Errors in Sentences OBJECTIVES By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to: 1. identify fragment sentences in English. 2. recognize comma splice, run-on, and parallel structures in a text. 3. write to avoid fragment sentences, comma splice, parallelism (shift), and Tun-on sentences.Sentence Fragment: What is it? 1. A Sentence fragment is a word group that lacks a subject or a verb and /or one that does not express a complete thought. 2. Sentence fragment is an error that occurs when incomplete sentences are punctuated as though they were complete sentences. 3. A sentence fragment is a group of words-a phrase or a dependent clause that is punctuated like a sentence. It however does not express a complete thought or ideaSentence Fragment Cont. Every sentence must have a subject and a verb and must express a complete thought. Aword group that lacks a subject or a verb and fails to express a complete thought is a fragment. Let us look at these examples. 1. When | was going home. 2. By the coconut tree.Activity Working with a partner or group, correct the following fragments: 1. Whenever | am waiting for an important phone call 2. If | can finish writing my paper tonight. | can go to the gym with you tomorrow. 3. At the end of the movie, when the battle began. 4. Although | had never played soccer before.Sentence Fragment Cont. Let us consider the revised versions below: (a). When | was going home. (Fragment) (b). When I was going home, | met the doctor. (revised) Example (a) is a fragment and example (b) is a complete sentence where the fragment has been joined to a main clause, which is underlined, to give it a complete thought.Let us also consider the second fragment | gave as an example earlier. By the coconut tree. ( fragment ) Lhid the money by the coconut tree. (revised)Sentence Fragment Cont. You may have noted that | placed the main clause first before attaching the sentence fragment. On the whole, the revised sentence provides something meaningful, that which | call a complete thought. We expect that your essays or your writings should be free of sentence fragments since sentence fragments do not make a complete meaning.Types of Sentence Fragment Here are the most common types of sentence fragments. - dependent-word fragment - ing fragment - added-details fragment - missing-subject fragmentDependent-word fragment Some word group that begin with dependent words are fragments. When you start a sentence with a dependent word, be careful not to create a fragment. Examples: After | cashed my paycheck. | treated myself to dinner. (Fragment) After | cashed my paycheck, | treated myself to dinner. (Revised) | won't leave the house. Until | hear from you. (Fragment) | won't leave the house until | hear from you. (Revised) Until | hear from you, | won't leave the house. (Revised)Ing fragment When an ~ing word appears at or near the start of a word group, a fragment may result. Such fragments often lack a subject and part of the verb. Boatemaa walked all over the neighborhood yesterday. Trying to find her dog. Many people claimed they had seen it only hours before. Boatemaa walked all over the neighborhood yesterday ‘trying to find her dog. Many people claimed they had seen it only hours before. (Revised)Added-details fragment Added-details fragment lacks a subject and verb. They often begin with one of the following words: also, especially, like, including, except, for example, such as, etc. Before a race, | eat starchy foods. Such as bread and spaghetti. The carbohydrates provide quick energy. Before a race, | eat starchy foods such as bread and spaghetti. The carbohydrates provide quick energy. (Revised)Missing-subject fragment In each of the following sentences, underline the word group in which the subject is missing. - Akosua loved getting wedding presents. But hated writing thank-you notes. (Fragment) - Akosua loved getting wedding presents but hated writing thank-you notes (Revised) - Akosua loved getting wedding presents, but she hated writing thank-you notes. (Revised)- Tom has orange soda and potato chips for breakfast. Then eats more junk food, like root beer and cookies, for lunch. - Tom has orange soda and potato chips for breakfast. Then he eats more junk food, like root beer and cookies, for lunch.Correction of fragment sentences To correct fragment sentences, consider the following: 1. Check for a subject and a verb. The dog in the pet store window. (Fragment) The dog in the pet store window has eaten. (Revised) 2. -ing verb by itself cannot be the main verb in a sentence. Your sister having all the skills required of a good salesperson. Your sister has all the skills required of a good salesperson.Correction cont. 3. An infinitive (to plus a verb) cannot be the verb in a sentence. The manager of the store to attend the meeting of regional managers next month in Accra. (Fragment) ‘The manager of the store is io attend the meeting of regional managers next month in Accra. (Revised) 4. Group of words beginning with words like a/so, especially, expect, for example, in addition, moreover, furthermore etc. need subject and verb to make a sentence. Especially the youngest member of the group. (Fragment) For example, a person without a university degree. (Fragment) The group is vibrant especially the youngest member of the group. (Revised)Correction cont. 5. When a phrase is left to stand alone, it is phrase fragment. will soon be sleeping. inside the house. To correct phrase fragment, you need to supply the missing elements. The baby will soon be sleeping The missing necklace was found inside the house. 6. When a subordinate clause is left to stand alone, it is subordinate clause fragment. After the candidates arrive. After the candidates arrive, the inter hall debate will begin.Correction cont. 5. When a phrase is left to stand alone, it is phrase fragment. will soon be sleeping. inside the house. To correct phrase fragment, you need to supply the missing elements. The baby will soon be sleeping The missing necklace was found inside the house. 6. When a subordinate clause is left to stand alone, it is subordinate clause fragment. After the candidates arrive. After the candidates arrive, the inter hall debate will begin. The candidates arrive by limousineRun-on sentences: Definition Atun-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without the appropriate punctuation or the use of the correct conjunction. Rur-on sentences consist of two complete thoughts run together without adequate punctuation to signal the break between them. 1a. The bus stopped suddenly | found myself in an old man’s lap. 2a. We heard the noise in the garage two birds had flown in through the open window. 3a. Esther cleans her kitchen every week she shines every pot and pan. 4a. | studied for the test all weekend | am well prepared for it.Types of Run-on sentences Two types of Run-on sentences have been identified: 1, Fused sentence 2. Comma splices Fused sentences have no punctuation to mark the break between the two independent clauses whereas Comma splices are errors that occur when you punctuate with a comma instead of a period or a semicolon.Correcting Run-on sentences Here are the four common ways of correcting run-on sentences. 1. Use a period and a capital letter to separate sentences. The bus stopped suddenly. | found myself in an old man’s lap. 2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) The bus stopped suddenly, and | found myself in an old man's lap. 3. Use a semicolon to connect the two thoughts The bus stopped suddenly; | found myself in an old man's lap. 4. Use subordinating conjunction to join the two thoughts. When the bus stopped suddenly, | found myself in an old man’s lap.Activity Read the following sentences and correct all run-on errors. 1. The flower is the most important part of a plant it contains the seeds that enable the plant to reproduce. 2. Since | got my smart phone, | spent too much time texting my friends | hardly ever send e-mail anymore. 3. Charles peered into the microscope he saw only his own eyelashes. 4. Our science class is working on a weather project with students from Russia we communicate by computer almost every day.PARALLELISM Parallelism is a phenomenon which means that items in a series must be parallel or balanced. That's items arranged in series must. be of the same grammatical category; noun, verb, etc., same grammatical form in terms of number; singular and plural, aspect; Progressive and perfective, voice; active and passive, etc. and must perform the same grammatical function. For example: 1. Dancing, singing and writing are my hobbies. 2. To dance, to sing and to write are my hobbies. From these examples, you can see that parallelism involves matching the structures of parts of sentences.FAULTY PARALLELISM Faulty parallelism arises when the items arranged in series are of different grammatical forms and functions. For example: 1. Of all the sports I've played, | prefer tennis, handball, and playing golf. 2.Ghana exports, cocoa, minerals and timber (nouns).qqIf you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?AUTIVITY Read the following constructions carefully, and in the brackets in indicate whether they are Fragments, Run-on or Faulty Parallelism 1. John can neither speak fluent English nor writing well.(_—_) 2. When he turned he saw her out of the corner of his eye he was sick. (_) 3. The rain came in sheets the weather report said it would be dry.(_) 4. The President visited the United States, Germany and he visited France. C) 5. The class applauded Mary she had written a great paper.(_ ) 6. The student whose phone rang while the lecturer was teaching (_) 7. Whenever | see an airplane flying. ( ) 8. The only thing that matters in the life of astudent.(_) 9. To eat late in the night is as bad as staying all night to study.(_) 10. Friends advised him they said love at first sight was infatuation. (__)Shift constructions A shift in construction is an example of faulty parallelism. A shift is a sudden, unexpected change in point of view, verb tense, voice, or level of diction that may confuse your readers. Consider this text. A bank commonly owes more to its customers that is. held in reserve. They kept enough assets to meet reasonable withdrawals, but panicked customers may demand all their deposits. Then demand will exceed supplies, and banks failed. These days, a person's losses are not likely to be great because the government insures your deposits.Now, upon first reading, you may think that there is everything right with the short paragraph above but there are a lot of inconsistencies in the area of verb tense, person, and voice. Consider the revised paragraph A bank commonly owes more to its customers that it holds in reserve. lt keeps enough assets to meet reasonable withdrawals, but panicked customers may demand all their deposits. Then demands will exceed supplies, and the bank will fail. These days, the losses of customers are not likely to be great because the government insures their deposits.Shifts in Person Person in grammar refers to the distinction among the person talking (first person), the person spoken to (second person), and the person, object, or concept being talked about (third person). Most shifts in person occur because we can refer to people in general, including our readers, either in the third person (a person, one, people, they) or in the second person (you). Person shows the writer's point of view. The following examples share the same meaning but written from different points of view.People should not drive when they have been drinking. One should not drive when he or she has been drinking You should not drive when you have been drinking. Although any of the possibilities is acceptable in an appropriate context, a mixture of them is inconsistent: Shift’ | If aperson works hard, you can gain recognition. Revised: If you work hard, you can gain recognition. Revised: |f a person works hard, he or she can gain recognition. Better. _ If people work hard, they can gain recognition. The first sentence is a bad one because there is a shift in person. The three revised ones are good but the third revised one is better than all of them.Shifts in Number Number refers to the distinction between one (singular) and more than one (plural). Inconsistency in numbers occurs most often between a pronoun and its antecedent. For example: 1. If a student does not understand a lesson, they should consult ‘the instructor. (shift) 2. If students do not understand a lesson, they should consult the instructor. (revised) 3. Astudent who does not understand a lesson should consult the instructor. (revised)Shift in tense Maintain consistency in verb tense throughout a paragraph or an essay, unless the meaning requires you to change tenses. Changes ‘that are not required by meaning distract readers. For example: The virus mutated so quickly that it develops a resistance to most vaccines. (inconsistent) The virus mutates so quickly that it develops a resistance to most vaccines. (revised) The city’s crime rate continues to decrease, but experts disagreed on the reasons. (inconsistent) The city’s crime rate continues to decrease, but experts disagree on the reasons. (revised)Shift in Voice When a verb is in the active voice, the subject is the actor of the activity described by the verb and when a verb is in the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. Unnecessary shifts between the active voice and passive voice can disorient your readers and create confusion. Look at the following shifts. Internet newsgroups cover an enormous range of topics for discussion. Forums for meeting people with like interests are. provided in these groups. (inconsistent) Internet newsgroups cover an enormous range of topics for discussion, and provide forums for meeting people with like interests. (revised) The chapter outlines the research methodology, and also the analytical framework is discussed (inconsistent) The chapter outlines the research methodology and also discusses ‘the analytical framework.made farming impossible and many were forced to leave Okom village due to starvation. (ales ee farming impossible, and starvation forced many families to leave Okom village. (revised) In the sentences above, the inconsistent ones have shift in voice from the active voice to passive. Avoid such shifts in your sentences.Shift in Mood Mood indicates whether the sentence states a fact or asks a question (indicative mood), gives a command or direction (imperative mood), or expresses a condition or a suggestion (subjunctive mood). Shifts in the mood of verbs occur most frequently in directions when the writer moves between imperative mood and the indicative mood. For example: 1. Cook the mixture slowly, and you should stir it until the sugar is dissolved. (inconsistent) 2. Cook the mixture slowly and stir it until the sugar is dissolved. (revised)