Improving Sentence

Structure
Common Problems and Fixes

Different Problems in
Sentences
Fragments
Run-on sentences
Loose sentences
Choppy sentences

What a Sentence Is:

Sentences are composed of clauses.
Clause: a group of words including both a

subject and a verb.

Example: I slept.
Example: I slept like a log in the comfy bed.

Fragments of Sentences
This is where either the subject or the verb is

missing, so the sentence is not complete.

Example: The brown package by the door.
There is a subject, but no verb

Example: Jumping quickly.

There is a verb, but no subject

How to Fix a Fragment

Add in the part of the clause it is missing,

either a verb or a subject.

Example: The brown package by the door fell
over.
What is the verb?

Example: My dog is jumping quickly.

What/Who is the subject?

Run-on Sentences
A sentence can contain more than one

subject-verb clause. But its how we join them

together that can cause problems.
Two clauses that could stand on their own can
be joined into one larger sentence by inserting
a comma and using joining words like
conjunctions.

Two Clauses, a Comma, & a

Conjunction
I wanted to shop, so my bother drove me to

the store.
Two basic sentences are:
I wanted to shop.
My bother drove to the store.

The longer sentence was crated correctly, joined

by an inserted comma and the added
conjunction, so.

What about This?

He ate his lunch, I played ball.
Two separate clauses, each with a subject and

verb.
What is it missing?
This is known as a comma splice. These
separate sentences have nothing to join them
into one.

Run-on Sentence
Leaves out the comma and the conjuntion
He ate his lunch I played ball.
It doesnt show these are two separate

clauses, and doesnt have any dividing place

between them.

Fixing Run-on Sentences

Put a period instead of the comma (or lack of)

to make two complete sentences.

He ate his lunch. I played ball.

Insert the comma, and a joining conjunction.

He ate his lunch, and I played ball.

Conjunctions that Join Clauses

Coordinating conjunctions: join two clauses

that are independent enough that they could

stand alone.
And
But
For
Yet
So
Nor

What are Loose Sentences?

A clause has a subject and verb.
Independent clauses can be joined in a

sentence, but can stand alone as well.

Some clauses, subordinate clauses, join one
or more independent clauses in a sentence,
but could not stand on their own.
Loose sentences are sentences that have too
many of these subordinate clauses joined in
one sentence.

Correct Use of Different

Clauses
I love my cat, who sleeps near me at night.
I love my cat is independent; it can stand

alone.
Who sleeps near me at night cannot stand
alone.
It is a subordinate clause.

Subordinate Clauses
Joined by subordinate conjunctions: after,

before, whenever, because, if, while.

Joined by relative pronouns: which,
whoever, that, whose, who, whomever.
When you keep joining subordinate clauses
you create loose sentences.

Example of a Loose Sentence

I thought I was ready for the test but I failed

which meant I had to take a summer course

before I cold graduate which I didnt want to
do because I already had a summer job lined
up.
How many different clauses are in this

sentence?

Answer
6
Independent clause: I thought I was ready for the

test
Independent clause: I failed
Subordinate clause: which meant I had to take a
summer course
Subordinate clause: before I could graduate
Subordinate clause: which I didnt want to do
Subordinate clause: because I already had a
summer job lined up
How do you make it correct?

Usually you need to make it more than one

sentence.
I thought I was ready for the test, but I failed.
This meant I had to take a summer course
before I could graduate. I didnt want to do
this, because I already had a summer job lined
up.

Choppy Sentences
A series of a few short, blunt sentences that

appear one after another and create a choppy

impression.
They are boring to read because they are
simple and make the reader think you cant
express more complex ideas.

Paragraph of Choppy
Sentences
My grades werent good. I hadnt studied

enough. I have to work harder. My mom isnt

pleased. Shes hiring a tutor. That might
help.
This paragraph needs some variety in

sentence length!

A Better Paragraph
My grades werent good, because I hadnt

studied enough. I really have to work harder.

My mom isnt pleased, so shes hiring a tutor,
and that might help.
Remember you want to keep your readers

interested and not put them to sleep!