Sentence structure & punctuation · Topic 12 of 17

Sentence Types, Fragments & Run-ons

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Grammar · sentence structure

Count the clauses to name a sentence type. A fragment is missing a piece; a run-on or comma splice joins two sentences wrongly.

01 · FragmentFragment = no subject, verb or full thought

02 · Run-onComma splice = 2 sentences + only a comma

03 · The fixFix: period · ; · comma + FANBOYS · because

Name the type by its clauses: simple 1 · compound 2+ · complex 1 + a dependent must know

A fragment lacks a subject, a full verb or a complete thought: ✗ Because the bus was late. must know

Run-on = clauses fused; comma splice = clauses joined by a comma alone: ✗ I ran, I fell must know

Compound-complex = 2+ independent + a dependent: When it rang, Ana woke, but Ben slept

Purposes: declarative (.) · interrogative (?) · imperative (command) · exclamatory (!)

Fix: period, semicolon, comma + FANBOYS, or because/although: I ran, but I fell must know

Fix a fragment by attaching it or adding what is missing: We left early because it rained

✗ The clinic opened early, it closed at noon → ✓ … early, but it closed at noon

✗ We left early. Because it rained. → ✓ We left early because it rained.

Dependent clauses open with because, when, if, since, who, which: when it rained

Commonly confused

	Fragment	Run-on / comma splice
The problem	Too little: no subject, no full verb, or an unfinished thought	Too much: two independent clauses joined wrongly
Looks like	Because the bus was late.	The bus was late, we missed class.
Fix	Attach it to a nearby sentence or add the missing part	Period, semicolon, comma + FANBOYS, or a subordinating word
Quick test	Could it stand alone as a full thought? No	Could each half stand alone? Yes, both

Two subjects or two verbs can still be one simple clause: Ana and Ben washed and dried

A command is complete; its subject “you” is understood: Close the door.

Usual fragments: a lone because-clause or an -ing/to phrase: ✗ Hoping for a raise.

A comma before however still splices; use a semicolon: I studied; however, I failed

Long is not the same as run-on: a 40-word sentence can be correct; “I ran I fell” is not

Compound links: comma + FANBOYS, or a semicolon: It rained, so we stayed in

Show 2 more facts

The dependent clause can lead or follow: If it rains, we stay in / We stay in if it rains

A detached which-clause is a fragment too: She sent the report, which her boss praised

Pearl

Too little is a fragment; too much, badly joined, is a run-on.

Practice this topic, then test the whole section.

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