Complete Sentences, Sentence Fragments, and Run-on Sentences

A complete sentence expresses a thought or idea.

A complete sentence must have a subject and a predicate. ​

​Subject

​Predicate

The subject is a noun that tells whom or what the sentence is about.

​Subject

The predicate is the action verb or links the subject by telling what the subject is.

​Predicate

A fragment is missing a subject or a predicate so it does not express a complete thought.

This sentence is missing a subject.

​Predicate

Fragments are dependent clauses by themselves.

They are corrected by adding an independent clause.

​Dependent Clause

​Independent Clause

A run-on sentence is two incorrectly connected independent clauses.

​Independent Clause

​Independent Clause

I was hungry, so I ate lunch.​

I was hungry;​ I ate lunch.

I was hungry before I ate lunch. ​

Run-on sentences can be corrected with:

• A period

• A comma and a coordinating conjunction

• A semicolon

• A subordinating conjunction​

​

I was hungry, so I ate lunch.​

​

I was hungry;​ I ate lunch.

​

I was hungry before I ate lunch. ​

Subordinating Conjunction

Comma and Coordinating Conjunction

Semicolon

Period