2016-07-05 Writing: run-on sentences

Greg Malivuk
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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Homework: p. 64 part B - Complete the sentences in your own way.
2 We are both tall, and we both have brown eyes and brown hair.
  (the comma before “and” means we must have a complete sentence; between two adjectives, we don’t use a comma before “and”: We are both tall and heavy.)
3 He is very creative, but he is very lazy too.
  He is very creative, but I’m not. (this makes the most sense in the context of the other sentences, which are about both brothers)
  He is very creative, but his attitude is very bad.
4 I was born a few minutes before my brother, so I’m older.
  I was born a few minutes before my brother, so we are twins. (if we don’t have the context of the other sentences)
5 “Stop fighting, or I’ll turn off the TV.” (She gave them the “choice” between fighting and TV.)
6 We fought a lot as children, but now we just sit and talk to each other.
  …, but now we’re grown up and we don’t do that any more.
  …, but now we get along really well. / now we are good friends. / etc.

ultimatum = a choice between doing what I tell you to do, or facing some negative consequence
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Basic types of sentence error:
too short (it’s missing something it should have) - sentence fragment
	My brother and I. (no verb)
	After I get home. (no independent clause)
	I will back my country soon. (no main verb)
too long (it has more than one sentence should) - run-on sentence or a comma splice
= Two independent clauses with nothing between them, or with only a comma between them.
	My brother and I are identical twins our personalities are very different. (run-on)
	My brother and I are identical twins, our personalities are very different. (comma splice)
	My father works in a bank my mother works at a hotel. (run-on)
	My father works in a bank, my mother works at a hotel. (comma splice)
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There are two simple ways to fix this kind of mistake:
add a conjunction: My father works in a bank and my mother works at a hotel.
		My brother and I are identical twins, but our personalities are very different.
	(this is best if there are two simple independent clauses)
make two sentences: My father works in a bank. My mother works at a hotel.

(The third option, especially with closely related sentences that might be connected with “and” or “so”, is to use a semicolon: I was born a few minutes before my brother; I am the older twin.)
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p. 65-66 practice 15 - With your partner, decide if each sentence is correct. If it’s not correct, fix it. (There might be at least two different ways to fix it.)
2 Salespeople are usually very outgoing; they like to talk with people.
  Salespeople are usually very outgoing. They like to talk with people.
  Salespeople are usually very outgoing, so they like to talk with people.
3 (correct)
4 News reporters need to work long hours under difficult conditions, but the job can be well-paid and full of excitement.
  News reporters need to work long hours under difficult conditions. On the other hand, the job can be well-paid and full of excitement.
5 (correct)
6 Vets need to love animals, and they must have excellent people skills, too.
  Vets need to love animals, but they must have excellent people skills, too.
  Vets need to love animals. They must have excellent people skills, too.
7 Successful politicians are usually very charismatic because voters need to trust them.
  Successful politicians are usually very charismatic. Voters need to trust them.
8 I want to be a psychologist, but I have to attend graduate school.
  I want to be a psychologist, so I have to attend graduate school.
9 (with “and” or “or”)
10 (best to separate into two sentences, or with “but”)