Sentence Structure

Run-on sentences

There are 3 ways to correct a run-on sentence using ONLY punctuation.

Jeremy thinks he is very funny he loves to tell jokes.

1. Use a period (.)

2. Use a comma (,) and FANBOYS (for and nor but or yet so)

3. Use a semicolon (;)

These 3 punctuation marks all mean the same thing. They are interchangeable! In “grammar” terms, these three are used to separate an independent clause from an independent clause.

Sentence Fragment

You need to make sure that you don’t create fragments with the answer choices you choose. A complete sentence needs a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.

Modifier

A modifier adds a description and needs to be next to what it is modifying. 

For example, if I have the following introductory clause:

On the verge of winning the race, …

Whatever comes after the comma has to be who or what was winning the race!

Parallelism

When words have the same function in a sentence, they need to have the same form.

My brother is in the middle of packing for college, doing his laundry, and eating dinner! (They are all -ing words.)