Sentence ErrorsSentence ErrorsApostrophesApostrophes

Comma-Splices,Run-onsComma-Splices,Run-ons

You need a full sheet of paper

for taking notes and for the quiz at the end.

See: The KISS Grammar Psycholinguistic Model on the web.

A Psycholinguistic ModelA Psycholinguistic Modelof How Our Brains Process Sentencesof How Our Brains Process Sentences

ApostrophesApostrophes

Apostrophes have two primary uses:Apostrophes have two primary uses:

to indicate contractions, andto indicate contractions, and

to indicate “possession.”to indicate “possession.”

ContractionsContractions

““It’s” It’s” meansmeans “It is.” “It is.”

““They’re” They’re” meansmeans “They are.” “They are.”

““She’s been gone.”She’s been gone.”

meansmeans

““She has been gone.”She has been gone.”

PossessionPossession

That is father’s book.That is father’s book.

They found the children’s toys.They found the children’s toys.

It was Nora’s forgery.It was Nora’s forgery.

ApostrophesApostrophes

Correct the error in the following:Correct the error in the following:

Torvalds actions as a listener are extremely Torvalds actions as a listener are extremely important in defining his role as a foil.important in defining his role as a foil.

ApostrophesApostrophes

Correct the error in the following:Correct the error in the following:

Mrs. Linde is a childhood friend of Nora’s Mrs. Linde is a childhood friend of Nora’s from back home in the country.from back home in the country.

ApostrophesApostrophes

Correct the error in the following:Correct the error in the following:

With the use of foils, Henrik Ibsen is able to With the use of foils, Henrik Ibsen is able to convey a couples struggle to conform to convey a couples struggle to conform to the norms of their time.the norms of their time.

Comma-Splices and Run-onsComma-Splices and Run-ons

In a In a comma-splice (-1 CS)comma-splice (-1 CS), two sentences are , two sentences are joined (spliced) with just a comma.joined (spliced) with just a comma.

In a In a run-on (-1 RO)run-on (-1 RO), two sentences are run into , two sentences are run into each other with no punctuation to separate each other with no punctuation to separate them.them.

In either case, the reader’s mind attempts to chunk the words in the second sentence into the first. This confuses the reader.

FixingFixingComma-Splices and Run-onsComma-Splices and Run-ons

There are three basic ways to fix either of There are three basic ways to fix either of these errors:these errors:

1.1. Separate them with a period and a capital Separate them with a period and a capital letter.letter.

2.2. Separate them with a semicolon, colon or Separate them with a semicolon, colon or dash.dash.

3.3. Make one of them a subordinate clause.Make one of them a subordinate clause.

A Comma-SpliceA Comma-Splice

The following sentence contains a run-on. The following sentence contains a run-on. Fix it.Fix it.

Mrs. Linde did not marry out of love she Mrs. Linde did not marry out of love she married because she had to take care of married because she had to take care of her mother and her younger siblings. her mother and her younger siblings.

A Comma-SpliceA Comma-Splice

The following sentence contains a comma-The following sentence contains a comma-splice. Fix it.splice. Fix it.

Nora has three children, however she Nora has three children, however she does not take care of the children. does not take care of the children.

Subject/Verb AgreementSubject/Verb Agreement

Explain and fix the comma-splice and Explain and fix the comma-splice and subject/verb agreement error in the subject/verb agreement error in the following:following:

In In A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen lies are by Henrik Ibsen lies are what creates the play, without them there what creates the play, without them there would be no play. would be no play.

She held out the secret that she She held out the secret that she committed forgery in order to save committed forgery in order to save her husbands’ life years ago, this lie her husbands’ life years ago, this lie is what created the backbone to the is what created the backbone to the entire play.entire play.

There are two errors in the following sentence. What are There are two errors in the following sentence. What are they?they?

A More Complicated ExampleA More Complicated Example

She held out the secret that she She held out the secret that she committed forgery in order to save committed forgery in order to save her husbandher husband’’s life years agos life years ago----this this lie is what created the backbone lie is what created the backbone to the entire play.to the entire play.

Quiz TimeQuiz TimeOn your paper, fix the errors in the following sentences:On your paper, fix the errors in the following sentences:

1.1. My family is very large, my parents have thirteen My family is very large, my parents have thirteen children. children.

2.2. In the end Edie finds that the truth was always In the end Edie finds that the truth was always there she just had to grow and experience life in there she just had to grow and experience life in order to filter it out.order to filter it out.

3.3. Not all tires are created equal, there are many Not all tires are created equal, there are many factors that determine what type of tire goes on a factors that determine what type of tire goes on a automobile. automobile.

4.4. Next are level two thinkers, these thinkers make Next are level two thinkers, these thinkers make decisions based on what is good for the group as a decisions based on what is good for the group as a whole, not just themselves.whole, not just themselves.