The soup is delicious won't you have some?  You will enjoy it, it has cabbage and tomatoes.

Help:  Both sentences have two subjects and two complete predicates. However, the first does not have any punctuation, so it IS a run-on sentence. The second uses only a comma to separate the two complete clauses.  It is a comma splice.

Your correction:  

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2.  There is a mist over the Amazon jungle this morning it will dissipate before noon.  Mornings are beautiful here, so are evenings.

Help:  Both sentences have two subjects and two complete predicates. However, the first does not have any punctuation, so it IS a run-on sentence. The second uses only a comma to separate the two complete clauses.  It is a comma splice, and it is wrong.

Your correction:    

  3.  I would like to be in Tuilleries in Paris when the first snow is just beginning to fall  because it looks like such an amazing place.

Help:  The sentence has three subjects ("I," "the sun," and "it") and three complete predicates, but it is not a run-on sentence because the words "when" and "because" connect the sentences correctly. There is no error in this sentence.

Your correction:    

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4.  Every child should have a dog, dogs teach children a sense of responsibility and compassion.  Dogs also make a house safe because they guard their property from intruders.

Help:  All four clauses have a subject and a complete predicate. However, the first sentence uses only a comma to separate the two complete clauses.  It is a comma splice, so it is wrong.  The second sentence is NOT a run-on sentence.  The word "because" correctly connects the ideas.

Your correction:  

5.  Toby enjoys retrieving sticks, this stick looks too large for him, but he doesn't mind, he loves this game and will try to retrieve anything his owner throws. No help on this one!   Your correction:    

6.  Yesterday morning, Mama Polar Bear decided to visit a neighbor for breakfast, she brought her two children with her, but the people in the igloo were not too happy to see her and they hoped she would go away.  No help on this one!   Your correction:

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7.  Sometimes things are not what they seem for example, in this picture there are two images.  Can you see them? No help on this one!   Your correction:  

I enjoy abstract art it makes me think about perceptions do you like this kind of art too?

No help on this one!   Your correction:    

 

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Exercise 3Instructions:  Indicate whether the sentence is a comma splice (cs), fragment (f), a run-on (r-o), or a correct sentence (c).  If it is a fragment or a run-on, rewrite it correctly. Click here for a larger picture of Glenwood Canyon by Brent Reed (click on the picture at this website):  

 

      1)This is Glenwood Canyon, my family travels to this area every year. It is a beautiful place to visit.  2)The Canyon is 5,700 feet above sea level in the Colorado River Valley.  According to the guidebooks, it is one of the most spectacular points of geological interest in the American West.  3)Sometimes we go in the summertime and enjoy the boating, fishing, and swimming however, some years we go in the dead of winter (January or February).  4)You can see from this picture that the canyon is beautiful in the summertime.  5)Waterfalls cascade down canyon walls, flowers cover the ground.  6)Of course, during the winter  7)All of this area is covered with snow.  8)Why do we sometimes like to come to this area in winter?  9)Well, we visit a place called Glenwood Springs it is very near this canyon.  10)Believe it or not, we enjoy the swimming outdoors in Glenwood Springs!  11)Yes, we swim in the snow in the winter,   no, we are not crazy.  12)Here is the secret:  There are several ancient hot springs where we can swim in the cold weather. Because the water is very very warm!  13)In fact, we can swim.  At night in the snow,  It is a wonderful experience.cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  1.cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  2.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  3.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  4.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  5.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  6.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  7.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  8.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  9.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  10.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  11.  cs__ f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  12. 

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f__  r-o__  c__   correction:  13.      

Exercise 4

RUN-ON sentences----Group Exercise Instructions:  In small groups or pairs, choose one picture and correct the run-on sentences.  Share your answers first with other groups that chose the same picture to see if you have different answers (there are several ways to fix each sentence).  Then share your answers with the class.  

1.  Dogs are so funny they love to hunt and chase things that run from them, but sometimes they get into trouble. 2.  Take my dog, Charlie, for example he caught a skunk the skunk did not like that very much and sprayed him with a horrible smell, and I had to give poor old Charlie five baths before he smelled good again. 3.  Charlie was very surprised when he caught that skunk, he cried all the way back to the house, he probably will never chase another animal again because he will be afraid of getting all stinky.  

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4.  When Zach was a baby, he never wanted to go to sleep he liked to stay up late at night and then sleep all morning. 5.  His parents tried several ideas to get Zach to sleep more during the night, they kept him up during the day, kept the house very quiet in the evening, gave him a warm bath at night, nothing worked. 5.  This was a big problem for Jenny and Danny, the parents,  they had to wake up early to go to work, but they had to stay up late with Zach because he didn't like to be alone in his room when he was awake.  

 

6.  Now Zach is 5 he has a baby sister, Jasmine, who likes to stay up late and sleep in the morning, Zach does not like to stay up late anymore, though, he likes to go to bed early at night and wake up early in the morning. 7.  Now Jenny and Danny stay up late because Jazz won't sleep, they also have to get up early because Zach wakes up early, nobody can rest when children are small. 8.  Jenny and Danny go to work and school very tired, they drink coffee all day to stay awake, they hope Jazz will learn to sleep all night soon because they are both exhausted.

 

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Internet ActivitiesTo read more about run-on sentences and how to fix them, visit these Web sites: 

Run-on SentencesExplanation PowerPoint Presentation on Run-ons: http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm

Practice Quizzes:  Fixing Run-ons. Instructions quoted from the Site:  "After each run-on sentence below select the remedy that would best repair that sentence. If the sentence is correctly written the way it stands, select the first option. The explanation will attempt to justify our editing of that sentence. http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm

Quiz:  Run-ons and Fragments. Instructions quoted from the Site:  "After each sentence, select the option which best describes that sentence. The first option will always be that the sentence is fine. Other options will not only define the structural flaw but suggest a way of fixing it. Choose the option with the best remedy."http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/fragments_quiz.htm

Comma SplicesExplanation of Comma Splices: Instructions quoted from the Site: "Click on "The sentence, please!" and a sentence containing a comma splice will appear in the top text-area. Repair the sentence. When you are finished with each sentence (or, if you wish, wait until you've done them all), click on "Grammar's Version," which will reveal how we would have repaired the sentence. Don't cheat by looking at Grammar's Version first."http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm#splice

Practice Exercises Avoiding Comma Splices:  Instructions quoted from the Site:  "Click on "The sentence, please!" and a sentence containing a comma splice will appear in the top text-area. Repair the sentence." http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/nova/nova3.htm http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/nova/nova4.htm

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