Sentence Errors

 Sentence errors often occur due to grammatical mistakes, usage of inappropriate

words, punctuation errors, or sentence structure issues. Here are some types of
errors commonly seen in sentences:

• Fragments
• Run-on sentences
• Dangling Modifier
• Tense Shift
• Agreement errors
• Parallel Structure Errors
Fragments
 A sentence fragment is a piece of a sentence; it is either missing the subject, the
verb, or the complete thought. You can fix a fragment by adding the missing
subject, verb, or complete thought.
Examples of Sentence Fragments:

 In the park.
 This fragment lacks a subject and a verb, making it incomplete. It doesn't tell us who
or what is in the park or what they are doing.
 Although he tried to finish his homework on time.
 This fragment begins with a subordinating conjunction ("although") and lacks a main
clause. It doesn't provide a complete thought or action.
 Running down the street and laughing.
 This fragment includes a participle phrase but doesn't contain a subject and a main
verb. It doesn't convey a complete action or idea.
 Sometimes the missing part of a sentence fragment can be found in the sentence
before or after the fragment. If this is the case, you can correct the fragment by
joining it to the sentence that completes it.
Dangling Modifier

“Running to the bus, the backpack fell in the mud.”

 Why is this sentence strange?

What is a Dangling Modifier?
• A dangling modifier is a word or phrase within a sentence that
does not clearly refer to a specific subject.

 How can a Dangling Modifier be recognized?

• Dangling modifiers are most often found as the opening phrase of a
sentence. However, they can be found at the end of sentences as well.

Dangling modifiers frequently contain verbs ending in “–ing” or begin with the word
“to.”
 This sentence states that the backpack (subject) was running to the bus, rather
than the person (implied actor or agent) carrying the backpack.

 The implied actor is not mentioned in the sentence at all.

 This type of error is called a dangling modifier, and it presents a problem in your
writing since it makes your intended meaning unclear.

 Dangling modifiers usually occur at the beginning of a sentence, though they can
also be found at the end of a sentence.
Strategies to Fix Dangling Modifiers

 There are two strategies to fix a dangling modifier.

 The first is to name the actor or agent as the subject of the sentence.
Example: Walking toward the forest, the sun began to set.
 (In this example, “walking toward the forest” is a dangling modifier
since it sounds as if the sun is walking toward the forest.)

Revision: Walking toward the forest, I watched as the sun began to set. (The
actor, I, is named as the subject of the sentence.)
 The second strategy to fix a dangling modifier is to name the actor or agent in the
modifier itself.
Example: Walking toward the forest, the sun began to set.

Revision: As I walked toward the forest, the sun began to set. (The
actor, I, is added to the modifier.)
Activity Underline the dangling modifier
in each sentence.
 Choose a strategy and revise the sentence. Note which strategy you used in your
revision.
1.Having completed her finals, a summer road trip was planned.
2. After writing the paper, the thesis remains unsupported.
3. Given praise by his teachers, his attitude became obnoxious.
4. Not having followed the recipe closely, the cake was a disaster.
5. Having finished dinner, the plate was emptied.
6. While sleeping, the house caught on fire.
Answer Key for Activity

1. Having completed her finals, she planned a summer road trip. (Strategy #1)
2. After he wrote the paper, the thesis remained unsupported. (Strategy #2)
3. After being praised by his teachers, he developed an obnoxious attitude. (Strategy
#1)
4. Since she did not follow the recipe closely, the cake was a disaster. (Strategy #2)
5. Having finished dinner, she emptied the plate. (Strategy #1)
6. While he was sleeping, the house caught on fire. (Strategy #2)
Run-On Sentence Error

 A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as
complete sentences) are connected improperly.

Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.

Sentence 1: I love to write papers.

Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time.

One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice. A comma splice occurs
when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.

 Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any

time, they needed to indicate their preference.

Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time.

Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference.

Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the middle
of a sentence.

 Example of a comma splice: The results of the study were

inconclusive, therefore more research needs to be done on the topic.

Sentence 1: The results of the study were inconclusive

Transitional expression (conjunctive adverb): therefore

Sentence 2: More research needs to be done on the topic

To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and
add a comma after it. See more examples of this on the semicolon page.

 Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive; therefore, more research needs to be
done on the topic.
Run-On Sentence Error

 A run-on sentence is an error of missing punctuation or conjunctions between two

sentences.
 To repair this error, you can add the following:
 (a) a period,

 (b) a comma and coordinating conjunction,

 or (c) a semicolon. Do not add a comma alone to repair the run-on as this creates a
different error, the comma splice.
Run-On Example
The data collection of the self-administered questionnaire was described in detail the authors did not mention who
collected the data.

 Period
The data collection of the self-administered questionnaire was described in detail. The authors did not mention
who collected the data.

 Comma and Coordinating Conjunction

The data collection of the self-administered questionnaire was described in detail, but the authors did not
mention who collected the data.

 Semicolon
The data collection of the self-administered questionnaire was described in detail; however, the authors did not
mention who collected the data.

 A semicolon is most often used with a transitional word or phrase that introduces the next clause.
Tense Shift
 Verb tenses should be consistent throughout your writing.
• Reviews of literature should be in the present tense.
• Historical events should be in the past tense.

 Correcting tense shifts:

• Be consistent throughout your sentences and paragraphs.
• Be familiar with verb forms and tenses.
Tense Shift Examples

 About noon the sky darkened, a breeze sprang up, and a low rumble announces
the approaching storm.
 We viewed A Caribbean Mystery and watch intently as Joan Hickson portrays
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
 I climbed out of the car, walked through the door, and prepared to meet “the
parents,” but instead a large, honey-colored dog runs to meet me at the door.
Subject/verb Agreement

 Singular subjects must have singular verbs.

 Plural subjects must have plural verbs.
 Rule of thumb:
 Subjects ending in “s” are plural
 Verbs ending in “s” are singular
 Correcting agreement errors:
 Become familiar with irregular verb forms.
 Focus on the subject, not any additional modifiers.
Subject-verb agreement refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and the verb. A subject refers to a
person or a thing that performs an action in a sentence. A verb is the action in a sentence.

 Tip 1: Subjects and verbs in a sentence should always match in terms of numbers and tenses.

 Tip 2: If the subject of a sentence is in the singular form, the verb should also be singular and vice versa.

 Tip 3: The subject always determines whether the verb should be singular or plural.

Let's look at the following sample sentences with a subject-verb agreement:

 Example 1: He works every day of the week.
• In this sentence, the subject he is in the singular form; thus, the verb works is also in the singular form.
• Both the subject and the verb of the sentence are in a singular form, which means they agree.
 Example 2: They work every day of the week.
• The sentence's subject they is in plural form, and the verb work is also in plural form. Thus, the subject and the
verb in the sentence agree.
Parallel Structure Error

Parallel structure or parallelism is the rule that words or phrases in a series should be in
the same from.
 Katniss likes to run, hunt and hike.

• Run, hunt and hike is the series. The words run, hunt and hike are the words (or
phrases in other cases) in the series.
• For this sentence the form of the words is present tense verb. Run, hunt and hike area
all in the same form.

Correct parallel structure is important because it makes a sentence easier to read and
understand. Correct parallel structure allows for essays and paragraphs to flow more
smoothly for the reader.
 To fix an error in parallel structure, the writer must put all the words or phrases in
a series in the same form. Here are some examples of errors in parallel structure
and how these errors can be fixed.
 Incorrect: Marisa stopped at the grocery store, the bank and ran to the library
 Correct: Marissa stopped at the grocery store, the bank and the library.

In this sentence, the words in the series are all nouns with the word the before the
noun. For this sentence to be correct, the last part ran to the library should be changed
to the library.
 Incorrect: This weekend I have to write an essay, do a book report and a lab.
 Correct: This weekend I have to write an essay, do a book report and complete a
lab.

In this example, each noun in the series comes in a phrase with a verb before it. The
last part of the series a lab does not match because it lacks a verb. This can be fixed
by adding a verb to come before a lab. The verb complete has been added to make
the phrase parallel to the others.
 Incorrect: Attaining a college degree is neither cheap nor will it be easy.
 Correct: Attaining a college degree is neither cheap nor easy.

The series in this sentence contains two phrases cheap and will it be easy. To make
the phrases parallel, the writer can get rid of will it be.
Thankyou