How to Write Complete Sentences
Complete Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons
How to Write Complete Sentences
Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.
Common Core Language Standard 1
One interesting fact about writing instruction is that teachers will teach students all the writing rules, but once students have mastered them, those same students will be encouraged to break many of them. Teachers will require students to write in complete sentences and revise fragments, but will read novels and poetry in which the professional authors intentionally use fragments. Perhaps it’s best to understand writing as purpose-driven. If the purpose of the writing is to inform or argue, complete sentences must be the norm. If the purpose is to tell a story or give a speech, then intentional fragments and even sentence run-ons may be appropriate and more life-like. The guiding principle should be to equip students to write such that rules are intentionally, and not unintentionally broken.
Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on complete sentences, fragments, and run-ons. Remember that we always use complete sentences in formal writing. In informal writing, authors sometimes use intentional fragments for literary effect.
Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.
A complete sentence has three characteristics: 1. It tells a complete thought. 2. It has both a subject and a predicate. 3. It makes the voice drop down at the end of a statement or go up at the end of a question.
A fragment is only part of a complete sentence. A sentence fragment is usually a dependent clause (a noun and verb that does not express a complete thought). Example: Once I found out.
To fix a sentence fragment, combine the dependent clause with an independent clause. Example: Once I found out, I was shocked.
A run-on joins two independent clauses without a conjunction or a semicolon. Example: She is pretty, she is also smart.
To fix a run-on, join the independent clauses with a comma-conjunction or semicolon, or change one of the independent clauses to a dependent clause.
Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.
Practice: The homeless man, he was hungry. Because he had no money.
Let’s check the Practice Answers.
Grammar and Usage Practice Answers:
The homeless man was hungry because he had no money to buy food.
or
Because he had no money to buy food, the homeless man was hungry.
or
Hungry, the homeless man had no money to buy food.
Now let’s apply what we have learned.
Writing Application: Write your own sentence fragment and sentence run-on.
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