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Avoid Fragments and Run-Ons | No Nonsense Grammar

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

Avoid Fragments and Run-Ons | No Nonsense Grammar

URL:

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/no-nonsense-grammar-fragments-pbs-learningmedia/avoid-fragments-and-run-ons-no-nonsense-grammar/

Content Source:

PBS

Type:

Audio/Video

Overview:

Sentence fragments can't stand alone, because they do not express a complete thought. Run-ons put two complete sentences together in one sentence without separating them.

This resource allows students to practice identifying run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and complete sentences.

Content Standard(s):

English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3

37. Compose simple, compound, and complex sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.

a. Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

b. Identify the subject and predicate of a sentence.

Unpacked Content

Teacher Vocabulary:

37.

Compose
Simple sentence
Compound sentence
Complex sentence
Subject-verb agreement

37a.

Sentence fragments
Run-on sentences

37b.

Identify
Subject
Predicate

Knowledge:

37. Students know:

A complete simple sentence includes a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought.
A complete compound sentence includes two subjects and two predicates and expresses two complete thoughts.
A complete compound sentence must include a coordinating conjunction to link the two complete thoughts.
A complex sentence expresses two thoughts, one complete thought and one incomplete thought, that are joined by a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
A subject and its verb must both be singular or both plural.

37a.

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that is missing either its subject or its main verb.
A run-on sentence occurs when multiple complete sentences are joined incorrectly or

37b.

A complete sentence has at least one subject and one predicate.
A subject is who or what the sentence is about, while the predicate describes the action of the subject.

Skills:

37. Students are able to:

Write simple sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.
Write compound sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.
Write complex sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.

37a.

Identify sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
Correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

37b.

Correctly identify the subject and predicate in a sentence.

Understanding:

37. Students understand that:

There are different types of sentences, and writers vary the types of sentences they use to create variety in their writing.
In all sentences, the subject must agree with the verb: singular subjects use singular verbs and plural subjects use plural verbs.

37a.

Sentence fragments and run-on sentences should not be included in academic writing, and they must be corrected when the occur.

37b.

Every complete sentence contains two parts: a subject and a predicate.

English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4

38. Compose complete sentences with correct subject-verb agreement, punctuation, and usage.

a. Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns.

Example: a small red bag rather than a red small bag

b. Form and use prepositional phrases and conjunctions.

c. Recognize and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

d. Use commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks correctly.

e. Use correct capitalization, including familial relations and proper adjectives.

f. Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Unpacked Content

Teacher Vocabulary:

38.

Compose
Complete sentences
Subject-verb agreement
Punctuation

38a.

Adjectives

38b.

Prepositional phrases
Conjunctions

38c.

Sentence fragments
Run-on sentences

38d.

Commas
Apostrophes
Quotation marks

38e.

Capitalization
Familial relations
Proper adjectives

38f.

References

Knowledge:

38. Students know:

A complete sentence has at least one subject and one predicate.
A subject and its verb must both be singular or both plural.
A complete sentence ends with an ending punctuation mark and there are other punctuation marks that may need to be included.

38a.

The English language orders adjectives within a sentence according to conventional patterns.

38b.

A prepositional phrase is a group of words consisting of a preposition, the object of the preposition, and any words that modify the object.
A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses and indicates the relationship between the joined units; there are coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.

38c.

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that is missing either its subject or its main verb.
A run-on sentence occurs when multiple complete sentences are joined incorrectly without using a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation.

38d.

Commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks are punctuation marks that are used in writing for specific purposes.

38e.

Certain words in the English language are capitalized.

38f.

Phonics skills necessary to spell words correctly.
Correct spellings can be located in reference materials, such as dictionaries.

Skills:

38. Students are able to:

Write complete sentences with correct subject-verb agreement and appropriate punctuation and word usage.

38a.

Appropriate order adjectives within a sentence according to standard English conventions; for example, a small red bag rather than a red small bag.

38b.

Form and use prepositional phrases in writing.
Form and use conjunctions in writing.

38c.

Recognize sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
Correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

38d.

Use commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks correctly in writing.

38e.

Use correct capitalization, including familial relations and proper adjectives.

38f.

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly.
Consult references for correct spellings, if needed.

Understanding:

38. Students understand that:

The proper conventions of a complete sentence must be used to convey their intended meaning.

38a.

Ordering adjectives in a conventional manner helps their writing to be clearly understood by readers.

38b.

Prepositional phrases and conjunctions are used to expand or connect words, phrases, and sentences.

38c.

Sentence fragments and run-on sentences should not be included in academic writing, and they must be corrected when the occur.

38d.

Commas are a common punctuation mark used in writing for multiple reasons, such as to separate items in a series, before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence, or with direct quotations.
Apostrophes are used to form possessive nouns and contractions.
Quotation marks are used to show dialogue (speech) in text.

38e.

There are common capitalization rules to follow, such as capitalizing the first letter of a sentence, proper nouns, and the pronoun I.
There are less common capitalization rules, like capitalizing familial relations and proper adjectives.

38f.

To clearly communicate in writing, they must use correct spellings.
If they do not know how to spell a word, they can consult reference materials for assistance.

Tags:

Complete Sentence, Runon Sentence, Sentence Fragment, Sentence Structure

License Type:

Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#permitted
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings

Comments

This resource includes supporting materials for teachers and students.

This resource provided by:

Author:

Jessica Byrd

ALEX Classroom Resource

Avoid Fragments and Run-Ons | No Nonsense Grammar