Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?

key notes :

Understanding a Complete Sentence:

  • A complete sentence has a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject is doing or what is happening).
  • Example: “The cat runs.” (Subject: The cat; Predicate: runs.)

What Makes a Sentence Complete:

  • Begins with a capital letter.
  • Ends with punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation point).
  • Expresses a complete thought that makes sense on its own.

Introduction to Run-on Sentences:

  • A run-on sentence occurs when two or more sentences are combined without proper punctuation or connecting words (conjunctions like “and”, “but”, or “because”).
  • Example of a run-on: “The cat runs the dog barks.”
  • Run-ons can be confusing because they don’t give the reader a chance to pause.

Identifying Run-on Sentences:

  • Teach students to listen for when a sentence seems too long or doesn’t make sense as they read it aloud.
  • Look for missing punctuation or words that seem out of place.

Fixing Run-on Sentences:

  • Separate the run-on into two complete sentences.
    • Example: “The cat runs. The dog barks.”
  • Use a conjunction to connect related ideas.
    • Example: “The cat runs, and the dog barks.”

Let’s practice! ✍️