Fragments and Run-ons
A sentence fragment is created when a phrase (a group of words that lacks a subject and/or verb) is treated as a complete sentence.
- A clause that begins with a subordinating word (after, If, because, although, when, whether, since, though, unless, etc.) must be connected to an independent clause.
Fragment: I went to bed. After I walked the dog. “After I walked the dog” cannot function as a sentence on its own because it is dependent; in other words, it depends upon another clause to complete it.
Complete: After I walked the dog, I went to bed. ORI went to bed after I walked the dog.
- In order to be complete, a sentence must have a verb. Non-finite forms alone cannot make a sentence complete. (Non-finite refers to a verb that functions as an adjective, noun, or adverb).
Fragment: Ordering the pizza. “Ordering the pizza” is a noun phrase. As such, this phrase is missing an action (i.e. a main verb).
Complete: Ordering the pizza is David’s job.
A run-on or fused sentence is created when two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or a connecting word.
- Solution A – separating clauses into two sentences
Run-on: I see what you are saying this is beginning to make sense.
Correction: I see what you are saying. This is beginning to make sense.
- Solution B – using a comma + a coordinating conjunction
Run-on: Water color works well I prefer using pastels.
Correction: Water color works well, but I prefer using pastels.
- Solution C – using a semicolon.
Run-on: This building is getting old it’s time we found a new one.
Correction: This building is getting old; it’s time we found a new one.
Transition words alone cannot link two independent clauses. Any of the three options above can work to correct a run-on created by a transition word:
Run-on: I easily climbed the summit of Mt. Hood, however getting down was a different story.
Correction: I easily climbed the summit of Mt. Hood. However, getting down was a different story. OR I easily climbed the summit of Mt. Hood; however, getting down was a different story.
[divider top=”1″]Using Modifiers
A dangling modifier refers to a phrase or group of words that are not clearly modifying anything in the sentence.
Dangling modifier: Managing a store, life has been more stable for Lucy and her family. This is an issue of clarity: who is managing the store? The reader can speculate and infer, but the meaning is unclear.
Correction: Since Lucy became the manager of a store, life has been more stable for her and her family.
A disruptive modifier refers to a phrase that interrupts the flow of a sentence.
Disruptive modifier: The crayons, because they were left out on the table, were stolen.
Correction: The crayons were stolen because they were left out on the table. OR Because they were left out on the table, the crayons were stolen.
A misplaced modifier refers to a phrase or word that creates ambiguity because of its distance from the thing(s) it modifies in a sentence.
Misplaced modifier: I probably lost my bike that is usually next to my garage in the woods. This sentence is unclear because it could be the bike that is in the woods or the garage could be in the woods.
Correction: I probably lost my bike in the woods. It was next to my garage. OR I probably lost my bike, that was next to my garage, in the woods.
[divider top=”1″]Who vs. Whom
It may be difficult to tell when you should use who and when you should use whom, but there are some simple rules that can help you make this decision easily.
- The word who is used when in is the subject of a clause. There is a simple test that you can use to determine whether to use who. If you can phrase the who clause in a question form and then answer the question with a subjective pronoun (I, he, she, they, etc.) then you should use who.
I talked to a girl who/whom goes to school at DePaul.
Who goes to DePaul? She does. (You should use who).
- The word whom is used when it is the object of a clause. The simple test for using whom follows the same format as the test mentioned above. However, if you can answer the question with an objective pronoun (me, him, her, them, etc.) then you should use whom.
Who/whom does she like?
She likes him. (You should use whom).
- The final rule about using who or whom involves prepositions. You should use whom if it is the object of the preposition that comes before it.
To whom are you speaking?
For whom are these flowers?
[divider top=”1″]Count vs. Non-count Noun
A count noun is a noun that can be separated into specific things. This means that you could recognize them as distinct from a group.
The trees in the garden looked amber in the evening sun. (Each of the trees are separate, as in the garden, and the evening sun).
A non-count noun is something that is a mass of something, and is usually very difficult to separate into specific parts.
I went to the office to ask for some information about my town. (Information is given en masse and it is very difficult to distinguish one piece from another).
Unfortunately, there are nouns that can be used as both count and non-count nouns. You can determine whether the noun is count or non-count by looking at the context. Is the noun referring to a specific thing? Then it is probably count. Is it referring to an abstract idea or mass amount? Then it is probably non-count. Try to be aware of the nouns that can function as both.
I had many experiences when I was in France. (This noun refers to specific experiences that you had; therefore, it is count).
You will need experience if you wish to apply for this job. (This noun refers to the abstract concept of experience, which you are unable to separate. Therefore, it is non-count).
[divider top=”1″]English Verb Tenses
Simple Tenses
- Simple Present:
The simple present expresses events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.
It snows in Alaska. I watch television every day.
- Simple Past:
At one particular time in the past, this happened. It began and ended in the past.
It snowed yesterday. I watched television last night.
- Simple Future:
At one particular time in the future, this will happen.
It will snow tomorrow. I will watch television tonight.
The Progressive Tenses
(also known as the Continuous Tenses: Present Continuous, Past Continuous, and Future Continuous)
Form: be + -ing (present participle)
Meaning: The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress during a particular time. With these tenses, an action begins before, is in progress during, and continues after another time or action.
- Present Progressive:
He is sleeping right now. (His sleep began in the past, is in progress at the present time, and will probably continue.)
- Past Progressive:
He was sleeping when I arrived. (He was still asleep. His sleep began before we arrive and it will be in progress at a particular time in the future. Probably his sleep will continue.
- Future Progressive:
He will be sleeping when we arrive. (The action of sleeping will begin before we arrive and it will be in progress at a particular time in the future. Probably his sleep will continue.)
The Perfect Tenses
Form: have + past participle
Meaning: The perfect progressive tenses give the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, or until another time or event. The tenses are used to express the duration of the first event.
- Present Perfect Progressive:
I have been studying for two hours. (I started studying in the past. I could still be studying now.)
- Past Perfect Progressive:
I had been studying for two hours before my friend came. (Before another event in the past, I was studying. Now I am finished.)
- Future Perfect Progressive:
I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive. (Before another event in the future. The future event must occur for the action to be completed.)
Source: St. Martin’s Handbook, 5th and 6th editions
