Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?

Key Notes:

Complete Sentences

1. Definition: A complete sentence expresses a complete thought and has at least a subject and a predicate. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a punctuation mark (e.g., period, question mark, exclamation point).
2. Components:
   • Subject: Who or what the sentence is about (e.g., “The dog”).
   • Predicate: What the subject is doing (e.g., “barked loudly”).
3. Examples:
   • “She went to the store.”
   • “The sun is shining.”
4. Punctuation: Ensure that each complete sentence ends with appropriate punctuation.

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Run-On Sentences

1. Definition: A run-on sentence is a grammatical mistake where two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined together without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
2. Types of Run-On Sentences:
   • Fused Sentence: Two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation.
     • Example: “I went to the park I saw a movie.”
   • Comma Splice: Two independent clauses are joined by just a comma, without a coordinating conjunction.
     • Example: “I went to the park, I saw a movie.”
3. How to Fix Run-On Sentences:
   • Separate Clauses: Use a period or a semicolon.
     • Example: “I went to the park. I saw a movie.”
   • Use a Comma with a Coordinating Conjunction: Use a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
     • Example: “I went to the park, and I saw a movie.”
   • Use a Semicolon: Join the independent clauses with a semicolon.
     • Example: “I went to the park; I saw a movie.”
4. Practice Identifying: Provide students with sentences to practice identifying whether they are complete or run-on. For example:
   • Complete: “The cat sat on the mat.”
   • Run-On: “The cat sat on the mat it looked very comfortable.”

Let’s try some problems! ✍️