This presentation is brought to you by chomp! Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2012 by Robin L. Simmons.

Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences

How do I know if I have too little in a sentence . . .

And how can I tell if I have too much?

This presentation You will learn to covers complete recognize avoiding sentence sentences, employ appropriate fragments, punctuation, and comma splices, use subordination and fused andsentences. . coordination

A fragment, comma splice, and/or fused sentence item on an objective test might look like this . . .

Sample Item
At the pizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the pizzeria, Jolene eavesdropped on the A argument at the next table,while hot cheese table hot cheese table, hot cheese B cascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare cascaded over her slice of pizza onto her bare C The comma between Is the lap. table and hot punctuation (or A.pizzeria; Jolene A.table while hot B.table while hot A. pizza. OntoOver C.cascaded. Over cascaded. B. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.
makesof it) at A, lack a comma splice, B, or C that an error option B fixes. incorrect?

A sentence must have a subject, verb, and complete thought. Andre practiced jump shots to impress Coach Nelson.

Andre = subject, practiced = verb, and the thought = complete, so you have a sentence.

Recognize a fragment when you see one.

As Andre spunball toto to show off skills. Andre spinningballballshow off his his And spun the the ball to off hisoff his spun the the show show skills. skills.
Now theresA Finally! no Yikes! Nowthe Spinning a subject, a verb, so you verb, so younot thought is have and a have a still complete a fragment! complete! fragment. thought!

Recognize fused sentences and comma splices.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court court unfortunately unfortunately was turned. the coachs back the coachs back was turned. Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court, unfortunately unfortunately was turned. the coachs back the coachs back was turned.
You cannot You cannot run together join two two sentences sentences with a with no comma! punctuation!

Fix the error with a period and a capital letter.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court. court unfortunately Unfortunately, the turned. the coachs back was coachs back was turned.

Swish goes the period!

Fix the error with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, court but the coachs coachs back was unfortunately theback was turned. turned.

Be my FANBOYS for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Fix the error with a semicolon.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court; court unfortunately, the coachs was turned. unfortunately the coachs backback was turned.

Use the semicolon sparingly 3 to 4 times per essay, max.

Fix the error with a subordinate conjunction.

Andre sank a perfect basket from half court after the coachs back was turned. unfortunately the coachs back was turned.

Reduce one of the two clauses to an incomplete thought.

These are the subordinate conjunctions.

after although as because before even though if, even if in order that once provided that

since so [that implied], so that than that though unless when, whenever where, wherever, whereas whether while

Remember these general punctuation rules when subordinating one of the clauses in the error.
Subordinate clause Main clause

+,+

main clause.

++

subordinate clause.

Heres our sample:

Although Andre sank a perfect basket from half court, the coachs back was turned. Andre sank a perfect basket from half court after the coachs back was turned.
Adding an Dropping the comma unnecessary after court is like a comma is like championship game grandstanding when a teammate is turnover! open!

Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary.

Show me you got game!

Item 1
The dogs drooledwhile we ate slices of hot drooled while we ate slices of hot A pizza, but the cat feigned nonchalance even pizza but the cat feigned nonchalance even pizza but the cat feigned nonchalance even B C though we knew that she wanted a pepperoni. A.drooled. While A.pizza, but B.pizza, but A. nonchalance. Even C.nonchalance. Even B. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 2
Mary Ellen screamed,her roommates pet screamed, her roommates pet tarantula crawled out of the bag of popcorn. A.screamed her B.screamed; because, her A.screamed as her C.screamed as her A. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 3
Running late with dinner,Elizabeth fussed with dinner, Elizabeth fussed with A seasonings and wiped spots off the seasonings and wiped spots off the B glasses While glasses.While the family stared at their empty glasses. while the family stared at their empty C C plates. A.dinner; Elizabeth B.seasonings, and A.glasses while C.glasses while A. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 4
Everyone scrambled off the lakeside patio. When patio. When the 10-foot alligator lumbered onto shore. A.patio when patio when A. B.patio; when B. patio, when C.patio, when C. D.No change is necessary.

Item 5
The glass of iced tea promised thirst-quenching refreshment. Roseanne, however, had to beat refreshment Roseanne, however, had beat refreshment Roseanne, however, had to to beat A B B Maria to the refrigerator as they raced through refrigerator as they raced through C the front door. A.refreshment. Roseanne A.refreshment. Roseanne A.however; B.however; had B.refrigerator; C.refrigerator; as C.No D.No change is necessary.

Item 6
Warren wanted to make a good impression on Melody but the soda explosion that soaked his Melody but the soda explosion that soaked his shirt ruined their first meeting. A.Melody; but, the A.Melody; however, the B.Melody; however, the A. Melody, however, the C.Melody, however, the B. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 7
Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the Because of the hot sun, ice cream ran down the sun, ice cream ran down the A A cone and coated Randalls fingers, for his tongue cone and coated Randalls fingers, his tongue cone and coated Randalls fingers, his tongue B C B C couldnt keep up. up couldnt keep up. up A.sun; ice cream A.sun; ice cream B.cone, and B.cone, and C.fingers, for his A.fingers, for his D.No change is necessary. A.No change is necessary.

Item 8
Wanda took a deep breath and got ready to yell. yell. Because Paul was about to explain why his half of Because Paul was about to explain why his half of the rent would be late again. A.yell, because A.yell because B.yell because A. yell for C.yell for B. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 9
After Simon bought roses for Emily, he spotted Emily, he spotted A Dereks car in her drivewayand realized that this driveway and realized that this B gesture would not repair the relationship or win relationship or win C back her love. A.Emily. he B.driveway. And C.relationship; or A.No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Item 10
Since Larry had studied for hours;he was hours; he was relieved to find a big red A at the top of his grammar quiz. A.hours he B.hours. He A.hours, he C.hours, he A. No change is necessary. D.No change is necessary.

Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on fragments, comma splices, chomp! and fused sentences. Go to chomp! chompchomp.com!

The End.