Run-Ons & Fragments
Identify if the following is a sentence, fragment or run-on.
Dropping the beach umbrella.
This is a FRAGMENT.
Is a comma needed? If so, where?
I went to school so I could learn.
The comma is needed after school.
Tip: It is a compound sentence because it has a complete sentence to the left and to the right of the FANBOY "so."
What resource can help you with spelling questions?
The resource that will help me is the dictionary.
Tip: You should always look in the dictionary when you change one word for another word on the STAAR test.
Don't forget, the green dictionary has grammar tips in the back!
What needs to be capitalized in this sentence?
When will dad return from the gym?
Capitalize the word dad.
Rule: Capitalize relationship words if you can substitute with someone's name.
When will Dad return from the gym?
When will John return from the gym?
What is ROFA?
R = Read the prompt.
O = Circle the "Write about" sentence.
F = Flip it into a question.
A = Answer the question to create the controlling idea sentence.
Identify if the following is a sentence, fragment or run-on.
Plans to become a nurse.
This is a FRAGMENT.
The acronym "FANBOYS" stands for these words.
FANBOYS stands for the following words:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so
What change should be made in the following sentence?
To many people go to this school.
You should change to to too.
Tip: To, too, and two are homophones. They sound the same but are spelled differently. If you are unsure which to choose, look in the dictionary.
What needs to be added to this sentence?
Rosalin yelled, "I won the lottery!
Add quotation marks (") after !
Whatever words are spoken must have quotation marks at the front and back of the words spoken.
Where is the actual prompt in an expository essay prompt (Read, Think, or Write)?
The actual prompt that you must write your essay about is the "WRITE" section.
Identify if the following is a sentence, fragment or run-on.
After the pizza came out of the oven, we ate dinner and made cookies.
This is a SENTENCE.
Does there need to be a comma in this sentence? If so, where?
Spiderman is my favorite superhero because he is clever.
No, there is no need for a comma when the AAAWWUBBIS (because) is in the middle of a sentence.
What's wrong with this sentence?
Why did Sarah skip detention.
You should put a question mark at the end of the sentence because it is asking something.
Why did Sarah skip detention?
What corrections should be made in the following sentence?
There going to park there car over there.
The first "There" should be "They're".
The second "there" should be "their".
The last there is correct.
They're going to park their car over there.
What must you include in your conclusion paragraph?
You must add a controlling idea sentence in the conclusion.
Identify if the following is a sentence, fragment or run-on.
A new movie opened on Friday our family plans to see it this weekend.
This is a RUN-ON.
Does there need to be a comma in this sentence? If so, where?
While you were gone I cleaned your room and the kitchen as well.
Yes, a comma belongs after the word gone.
Tip: This is a complex sentence starting with an AAAWWUBBIS word. A comma always goes after the dependent clause where it pauses and an independent clause begins.
What change should be made in this sentence?
Yesterday, I buy five flowers for my mom.
Change buy to bought.
Rule: Since it happened yesterday, the verb should be past tense.
What corrections should be made to the following sentence?
The bowl of grapes were placed on the table.
Change were to was.
Rule: The subject and verb must agree. Bowl is the subject (not grapes), so it needs the singular subject was.
The bowl of grapes was placed on the table.
What must you do at the beginning of each new paragraph?
You must indent (go in about 5 spaces).
Identify if the following is a sentence, fragment or run-on.
The doctor opened the door and a cat ran into the hospital and it chased a nurse down the hallway.
This is a RUN-ON.
Is a comma needed in this sentence? If so, where?
During the hurricane I traveled to my sister's town Smithville Texas.
Commas are needed after hurricane, town, and Smithville.
Tip: During the hurricane is an introductory phrase. A comma is needed before the ending appositive (interrupter). A comma is also needed to separate a city from its state.
What change is needed in this sentence?
Peter piper pizza is so much fun!
Capitalize Peter Piper Pizza. It is the name of a restaurant.
What should be capitalized in this sentence?
The book, number the stars, is about the holocaust.
Capitalize number, stars, and holocaust.
Rule 1: Capitalize book titles except unimportant words like "the" or "and" in the middle.
Ex: Number the Stars or The Boy in Striped Pajamas
Rule 2: Capitalize famous events such as Holocaust or Civil War.
1. What must you do before you write your essay to help you organize your thoughts?
2. What must you do after you write your essay?
1. Create a graphic organizer.
2. Reread several times to make your essay better. This is called "revise and edit".