Functional English

Ms. Sadaf Fatima

Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’
You can start a sentence with
because, as long as you make sure
to fully complete the sentence. One
clause beginning with the word
because does not constitute a
sentence.
Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’
 These are fragments:

 X Because the newspapers reported it.

X Because the river ran dry.
Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’
You can start a sentence with
because if you follow it with a
complete independent clause.
Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’
 These are complete sentences:
  Because the newspapers
reported it, the neighbors
believed it.
  Because the river ran dry, the dam
would no longer provide
electricity.
 Comma Splices
 Comma Splices

A comma splice is a type of run-

on whereby two independent
clauses—or complete
sentences—are incorrectly
joined by a comma.
 Comma Splices
Example
Today I am tired, I will
take a nap later.
 Comma Splices
Grammatical Error: This
comma splice has two
independent clauses or
complete sentences joined
incorrectly by only a comma.
 Comma Splices
 Reasoning: The first part of the
sentence ("Today I am tired") is an
independent clause or complete
sentence, and the second phrase ("I will
take a nap later") is also an
independent clause or complete
sentence. The two sentences need to be
joined by more than just a comma.
 Comma Splices
There are three ways to
correct a comma splice,
and they are similar to the
three ways of correcting a
run-on.
 Comma Splices
Corrected Example
1. Replace the comma with a
period and make two different
sentences.
Today I am tired. I will take a
nap later.
 Comma Splices
2. Join the two sentences
correctly by adding a
coordinate conjunction
after the comma.
Today I am tired, so I will
take a nap later.
 Comma Splices
3. Join the two separate
sentences correctly by
inserting a semi colon (;).
Today I am tired; I will
take a nap later.
 Fragments
A fragment is an incomplete
sentence. It is missing one or more
of the following parts:
a subject
a verb
a coherent thought
 Fragments
 Example #1

Yesterday, while I was driving to

work and saw a bird in the
middle of the road out in the
storm.
 Fragments
 Grammatical Error: This sentence fragment does not
contain an independent clause because of the word
"while." Therefore, it does not contain a complete
thought even though there is a subject and a verb.
 Fragments
 Reasoning: This sentence fragment does not tell you
what happened when you saw a bird sitting in the
middle of the road out in the storm.
 Fragments
 Example #1 (corrected)

 Yesterday, while I was driving to work and saw a

sitting bird in the middle of the road out in the
storm, I thought it must have wandered away
from its nest.
 Fragments
 Example #2

 When I went to the movies last week

and I ran into a friend.
 Fragments
 Grammatical Error: This sentence
fragment does not contain an
independent clause because of the
word "when." Therefore, it does not
contain a complete thought even
though there is a subject and a verb.
 Fragments
Reasoning: This sentence
fragment does not tell you what
happened when you went to the
movies last week and ran into a
friend.
 Fragments
 Example 2 (corrected)

When I ran into a friend at

the movies last week, I
suggested we sit together.
 Fragments
Select the choice that tells
whether the clause is a fragment
or a complete sentence.
 Fragments
 1.) While I was driving to work and there was
an accident on the road.

 a.) Complete Sentence

 b.) Fragment
 Fragments
Fragment
 Fragments
2.) When I took my exam today, I
was very nervous.

a.) Complete Sentence

b.) Fragment
 Fragments
 Complete Sentence
 Fragments
 3.) Wherever I go, I take my cell
phone with me.

 a.) Complete Sentence

 b.) Fragment
 Fragments
a.) Complete Sentence
 Fragments
 4.) If I don't take my cell phone, and
I need to make a call.

 a.) Complete Sentence

 b.) Fragment
 Fragments
b.) Fragment
 Run-on Sentences

A run-on contains two

independent clauses combined
without proper punctuation (or
two sentences in one).
 Run-on Sentences
Example #1 (run-on)
Today I am tired I will take
a nap later.
 Run-on Sentences
Grammatical Error: This run-on
has two separate independent
clauses, or complete sentences,
with no conjunction and no
punctuation.
 Run-on Sentences
 Reasoning: The first part of the sentence
"Today I am tired" is an independent clause
or a complete sentence, and the second
phrase "I will take a nap later" is also an
independent clause or a complete sentence.
Therefore, we have two sentences in one
without proper punctuation to connect
them.
 Run-on Sentences
There are three ways to
correct a run-on:
 Run-on Sentences
1. Separate the run-on by making
two different sentences.
Today I am tired. I will take a
nap later.
 Run-on Sentences
2. Join the two sentences
correctly by adding a comma
and a coordinate conjunction.
Today I am tired, so I will
take a nap later.
 Run-on Sentences
 3. Join the two sentences correctly by
inserting a semi colon (;).
Today I am tired; I will take a nap
later.
 Run-on Sentences
 1.) My academic advisor told me not to
take 18 credit hours for the fall semester
I'm regretting not having listened to her.
 a.) Run-on
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
 a.) Run-on
 Run-on Sentences
 2.) My cat was upset all day he didn't
get canned food for breakfast.
 a.) Run-on
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
a.) Run-on
 Run-on Sentences
 3.) Organizations that promise
students a scholarship if they pay an
extraordinarily high application fee
are most likely scams.
 a.) Run-on
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
 4.) Because Rose was late for the all-
you-can-eat buffet, she had to order
from the main menu.
 a.) Run-on
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
 b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences

5.) The student fell asleep in

class everyone thought this was
rude behavior.
a.) Run-on
b.) Complete sentence
 Run-on Sentences
a.) Run-on