3. Fragments A fragment is a word group that might look like a sentence, but is not because it lacks a subject or a verb, and it does not express a complete thought. Ex: To cash his paycheque. After I stopped drinking coffee.
4. Correcting Fragments Most fragments can be corrected by correctly joining the word group with the sentence before or after it, or adding a subject and verb Ex: I spent all day in the employment office. Trying to find a job that suited me. Ex: I spent all day in the employment office, trying to find a job that suited me. Ex: I spent all day in the employment office. I was trying to find a job that suited me.
5. Run-Ons Run-ons are groups of complete thoughts that run together without correct separation or joining. Ex: My grades are very good this semester my social life rates only a C. (fused sentence) Ex: My grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C. (comma splice)
6. Four Ways to Correct Run-Ons 1. Use a period and a capital letter to break the two complete thoughts into separate sentences. Ex: My grades are very good this semester. My social life rates only a C. 2. Use a commaplus a joining word to connect the two complete thoughts. Ex: My grades are very good this semester, but my social life rates only a C.
7. Correcting Run-Ons 3. Use a semi-colon to connect the two complete thoughts. Ex: My grades are very good this semester; my social life rates only a C. 4. Use a dependent word to join the complete thoughts (subordination). Ex: Although My grades are very good this semester, my social life rates only a C.* Ex: My grades are very good this semester although my social life rates only a C. Ex: My grades are very good this semester; my social life rates only a C though. Ex: My grades are very good this semester although my social life rates only a C.*
8. Subject-Verb Agreement Singular subjects must take a singular verb. I walk fast, you walk fast, and he/she walks faster. Plural subjects must take a plural verb. We walk fast, and they walk fast too.
9. Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement. . . . . . usually occur in the following situations: 1. When words come between the subject and verb Ex: The noisy dogsin my neighbourhood get on my nerves. 2. When a verb comes before a subject Ex: On Bill’s doorstep were two police officers.
10. Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement. . . 3. With compound subjects Ex: MikeandSharonhave a lot of work to do. (compound subject = always plural) But: Ex: Either the students or the teachertakes a day off every month. (For “either/or,” “neither/nor,” or “not only/but” verb agrees with closest subject ) . 4. With indefinite pronouns (“-body,” “-one,” “-thing words,” and each, either, neither = always singular) Ex: Nobodyhas anything nice to say.
11. Pronoun Agreement and Reference Pronouns must agree with the noun they replace: NOT: The student forgot their homework. BUT: The student forgot his homework. It should be clear which noun a pronoun is referring to: Ex: Joe almost dropped out of high school because he felt they emphasized discipline too much. Ex: Joe almost dropped out of high school because he felt the teachers emphasized discipline too much.
12. Questions? Because the weather is bad, I have decided /am deciding / am going to stay home. because = dependent word however = conjunctive adverb I went to school, but the weather was rainy (and, or, but, for, yet, so, . . .) I went to school although the weather was rainy. (before, when, if, since, . . .) I went to school; however, the weather was rainy (therefore, nevertheless, . . .)
13. Practice Handouts Complete the practice handouts now and then check your work against the answer key provided.
