Sentence Validity
There are a few different ways that you can correctly join two independent clauses together to make one compound sentence.
1. Don't join them at all! This may be the easiest solution at times. You do not have to join the clauses together. Keep them separated by a period. Example Julia and Louise both like to eat pizza. They both love pepperoni. 2. Join the sentences with a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS: 3. Join the independent clauses with a semicolon. A semicolon on its own basically functions exactly the same way a period does. You can join the two clauses with a semicolon and nothing else. Example Julia and Louise both like to eat pizza; they both love pepperoni. 4. Join the sentences with a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb. Some of the most common conjunctive adverbs include however, nevertheless, therefore, moreover, and consequently. Different conjunctive adverbs show different relationships. For example, "however" and "nevertheless" imply a contrast, so use these if one sentence gives information that somehow contrasts the previous one. "Therefore" and "consequently" imply a cause-and-effect relationship. Use these when one sentence is a result of something the happened in the previous sentence. "Moreover" is used to indicate expand on the information given in the first sentence. Example Julia and Louise both like to eat pizza; moreover, they both love pepperoni. 5. Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent (or subordinate) clause. We will go into dependent clauses in more detail in a moment, but for now, this is what this solution would look like: Example Since they love pepperoni, both Julia and Louise like to eat pizza.
Comma Splices
A comma splice occurs when two complete independent clauses (full sentences) are joined together by a comma and nothing else. A comma can never join together two complete sentences on its own. When you see a sentence with a comma in the middle, check to see if there is a coordinating conjunction (see this article for more info) that joins the sentences together or if one of the clauses is a subordinate clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction. If not, the sentence is a run-on. Example She was offered the prestigious job, she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas.
What is a Fragment?
A fragment is an incomplete sentence. There are 6 main mistakes that can make a sentence a fragment: A "sentence" that lacks a verb A "sentence" that has an -ing or non-past tense -ed verb without a helping verb A "sentence" that lack a subject A "sentence" that begins with a subordinating conjunction and has no main clause A "sentence" that add details to the main clause, but is separated from it A "sentence" that has a nonessential clause or prepositional phrase and incomplete main clause
What is a Run-on?
A run-on is when two or more sentences run together and aren't separated by the correct punctuation. Some people think that "run-on" just means a really long sentence. This isn't true - you can have a very long sentence that is grammatically correct. This sentence is 239 words long but is not a run-on. There are three main types of run-ons: Comma splices Fused sentences Sentences joined by a conjunctive adverb and commas
1. Sentences that do not have a verb
Examples John, after winning the trophy. (What did he do?) Ten cakes and two dozen cupcakes. (What about them?) Next Tuesday. (What is next Tuesday?) To fix these kinds of fragments, you must add a verb to show an action or state of being. John, after winning the trophy, smiled. Ten cakes and two dozen cupcakes were prepared by the bakery. Next Tuesday is my birthday.
Specific Strategies for Fragments and Run-ons
Fragments and run-ons will most frequently be tested in Improving Sentences questions, though they will also sometimes appear in Identifying Errors and Improving Paragraphs. Use the following steps to approach a fragment or run-on question: 1. When you first read the sentence, make sure you can find the subject and correctly conjugated verb. Is this difficult? If you see a prepositional phrase, appositive, or a non-essential clause, cross it out. See if you have a correct sentence left over. 2. In both the original sentence and the answer choices, look for the telltale signs of a fragment or run-on error: -ed or -ing verbs. Check for appropriate helping verbs. Clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction. Check it is connected to a main clause. A separate sentence describing a previous sentence, with words like "for example." Conjunctive adverbs like "however" surrounded by commas A semicolon followed by a FANBOYS conjunction A single comma in the middle of the sentence - often a sign of comma splice 3. Immediately cross out any answer choices that make the above errors. 4. IMPORTANT: One almost sure sign of a mistake is a non-essential clause that is not immediately followed by a verb. If you see one of these, it is almost always a fragment that needs fixing. Examples My father, who is one of the greatest violinists in the world, and he plays the piano, as well. → FRAGMENT My father, who is one of the greatest violinists in the world, plays the piano, as well. → CORRECT 5. IMPORTANT: Watch out for commas separating two independent clauses (aka a comma splice). This is the most common type of run-on that you will see on the SAT. 6. Select a final answer choice that follows the above rules and also follows the standard style rules used on the Writing SAT: No unnecessary prepositions or articles Pronouns must have clear antecedents Use fewer gerunds and participles if possible No dangling or misplaced modifiers Choose the most concise option that is also grammatically correct.
Fused Sentences
Fused Sentences Fused sentences occur when two or more sentences run right into each other, with no punctuation at all. To recognize these, look to see if a sentence has two unconnected subjects and verbs without the necessary punctuation (see above for the correct ways to join two independent clauses). She was offered the prestigious job she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas.
Incorrectly Punctuated Conjunctive Adverbs
Joining two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb and commas is another recipe for a run-on. Conjunctive adverbs can only be used to connect two independent clauses in concert with a period or a semicolon. When you see a conjunctive adverb (however, moreover, nevertheless, therefore, consequently, etc.) with commas on either side of it, check whether it's being used to connect independent clauses on either side of it. If so, the sentence is a run-on. She was offered the prestigious job, however, she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas.
5. Look out for added detail fragments.
These constructions come after a complete sentence and give extra information, but they don't express a complete thought on their own. They usually begin with words like such as, including, and for example. If you see a "sentence" that begins with one of the above words or phrases, check to see if it has a subject and a verb. If the subject and verb are part of another sentence, then it is a fragment. Examples I enjoy seeing animals at the zoo. Such as monkeys, zebras, and lions. Julia enjoys watching anime. For example, YuYu Hakusho and Princess Mononoke. I like to eat sweets, such as: donuts, chocolate, and candy. These fragments can be fixed in several ways. The first is to add the detail fragment to the main sentence it is describing. I enjoy seeing animals such as monkeys, zebras, and lions at the zoo. Additionally, you can make a complete sentence out of the fragment by adding a subject and a verb. Julia enjoys watching anime. For example, she watches YuYu Hakusho and Princess Mononoke. When one of the words introduces a list with a colon, make sure that what comes before the colon can stand on its own as a complete sentence. I like to eat sweets: donuts, chocolate, and candy. Or you can make a sentence without the colon. I like to eat sweets, such as donuts, chocolate, and candy.
2. Sentences with a gerund or past participle and no helping verb.
These errors can be a bit more difficult to recognize. Whenever you see a gerund, an "-ing" verb, or a past participle, an "-ed" verb that doesn't seem to be describing the past tense, there MUST be a helping verb with it or another verb somewhere else in the sentence. If the sentence has neither, it's a fragment. Examples The children walking through the park. The paintings created by the students. Students studying every night for the SAT. The actress smiling at the crowd There are two ways to fix these kinds of fragments. The first is to add a helping verb or change the verb to another form. Examples The children were walking through the park. The paintings were created by the students. The students had been studying every night for the SAT. The actress was smiling at the crowd. <OR> The actress smiled at the crowd. The second way to fix these fragments is to use the -ing or -ed word as a participle - meaning that it is an adjective describing a noun in the sentence - and add a main verb. Examples The children walking through the park shouted with joy. The paintings created by the students were hung in the hallway. The students studying every night for the SAT were sleep deprived. The actress, smiling at the crowd, accepted the award.
4. A sentence is a fragment if it is a dependent or subordinate clause.
This means that it has both a subject and a verb in the correct form, but it begins with a subordinating conjunction and is not attached to another, main clause that is a complete sentence on its own. To recognize these errors, see if the sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction. Some common subordinating conjunctions include: after, although, as, as if, because, before, ever since, if, in order, just as, since, so that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whether, whereas, whichever, while. Examples While I was parking the car. When he finished baking cupcakes. Since she owns two horses. To fix these errors, you need to connect them to an independent clause — a complete thought that can stand on its own. Examples While I was parking the car, I saw a cat run across the driveway. When he finished baking cupcakes, I iced them. Since she owns two horses, she is going to give me riding lessons.
Correcting Run-ons
To fix run-ons, you will use the rules outlined above to correctly join two sentences: 1. Create two separate sentences. She was offered the prestigious job. She turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas. 2. Use a comma and FANBOYS conjunction. She was offered the prestigious job, but she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas. 3. Use a semicolon. She was offered the prestigious job; she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas. 4. Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb. She was offered the prestigious job; however, she turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas. 5. Re-write the sentence with a subordinate clause. Depending on the sentence, this may not always be as easily done, and may require extra work. Since she did not want to move to Texas, she turned down the prestigious job that she was offered. 6. If the two clauses have the same subject, join the sentences and remove the repeated subject. Notice that this way, you do not need a comma with your FANBOYS conjunction. She was offered the prestigious job but turned it down because she did not want to move to Texas.
3. A sentence is also a fragment if it lacks a subject.
To recognize this error, ask yourself: who is doing the action? Examples After reading all the assigned material. (Who read it?) Wanted to discuss her grades with the teacher. (Who wanted to?) Contemplating the meaning of life. (Who was?) You may notice that some of these examples also have errors we have already discussed. To fix these, we need to add a subject and make sure there is a correctly conjugated main verb. Examples Phil went to bed after reading all the assigned material. Amanda wanted to discuss her grades with the teacher. She was contemplating the meaning of life.
6. Some fragments will have a relative clause, appositive, or prepositional phrase with an incomplete main clause.
To spot these errors, cross out the relative clause, appositive, or prepositional phrase. Are you left with a complete sentence? Examples John, who won the trophy four years in a row. → John, who won the trophy four years in a row. (Missing verb) In the newspapers. → In the newspapers. (Missing subject and verb) The trophy, which was given to the person who could cook an omelette the fastest. → The trophy, which was given to the person who could cook an omelette the fastest. (Missing verb) Santa Claus, the jolly man in the red suit. → Santa Claus, the jolly man in the red suit. (Missing verb) To correct these errors, add a subject or a verb as needed. Make sure that if you eliminate the prepositional phrase or non-essential clause, that there is complete sentence left over. John, who won the trophy four years in a row, congratulated his competitors. John congratulated his competitors. = CORRECT John's victory was announced in the newspapers. John's victory was announced. = CORRECT The trophy, which was given to the person who could cook an omelette the fastest, was shaped like an egg. The trophy was shaped like an egg. = CORRECT Santa Claus, the jolly man in the red suit, ate all my cookies. Santa Claus ate all my cookies. = CORRECT Now you know the ways to fix incomplete sentences! Another common error that the SAT will test you on is whether you can recognize sentences that are incorrect because the clauses have been joined together incorrectly. Let's look at how to tackle these questions.
