1. Grammar Boot Camp
Obstacle Course:
Fragments, Run-ons, Comma Splices
(click mouse to proceed)

2. Your Mission:
 To Study Fragments
 To Study Run-ons
 To Study Comma Splices
 To Exercise your Writing Muscles
This presentation is enhanced with “Question
and Answer” slides. To access, simply click
on the words that are highlighted and
underlined.

3. What is a Fragment?
 A sentence fragment is an incomplete
thought.
 Choose one of the following options to
correct a fragment:
1. Connect the fragment to the sentence before
it, or
2. Connect the fragment to the sentence after
it, or
3. Rewrite the fragment so that it is a complete
thought.

4. Fragments
Dependent Clause Fragment: Begins with a
subordinating conjunction or a
relative pronoun.
 Fragment: When it is time to go home.
 Correction: When it is time to go home, I
will call you.

5. Fragments
“-ing” Fragment: Begins with a word ending in
“-ing.”
 Fragment: Waiting for the rain to stop.
 Correction: Waiting for the rain to stop,
the pedestrian sought refuge
in the corner café.

6. Fragments
“To” Fragment: Begins with the word “to.”
 Fragment: To do my best.
 Correction: My grandfather taught me to
do my best.

7. Fragments
Added-Detail Fragment: Begins with “for
example,” “such as,” “especially,” and similar
transitions.
 Fragment: Especially when the
vegetables are fresh.
 Correction: I enjoy salads, especially
when the vegetables are
fresh.

8. What is a Run-on?
 A run-on contains two more
independent clauses without punctuation
signaling the end of the first clause and the
beginning of the next clause.
 Example: Many dogs enter the contest the
poodle is the usual winner.

9. What is a Comma Splice?
 A comma splice is a sentence with two or
more independent clauses joined by only a
comma.
 Example: The book is inspirational, it
changed my life.

10. Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices:
1. Make Two Separate Sentences:
 Run-on: John mowed the lawn Alex raked
the leaves.
 Comma Splice: John mowed the lawn, Alex raked
the leaves.
 Correction: John mowed the lawn. Alex raked
the leaves.
 Correction: John mowed the lawn, and Alex
raked the leaves.

11. Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices:
2. Use Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction:
 Run-on: Julie is not my sister she is my
cousin.
 Comma Splice: Julie is not my sister, she is my
cousin.
 Correction: Julie is not my sister, but she is my
cousin.

12. Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices:
3. Use Semicolon to Connect the Sentences:
 Run-on: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful it
had multicolor stripes.
 Comma Splice: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful,
it had multicolor stripes.
 Correction: The clown’s jumpsuit was colorful;
it had multicolor stripes.

13. Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices:
4. Use a Conjunctive Adverb with Appropriate
Punctuation:
 Run-on: We joined the group for dinner we
did not go to the concert afterward.
 Comma Splice: We joined the group for dinner, we
did not go to the concert afterward.
 Correction A: We joined the group for dinner;
however, we did not go to the
concert afterward.
 Correction B: We joined the group for dinner.
However, we did not go to the
concert afterward.

14. Correct Run-ons and Comma Splices:
5. Use Subordination:
 Run-on: The mother cat cleaned her
kittens they began to cry.
 Comma Splice: The mother cat cleaned her
kittens, they began to cry.
 Correction A: The mother cat cleaned her
kittens when they began to cry.
 Correction B: When they began to cry, the
mother cat cleaned her kittens.

15. Exercise Your Muscles:
Identify whether the following items contain
either a fragment, run-on, or comma splice:
1. Although he had promised that he would.
2. Here comes Mr. Timmons, he’ll tell us where
the lecture is being given.
3. Making it impossible for us to see the road.
4. I love to relax on the sandy shore of Padre
Island it gives me a sense of peace.

16. Congratulations!
You have successfully completed Obstacle
Course: Fragments, Run-ons and Comma
Splices of Grammar Boot Camp.

17. Q: What is a Dependent Clause?
A: A dependent clause is a group of related
words containing a subject and a verb; it does
not, however, contain a complete thought.
Thus, it cannot stand alone. For more
information on dependent clauses, sign up for
Building Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of
Grammar Boot Camp.
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18. Q: What is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A: A subordinating conjunction is a word that links
sentence elements that are not of equal importance.
The following is a list of common subordinating
conjunctions:
after once until
although since when
as that whenever
because though where
before till wherever
if unless while
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19. Q: What is a Relative Pronoun?
A: A relative pronoun is a word that relates the
dependent clause to the independent clause
within a sentence. The following is a list of
relative pronouns:
who whoever what
whatever that whom
whomever whose whichever
which
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20. Q: What is an Independent Clause?
A: An independent clause is a group of related
words containing a subject, a verb, and a
complete thought. For more information on
independent clauses, sign up for Building
Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of Grammar
Boot Camp.
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21. Q: What is a Coordinating Conjunction?
A: A coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses as well as
other sentence elements of equal weight or function. The
following is a list of coordinating conjunctions, commonly
referred to as the “FANBOYS”:
for
and
nor
but FANBOYS (taken from the first letter of each word)
or
yet
so
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22. Q: What is a Conjunctive Adverb?
A: A conjunctive adverb indicates a relation between
independent clauses. The following is a list of
common conjunctive adverbs:
accordingly consequently indeed
also finally instead
anyway furthermore likewise
as a result hence meanwhile
besides however moreover
certainly incidentally nevertheless
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23. Q: What is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A: A subordinating conjunction is a word that links
sentence elements that are not of equal importance.
The following is a list of common subordinating
conjunctions:
after once until
although since when
as that whenever
because though where
before till wherever
if unless while
Return to presentation.