SENTENCE ERRORS
Sentence errors- are minor lapses committed by writers
when they construct their sentences.
- In general, for every sentence structure, there is
a corresponding sentence error that may be
overlooked; therefore, they should be avoided.
- The more complicated the sentence structure
becomes, the more complicated the sentence
error could be.
SENTENCE ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
- A sentence no matter what the structure is should
have a subject and a predicate; moreover, the
absence of one is already considered an error.
1. Fragments- are sentence errors usually
committed in simple sentences; they are groups
of words that are missing either a subject, a
predicate or sometimes both.
Practice 1: Decide whether the given item is a sentence
or a fragment.
1. Important movements have taken place.
2. The eventful period of First World War.
3. Writers have become much involved with
interpreting life around them.
4. Leading authors tend to experiment.
5. With radical innovations and techniques.
6. In the field of drama.
7. The World War II experiences of the playwrights.
8. The tendency turned towards realism.
9. From their perceptions of reality to their
daydreams, grievances, obsessions, and
ambitions.
10. This literary trend is aptly illustrated in Tennessee
Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie”
11. In poetry, authors showed diversity in styles.
12. Some poets, namely Edward Arlington Robinson.
13. Were very successful in different traditional
styles.
14. The fiction and non-fiction also tended toward
realism and naturalism.
15. Their words voiced reaction to changing times.
2. Run-ons- are sentence errors committed in
compound sentences; they are two independent
clauses that are joined together without following
the three rules in constructing compound
sentences.
- The two types of run-ons are fused sentences
and comma splices.
- Fused sentences are two independent clauses
roughly joined together without anything in
between.
Practice 2: Decide whether the given compound
sentences is correct or an example of a
fused sentence.
1. Nicholai is happy; a part tells him not to feel
that way.
2. Ria makes him happy he does the same to
her.
3. She bought a new phone she lost it
yesterday.
4. She is popular among students; teachers
hate her.
5. Mary and Jonah are neighbors they go to the
same school.
- Comma-splice are two independent clauses
roughly joined by a comma only.
Ex. The house was cold, the sun soon warmed it up.
Practice 3: Decide whether the given compound
sentence is correct or a comma-splice.
1. Marco is a freshman, and he studies in UST.
2. The students insulted the teacher; they were
suspended.
3. Reane and Karla are friends, but they had a big
fight yesterday.
4. My mother woke up late; as a result, she was
reprimanded by her employer.
5. J.K. Rowling is a good author, there are flaws in
her novel.
SW1: Identify whether the error committed is run-on or
comma-splice. Write your answers on a ¼ sheet
of business paper.
1. He is a constant victim at work he doesn’t care.
2. My brother bought some stamps yesterday he
mounted them in his stamp collection.
3. She always want to exert her authority,
everybody despises her.
4. Mr. Letargo received an anonymous letter it
contained specific clues to know the sender.
5. On Monday, Jo has band practice, she lays the
trumpet.
6. I play the piano for many musicals moreover I
give lessons to twenty students.
 SENTENCE ERRORS
7. The electricity went out, I searched for the
candles.
8. I lost the first chess game but I won the second.
9. The wind is strong, it is raining hard.
10. Jess went to the bar, she did not see her brother.
3. Misplaced Modifiers- are sentence errors
committed in all sentence structure, because they
are modifiers that seem to modify another word in
the sentence and not the word that they should
truly modify.
- A modifier may be a phrase or a dependent
clause.
Ex.
1. Correct: The chair in the corner is flimsy
Misplaced: The chair is flimsy in the corner.
2. Correct: We flew a plane with twin engines.
Misplaced: With twIN engines, we flew a plane.
3. Correct: I sent my cousin in Detroit new pictures.
Misplaced: I sent my cousin new pictures in
Detroit.
4. Correct: The water rose over the bridge.
Misplaced: The water over the bridge rose.
5. Correct: The boy in the corner hid the box.
Misplaced: The boy hid the box in the corner.
6. Correct: The student who came late was sent to
her.
Misplaced: The student was sent to her who
came late.
7. Correct: James, whose adviser is Ms. Malvar,
Lost his I.D.
Misplaced: James lost his I.D., whose adviser is
Ms. Malvar.
8. Correct: My parents prefer a radio station that
plays nothing but classical music.
Misplaced: My parents that play nothing but
classical music prefer a radio station.
9. Correct: Her boss knows the person who sent it,
but she is still waiting for the decision of
the ruling body.
Misplaced: Her boss knows the person, but
she is still waiting for the decision of
the ruling body who sent it.
10. Correct: The package that was sent came from
the store.
Misplaced: The package came from the store
that was sent.
SW2: On a ½ sheet crosswise of a business paper,
rewrite the sentences to correct the underlined
misplaced modifiers.
1. The pianist played a new composition sitting on
the piano bench.
2. Turning green, I watched the lights.
3. We boarded the train with three suit cases.
4. We heard that the bus crashed in the radio.
5. I arranged the flowers for my mother using the
new vase.
6. Cranky and tired, I put the baby down for a nap.
7. The seals looked hopefully at us desiring more
sardines.
8. Growling with hunger, I listened to my empty
stomach.
9. We heard that a forest fire, while preparing to go
on a vacation, had started nearby.
10. Barking loudly at the squirrel, I frowned at the
dog.
4. Dangling Modifiers- are modifiers that are
hanging because they exist in the sentence but it
seems that the word they should modify is not
around.
Ex.
1. Sitting on the piano bench, a new
composition was played.
2. With three suitcases, the train was boarded.
3. Using the new vase, the flowers were
arranged.
4. Playing football all afternoon, my homework
remained unfinished.
5. Wrapped in my blanket, the cold was no
problem.
6. After examining the evidence, the defendant
was released.
7. Cutting out all the wordiness, the essay was
improved.
8. Waiting for an hour, a fish was caught.
9. Passing through the hallway, a blue car was
seen.
10. Loud and proud, a roaring laughter was
made.
Practice 4: Correct the sentences above by adding the
word to be modified by the dangling modifier..