LESSON 2.9
Grammar

Grades 1-3

When you check for fragments, try not to think.  Go by sound. If a group of words sounds like a sentence, then it’s usually a sentence. If it sounds funny, meaning awkward, then it’s probably a sentence fragment.

Sentence Busters

If a group of words begins with one of the following words, then it’s usually a fragment.  That’s why these are called “sentence busters”: they usually turn sentences into fragments.

  • After
  • Although/Though
  • Because/Since
  • Before
  • If
  • In order to
  • So that
  • Unless
  • Until
  • When/Whenever
  • Where/Whereas
  • While

Task 2.9.1 – Tandem

Sit in a way that your partner cannot see you, such as back-to-back. Person A will read List A.  Person B will write down whether it is a sentence (S) or a fragment (F).

List A

  1. If Fred can go.
  2. I will ask my mother.
  3. Turnips have an awful.
  4. Cats chase rats
  5. Sixty-six pencils, 22 pens, and enough paper so that each student has plenty.
  6. Because Sam is never right about carpentry.
  7. Winston always runs.
  8. Bananas that have not been peeled.
  9. She is always angry.
  10. The mice in the attic.

Now Person B will read List B.  Person A will write down whether it is a sentence (S) or a fragment (F).

List B

11. A circus was in town yesterday.
12. Jessica yelled.
13. The color yellow is without a doubt.
14. Whenever Jackson was supposed to turn in a paper.
15. The third planet from the sun.
16. The desk with the broken leg.
17. Unless Roberta brings her permission slip on time tomorrow.
18. A cry flew up from behind the chicken coop.
19. Ask me tomorrow.
20. The baby gurgled.

Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences are sentences that are run together. There are two types:

  1. Sentences run together without punctuation.
  2. Sentences run together with a comma.

Textbooks often give us several ways to fix run-ons. The easiest way, however, is to make two sentences.  Good writing usually has short sentences. They are easier to read and understand.

Task 2.9.2 – Tandem

Determine if the following are run-on sentences. Fix them if they are.