UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY & EDUCATION

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BASIC WRITING
- COMMON SENTENCE
PROBLEMS -
Teacher: TRAN THI NHU TRANG, M.A.
Email: nhutrangspkt2016@gmail.com
COMMON SENTENCE PROBLEMS
1. RUN-ONS
➢fused sentences
➢comma splices
2. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
➢missing-subject fragments
➢phrase fragments
➢-ing fragments
➢dependent clause fragments
3. MISPLACED AND DANGLING MODIFIERS

4. PARALLELISM

5. PASSIVE VOICE
Avoiding Run-on Sentences,
Comma Splices, and
Fragments

, ;
Getting Your
Punctuation Right!
What Does a CommaSignal?
A comma signals a
pause. (It tells the
reader to slow down
briefly, but then keep
going until the thought is
completed.)

Because I like grammar ,

I like this class.
What Do Periods &Semicolons
Signal?
Semicolons and
periods signal a full
stop. Idea is complete. STOP!

I love grammar . I love

this class.
I love grammar ; I love
this class.
What Is a Run-on Sentence?
A run-on is a sentence error caused by
running one sentence into another,
without putting any punctuation in
between.
We all like grammar weall love this class.

Run-on
What Is a CommaSplice?

A comma splice is a sentence error caused

by putting just a poor, weakcomma between
twocompletesentences.

We all like grammar , weall love this class.

 How Can I Correct Comma Splices
and Run-ons? The 1st way is to…
Separate them witha period, creating two
complete sentences.
STOP

We all like grammar. We all love this class.

Use a period to correct theserun-
ons and comma splices.
1. These punctuation rules aren’t hard I know
how to avoid run-ons.
1. These punctuation rules aren’t hard. I know
how to avoid run-ons. Correct
2. My new supervisor has been making all
sorts of changes, she is really causing
problems.
2.My newsupervisor has been making all sorts
of changes. She is really causing problems.
Correct!
 How Can I Correct Comma Splices
and Run-ons? The 2nd way isto…
Link them witha semicolon; this creates two
complete sentences just as a period does,
but the second sentence doesn’t start witha
capital letter.

STOP!

We like grammar ; we love this class.

No caps!
How Can I Correct Comma Splices and
Run-ons? The 3rd way is to…

End the first sentence witha semicolon

and begin the second witha
conjunctive adverb or transitional .
STOP
• We like grammar ; therefore, we
love this class.
 Use a semicolon and a transitional word like
therefore or however to correct this comma
splice.

I’m not going to give up, however, I do

sometimes getdiscouraged.
I’m not going to give up; however, I do
sometimes getdiscouraged.
Correct!
How Can I Correct Comma Splices and
Run-ons? The 4thway isto…

Join the twosentences witha comma

and one of the conjunctions. (FOR,
AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO)

We all like grammar , and weall love

this class.
Use one of the conjunctions to correct this
run-on sentence.

I wanta raise I wantmore vacation

days.
I want a raise, and I wantmore
vacation days.
Correct!
 How Can I Correct Comma Splices and
Run-ons? The last way is to…

Join the twoseparate sentences into one, witha

subordinating conjunction or relative
pronoun .
We all like grammar, weall love this class.
comma
dependent clause
splice
Because weall like grammar, weall love this class.

All students who like grammar love this class. OK!

dependent clause
Main Cause of Sentence
Errors
Are you still wondering what
punctuation to use?

STOP
STOP
Which is correct?
I understand run-ons, however, I’m still
having trouble withcomma splices.

I understand run-ons; however, I’m still

having trouble withcomma splices.
Which is correct?
I’m really good withpunctuation
because I have been practicing so
much.

I’m really good withpunctuation;

because, I have been practicing so
much.
Which is correct?
I’ve been given lots of new duties, for example
filing and community outreach.

I’ve been given lots of new duties; for

example, filing and communityoutreach.

Remember, you can’t use a semicolon unless

the words on bothsides of the semicolon
form complete sentences.
Which is correct?
This grammar practice is useful;
although, sometimes tedious.

This grammar practice is useful

although sometimes tedious.
III. DANGLING AND MISPLACED
MODIFIERS
A modifier describes some other word in a
sentence.
Example:

Amy's favorite red purse, the one she

always carries, was stolen last week.

Amy's favorite red -- describes the purse

Always-- describes the verb ”carries”.
Last-- describes ”week”
the one she always carries-- a descriptive phrase,
describes “purse”
Modifier:
▪ Can be a word or group of words
(phrase).
▪ A modifier describes, clarifies, or
gives more detail about other words
in a sentence.
1. Dangling Modifiers:

▪Do not sensibly modify anything in their sentence.

▪Modifier is present, but it has nothing to modify.
▪Often occur at the beginning or end of a sentence.
▪Often indicated by an “–ing” verb or a “to +” verb
phrase.
How to correct dangling modifiers:
1. Name the appropriate or logical doer
of the action as the subject of the
main clause
2. Place the subject of the action within
the dangling modifier.
3. Combine the phrase and clause.
 DANGLING MODIFIERS
Example: Climbing the mountain, my backpack fell in
the mud.
Modifier- “Climbing the mountain”
What it modifies- “I”
PROBLEM: It sounds as if the
backpack was climbing the mountain

Correct: My backpack fell in the mud

as I was climbing the mountain.
2. Misplaced modifier:
▪ A modifier in the wrong place in a sentence.
▪ Makes sentences awkward, confusing, or
(unintentionally) humorous.
Correct placement of modifiers:
1. Modifiers go next to the word or phrase they modify.
2. One-word modifiers go before the word or phrase they
modify
 MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Example: He gave his sister the
stuffed bear with a polka-dot
dress.
Modifier: “with a polka-dot dress”
What it modifies: “sister ”
PROBLEM: It sound as if the bear
has a polka-dot dress.
Correct: He gave the stuffed bear
to his sister with a polka-dot
dress.