Grammar

IGP10
Course: Intermediate English Writing S0741055 吳曉青
Instructor: Dr. Mei-chen Huang S0741011 王沛錡
Date: 2019, December 12 S0741051 楊思凡

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 Outline
▪ Sentence Fragments
▪ Splices & Fused Sentences
▪ Misplaced Modifiers & Dangling Modifiers

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Sentence Fragments

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Sentence Fragments
▪ Groups of words that lack a subject or a verb and that do not
express a complete thought.
▪ They are dependent clauses or phrases.

For example:
When we got in the car. We rolled down the windows.
Dependent clause Independent clause
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Common types
of fragments:

1. Dependent-word fragments
2. -ing and to fragments
3. Added-detail fragments
4. Missing-detail fragments

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Dependent-Word

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Fragments
Common Dependent Words
after although, as because before even how
though though
if, even if
if, even if in order since until that, so unless what,
that that whatever
when, where, whether whose who which, while
whenever wherever whichever

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How to Correct Dependent-
Word Fragments
1. 2.
Attach the dependent-word Eliminate the dependent word
fragment to the sentence that and make a new sentence.
comes after it or to the
sentence that comes before it.

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After I stopped drinking coffee. I began sleeping
better at night.

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 Attach
Use a comma if a dependent-word group comes at
the beginning of a sentence:

→ After I stopped drinking coffee, I began sleeping better at

night.

★ I began sleeping better at night after I stopped drinking coffee.

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 Eliminate

1. After I stopped drinking coffee. I began sleeping

better at night.

→ I stopped drinking coffee. I began sleeping

better at night.

yle
St
ing
it
Wr
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-ing and to Fragments

2
When a word ending in –ing or the word to appears at or near
the start of a word group, a fragment may result.

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How to Correct –ing
Fragments
1. 2.
Attach the fragment to the Add a subject and change the
sentence that comes after it or ing verb part to the correct
to the sentence that comes form of the verb.
before it, which makes sense.

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 Attach

Example 1:

I spent all day in the employment office. Trying to find a job that suited me.
The prospects looked bleak.

→ I spent all day in the employment office, trying to find a job that
suited me. The prospects looked bleak.

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 Add

Example 2:

Lola surprised Tony on the nature hike. Picking blobs of resin off pine
trees. Then she chewed them like a bubble gum.

→ Lola surprised Tony on the nature hike. She picked blobs of resin
off pine trees. Then she chewed them like a bubble gum.

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How to Correct to
Fragments
Add the fragment to the sentence that comes after it or to the
sentence that comes before it, which makes sense.

Example:
To remind people of their selfishness. Otis leaves handwritten notes on cars
that take up two parking spaces.

→ To remind people of their selfishness, Otis leaves handwritten notes on

cars that take up two parking spaces.
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Added-Detail Fragments

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Added-detail fragments lack a subject and a verb. They often
begin with one of the following words or phrases.

also except including

especially for example such as

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How to Correct Added-Detail
Fragments
1. Attach the fragment to the
complete thought that precedes 3. Change words as necessary to
it. make the fragment part of the
2. Add a subject and a verb to the preceding sentence.
fragment to make it a complete
sentence.
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 Attach

Example 1:

Tony has trouble accepting criticism. Except from Lola. She has a knack
for tact.

→ Tony has trouble accepting criticism, except from Lola. She has a
knack for tact.

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 Add

Example 2:

My apartment has its drawbacks. For example, no hot water in the

morning.

→ My apartment has its drawbacks. For example, there is no hot

water in the morning.

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 Change words

Example 3:

I had many jobs while in school. Among them, busboy, painter, and
security guard.

→ Among the many jobs I had while in school were busboy,

painter, and security guard.

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Missing-Subject

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Fragments

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How to Correct Missing-
Subject Fragments
1. Attach the fragment to the
preceding sentence.
2. Add a subject (which can
often be a pronoun standing for
the subject).
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 Attach

Example 1:

One example of my father’s generosity is that he visits his sick friends in

the hospital. And takes along get-well cards with a few dollars folded in
them.

→ One example of my father’s generosity is that he visits his sick

friends in the hospital and takes along get-well cards with a
few dollars folded in them.
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 Add a subject

Example 2:
The weight lifter grunted as he heaved the barbell into the air. Then,
with a loud groan, dropped it.

→ The weight lifter grunted as he heaved the barbell into the air.
Then, with a loud groan, he dropped it.

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A Review
How to check for Fragments

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 •
Read Read your paper aloud from the last sentence to the first.

• Ask yourself if you think any word group is a fragment.

Ask

• Be on the lookout for the most common fragments.

Be
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 • Be on the lookout for the most common fragments.
Be

• Dependent-word fragments:
starting with words like after, because, since, when, and before

• -ing and to fragments:

-ing or to at or near the start of a word group

• Added-detail fragments:
starting with words like for example, such as, also, and especially

• Missing-subject fragments:
a verb is present but not the subject
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 Practice Time!
1. My sister is taking a word-processing course. Also, is learning
two computer languages. Machines don’t frighten her.

My sister is taking a word-processing course. Also, she

→ is learning two computer languages. Machines don’t
frighten her.
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2. The dog eyed me with suspicion. Not knowing whether its
master was at home. I hesitate to open the gate.

→ The dog eyed me with suspicion. Not knowing whether

its master was at home, I hesitate to open the gate.

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Splices & Fused
Sentences
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Both of splice sentences and
fused sentences called “Run-
Ons.”

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Splices Sentences
▪ A comma is used to connect or “splice” together the two complete
thoughts.

e. g. Rosa decided to stop smoking, she didn’t want to die for lung
cancer.

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Fused Sentences
▪ There is no punctuation at all to mark between the thoughts.

e. g. The exam was postponed the class was canceled as well.

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How to
revise?
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Period & a Capital Letter
▪ To use a period and a capital letter at the break between the two
complete thoughts.
e. g. Craig was not a success at his job his mouth moved faster
than his hands.

Craig was not a success at his job. His mouth moved faster
than his hands.
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Comma & a Joining Word
▪ To use a comma plus a joining word to connect the two complete
thoughts.
▪ A joining word: and, but, for, so.
e. g. I hate to see animals in cages a trip to the zoo always
depresses me.

I hate to see animals in cages, so a trip to the zoo always

depresses me.
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Semicolon
▪ To use a semicolon to mark the break between two thoughts.
e. g. She had a wig on it looked more like a hat than a wig.

She had a wig on; it looked more like a hat than a wig.

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Subordination
▪ To use subordination to relate thoughts.
▪ Dependent words: after, before, unless, although, if, as, and so on.
e. g. You open the windows, the paint fumes will disappear more
quickly.

If you open the windows, the paint fumes will disappear

more quickly.
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 Practice Time!
1.
1. We knew the old desk had a secret drawer
drawer,no
butone
no could
one
couldit.find it.
find
2.
2. IIgot
gottotosale
saletoo
toolate.
late The
the last
lastceiling
ceilingfan
fanhad
hadbeen
beensold
soldjust
justfive
fiveminutes
minutesbefore.
before.

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 Misplaced modifiers
▪ Words do not describe the words the writer intended
them to describe because of awkword placement
▪ Often confuse the meaning of a sentence

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 How to correct
misplaced modifiers
→ Place words as close as possible to
what they describe

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 Misplaced adjectives
＊ The child ate a cold dish of cereal for
breakfast this morning.
→ The child ate a dish of cold cereal for breakfast
this morning.

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 ※especially watch out
these words
⁎only ⁎just ⁎almost
⁎even ⁎hardly ⁎nearly
⁎often ⁎merely

Placement of adverbs
＊ I call only my mother when I am sick.
I only call my mother when I am sick.

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 Misplaced phrases

＊ The dealer sold the car to the buyer with

leather
→ seats.
The dealer sold the car with leather seats to
the buyer.

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 Misplaced clauses
＊ We had a hamburger after the movie,
which was too greasy for me to taste.

→ After the movie, We had a hamburger,

which was too greasy for me to taste.
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Be careful!  
In correcting a misplaced modifier, don't create a sentence
with two possible meanings.

?
The teacher said on Monday she would return our essays.

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1. The teacher said she would return our essays on Monday.
(meaning the essays will be returned on Monday)

2. On Monday the teacher said she would return our essays.

(meaning that the teacher spoke on Monday)

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 Dangling modifiers
▪ A phrase or clause that is not clearly and logically
related to the word or words it modifies
▪ In most cases, the dangling modifier appears at
the beginning of the sentence

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 How to correct
dangling modifiers
1. Place the subject within the
opening word group
2. Place the subject right after the
opening word group
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 Place the subject within the opening word group

＊ Having been fixed the night before,

I could use the car.

→ Since the car had been fixed the night

before, I could use it.

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 Place the subject right after the opening word group

＊ Walking to the movies, the cloudburst drenched

Jim.
→ Walking to the movies, Jim was drenched by the
cloudburst.

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 Practice Time!
1. Books do not sell well in the bookstores with
hard covers.
2. When trying to lose weight, all snacks are
best avoided.

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Thank you!

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References
Benner, M. L. (2000). Self Teaching Unit: Avoiding misplaced and dangling modifiers.
Retrieved from https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/moduleDangling.htm
Grammar: Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments. Retrieved from
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/runonsentences
Independent and Dependent Clauses. Retrieved from https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/independent-and-
dependent-clauses.htm
Independent/Dependent Clauses. Retrieved from https://www.nmu.edu/writingcenter/independentdependent-clauses
Langan, J. (2013). Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers (8th ed.). Taiwan, LLC:
McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings.
Sentence Fragments. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/sentence_fragments.html
Sentence Fragments. Retrieved from https://www.roanestate.edu/owl/Sentence-Fragments.html
What is a Sentence Fragment? - Definition & Examples. (2018, January 6). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-
sentence-fragment-definition-examples-quiz.html#lesson

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