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Exercise : Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses

A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent clauses. You can usually fix the

error by changing the comma to a period and therefore making the two clauses into two separate

sentences, by changing the comma to a semicolon, or by making one clause dependent by

inserting a dependent marker word in front of it.

The following sentences in italics are incorrect. In the first question, fix the comma splice

1. Incorrect: I like this class, it is very interesting.

Repair the Fused Sentence

Fused sentences happen when there are two independent clauses not separated by any form of

punctuation. This error is also known as a run-on sentence. The error can sometimes be corrected

by adding a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two sentences.

2. Incorrect: My professor is intelligent I've learned a lot from her.

Fix the Sentence Fragment

Sentence fragments happen by treating a dependent clause or other incomplete thought as a

complete sentence. You can usually fix this error by combining it with another sentence to make a

complete thought or by removing the dependent marker.

3. Incorrect: Because I forgot the exam was today.

Answer : Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses

1. I like this class. It is very interesting.

-OR-

I like this class; it is very interesting.

-OR-

I like this class, and it is very interesting.

-OR-

I like this class because it is very interesting.

-OR-

Because it is very interesting, I like this class.

2. My professor is intelligent. I've learned a lot from her.

-OR-

My professor is intelligent; I've learned a lot from her.

-OR-

My professor is intelligent, and I've learned a lot from her.

-OR-

My professor is intelligent; moreover, I've learned a lot from her.

3. Because I forgot the exam was today, I didn't study.

-OR-

I forgot the exam was today.

Exercise : Sentence Fragments Exercise 1

The sentences below appeared in

papers written by students. Act as their

editor, marking a C if the sentences in

the group are all complete and an F if

any of the sentences in the group is a

fragment. Could you tell these writers

why the fragments are incomplete

sentences?

____ 1. Then I attended Morris Junior

High. A junior high that was a bad

experience.

____ 2. The scene was filled with

beauty. Such as the sun sending its

brilliant rays to the earth and the leaves

of various shades of red, yellow, and

brown moving slowly in the wind.

____ 3. He talked for fifty minutes

without taking his eyes off his notes.

Like other teachers in that department,

he did not encourage students'

questions.

____ 4. Within each group, a wide

range of features to choose from. It was

difficult to distinguish between them.

____ 5. A few of the less serious

fellows would go into a bar for a steak

dinner and a few glasses of beer. After

this meal, they were ready for anything.

____ 6. It can be really embarrassing to

be so emotional. Especially when you

are on your first date, you feel that you

should be in control.

____ 7. The magazine has a reputation

for a sophisticated, prestigious, and

elite group of readers. Although that is

a value judgment and in circumstances

not a true premise.

____ 8. In the seventh grade every

young boy goes out for football. To

prove to himself and his parents that he

is a man.

____ 9. She opened the door and let us

into her home. Not realizing at the time

that we would never enter that door in

her home again.

____10. As Christmas grows near, I

find myself looking back into my

childhood days at fun-filled times of

snowball fights. To think about this

makes me happy.

____11. Making up his mind quickly.

Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his

wife. Hoping she would accept his

apology.

____12. They were all having a good

time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best

friends had a little too much to drink.

____13. Although it only attained a

speed of about twelve miles an hour.

My old rowboat with its

three-horsepower motor seemed like a

high-speed job to me.

____14. With my brother standing by

my side, I reached for the pot handle.

Tilting the pot way too much caused

the boiling water to spill.

____15. The small, one-story houses

are all the same size and style. With no

difference except the color.

____16. Being a friend of mine like he

was when we first joined the soccer

team. Together we learned a lot.

Answer :

Exercise 1

Sentence Fragments

Incorrect parts are in italics with

justifications in bold.

F 1. Then I attended Morris Junior

High. A junior high that was a bad

experience. (dependent clause)

F 2. The scene was filled with beauty.

Such as the sun sending its brilliant

rays to the earth and the leaves of

various shades of red, yellow, and

brown moving slowly in the wind.

(dependent clause)

C 3. He talked for fifty minutes without taking his eyes off his notes. Like other teachers in that

department, he did not encourage students' questions.

F 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It was difficult to distinguish

between them. (no main verb)

C 5. A few of the less serious fellows would go into a bar for a steak dinner and a few glasses of

beer. After this meal, they were ready for anything.

C 6. It can be really embarrassing to be so emotional. Especially when you are on your first date,

you feel like you should be in control.

F 7. The magazine has a reputation for a sophisticated, prestigious, and elite group of readers.

Although that is a value judgment and in circumstances not a true premise. (dependent clause)

F 8. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and his

parents that he is a man. (dependent clause)

F 9. She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never

enter that door in her home again. (dependent clause)

C 10. As Christmas grows near, I find myself looking back into my childhood days at fun-filled

times of snowball fights. To think about this makes me happy.

F 11. Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would

accept his apology. (dependent clause)

F 12. They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a little too

much to drink. (dependent clause)

F 13. Although it only attained a speed of about twelve miles an hour. My old rowboat with its

three-horsepower motor seemed like a high-speed job to me. (dependent clause)

C 14. With my brother standing by my side, I reached for the pot handle. Tilting the pot way too

much caused the boiling water to spill.

F 15. The small, one-story houses are all the same size and style. With no difference except the

color. (dependent clause)

F 16. Being a friend of mine like he was when we first joined the soccer team. Together we learned

a lot. (dependent clause)

Exercise : Sentence Fragments Exercise 2

These paragraphs need proofreading for possible fragments. Use the space below each paragraph

for revising.

1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About

four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon,

the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club.

2. For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been

measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust

and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" being all levels of

government, and "quasi-political" churches, labor unions, large professional/business associations,

educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every

year since 1964.

3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children.

This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans feel they are better off

today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers

of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder. Adding

worse living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her

face. As if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and

experienced lots of things.

5. A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of

our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable. Just

hopefully assumes. Assumes through his past record as a politician, over the years' buildup of

experience and handling situations.

Answer : Sentence Fragments Exercise 2

Here are some suggested answers. Incorrect segments are in italics with justifications and

corrected sentences in bold. You may have had other solutions.

1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About

four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon,

the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club. (dependent clause)

How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About

four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon,

the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club, opened with the Star

Spangled Bannerand then America, the Beautiful.

2. For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been

measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust

and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" being all levels of

government, and "quasi-political" churches, labor unions, large professional/business

associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken

place every year since 1964. (no main verb)

For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has been

measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political trust

and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" refers to all levels of

government, and "quasi-political" includes churches, labor unions, large professional/business

associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken

place every year since 1964.

3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children.

This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans feel they are better off

today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers

of Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder. Adding

worse living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years. (dependent

clause)

For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's children. This

confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans feel they are better off today

than they were five years ago. A public-opinion analysis group has found that large numbers of

Americans, at some times and in some places, see themselves as lower on the ladder with worse

living conditions and anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her

face. As if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and

experienced lots of things. (dependent clause)

Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny look on her face,

as if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if she has seen a lot and

experienced lots of things.

5. A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of

our government. (no main verb)This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is

capable. Just hopefully assumes. (no subject)Assumes through his past record as a politician, over

the years' buildup of experience and handling situations. (no subject)

A president is an appointed leader, someone who is a decision maker in the executive branch of

our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is capable. This

just hopefully assumes so based on his past record as a politician, over the years' buildup of

experience and handling situations.

Exercise : Sentence Fragments Exercise 3

The following paragraph has no capital letters or periods to mark the beginnings and ends of

sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be needed to make

the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there are no fragments.

...

my brother was always my best friend when I was a child especially as we two were almost alone

in the world we lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country

whenever I think of him now I see a solemn, responsible boy a boy too old for his years who

looked out for me no matter what once there was a bully John Anson who looked enormous to me

though he was probably an average twelve-year-old John had it in for me because he liked Littice

Grant who liked me he decided to beat me up right before her eyes I was lucky my brother came

by he didn't interfere any he just stood there somehow though his presence gave me confidence I

licked the stuffing out of John Anson if my brother hadn't been there I don't think I could have

done it.

Answer : Sentence Fragments Exercise 3

Correct responses are in bold.

My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone

in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country.

Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his years, who

looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to

me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me because he liked

Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I was lucky my

brother came by. He didn't interfere any. He just stood there. Somehow, though, his presence gave

me confidence. I licked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been there, I don't

think I could have done it.