Complete Sentences

A Project LA Activity
Complete Sentences Fragments Run-On Sentences Compound Sentences

Complete Sentences
A complete sentence has a subject and a predicate that work together to make a complete thought.

Bobby smiled until he thought his face would crack.

Sentence Fragments
A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself.

Sentence Fragments
may locate something in time and place, but lack a subjectverb relationship.

Last Saturday after the ballgame at the ice cream shop.

Sentence Fragments
may describe something, but have no subject-verb relationship.

Shooting just before the buzzer rang and hoping to score the winning point.

Sentence Fragments
may have most of the makings of a sentence but still be missing an important part of a verb string.

Some of the girls going together to the mall.

Sentence Fragments may have a subject-verb relationship, but cannot stand by itself.

Even though she was the prettiest girl and had a great talent presentation.

Run-On Sentences
A RUN-ON SENTENCE (sometimes called a fused sentence) has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself, but the two parts have been connected together with one or two words instead of becoming two sentences. The run-on could be corrected with a semi-colon.

Run-On Sentences
Remember: The length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; even a very short sentence could be a run-on.

The books are heavy dont carry them. The books are heavy. Dont carry them.

Run-On Sentences
When two clauses are connected by only a comma, they are a runon sentence that is called a comma-splice.

The books are heavy, dont carry them.

Run-On Sentences happen

when an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause.

The game is going to be very close you have to play your best.

Run-On Sentences happen

when two clauses are connected by words such as however, moreover, nevertheless.

Mother packed my lunch today however she forgot to put in my desert.

Ready for a drill?

Is it a complete sentence, run-on, or a fragment? Read each of the following and click your choice!

Walking through the dark forest.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

Bob was running in the yard.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

This is my first ball game but I think we will win.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

All of the other girls at the mall.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

I have walked to school everyday.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

My arm hurts a little.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

A big crowd of people have arrived.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

Mother washed the clothes and she waxed the floor.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

What a day for a party!

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

Even though it was late and very dark.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

The babies are crying and they are sleepy.

a)Complete Sentence b)Fragment c)Run-On

Sorry! Click the arrow below to try again.

Yes, that is correct! Click the arrow to move on.

Combining Sentences
Sentences have to be combined to avoid the boredom that would happen if all sentences were the same length.

A Compound Sentence
contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.)

Ready for practice?

On your paper combine each pair of sentences. A suggested answer will be supplied.

Danny ran a mile.

John fell down and dropped out.

ANSWER

Compound sentence: Danny ran a mile, but John

fell down and dropped out.

Susan ate dinner.

Mother fixed the dessert.

ANSWER

Compound sentence: Susan ate dinner, and Mother fixed the dessert.

I went to the game. Joey went skating.

ANSWER

Compound sentence: I went to the game, so Joey went skating.

You can come with us.

We are leaving early.
ANSWER

Compound sentence:

You can come with us, but we are leaving early.

He studied late.
Father told him it was time for bed.
ANSWER

Compound sentence: He studied late, so Father told him it was time for bed.

The boys got into a fight.

The teacher sent them to the office.
ANSWER

Compound sentence:
The boys got into a fight, thus the teacher sent them to the office.

Online Complete Sentence Activities

Fragment Complete Sentence Quiz Repairing Sentence Fragments Repairing Run-On Sentences Quiz 1 Combining Sentences Quiz 2 Combining Sentences Quiz 3 Combining Sentences Quiz 3 Fragments Quiz 2 Fragments MAIN Run-On Sentence Quiz

Run-On Sentence Quiz II