Worksheet for correcting comma splices and run-on sentences in English grammar.

Let's solve the "Comma Splices & Run-On Sentences 1" worksheet step by step. The goal is to identify whether each sentence contains a comma splice (CS), a run-on sentence (RO), or is correct (C). Then, we'll correct any errors.

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🔹 Definitions:

- Comma Splice (CS): Two independent clauses joined only by a comma.
- Run-on Sentence (RO): Two independent clauses joined without *any* punctuation or conjunction.
- Correct (C): Properly punctuated and structured.

We will mark:
- CS if it’s a comma splice,
- RO if it’s a run-on,
- C if it’s correct.

Then, we’ll fix the errors.

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✔ Let's go through each sentence:

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1. I never really enjoyed science, math is my favorite subject.

- Two independent clauses:
- "I never really enjoyed science"
- "math is my favorite subject"
- Joined only by a comma → Comma Splice (CS)
- ✔ Correction: Use a semicolon or add a conjunction.
- *"I never really enjoyed science; math is my favorite subject."*
- OR: *"I never really enjoyed science, but math is my favorite subject."*

👉 Answer: CS

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2. By the time we arrived, the show was nearly over, we missed everything but the credits and the cartoon.

- First clause: "By the time we arrived, the show was nearly over" — this is a dependent clause + independent clause, but then comes another independent clause: "we missed everything..."
- No conjunction or punctuation between two independent clauses → Run-on (RO)
- ✔ Correction: Add a conjunction or use a semicolon.
- *"By the time we arrived, the show was nearly over, so we missed everything but the credits and the cartoon."*
- OR: *"By the time we arrived, the show was nearly over; we missed everything but the credits and the cartoon."*

👉 Answer: RO

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3. Don't touch that chair it has just been painted.

- Two independent clauses:
- "Don't touch that chair"
- "it has just been painted"
- No punctuation or conjunction → Run-on (RO)
- ✔ Correction: Add a comma and conjunction, or a period.
- *"Don't touch that chair; it has just been painted."*
- OR: *"Don't touch that chair because it has just been painted."*

👉 Answer: RO

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4. I got an "A" on my English test. I've never gotten one before.

- Two separate sentences, properly punctuated with periods → Correct (C)
- ✔ Already correct.

👉 Answer: C

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5. Some students would rather goof around than study, some adults went through the same thing when they were in school.

- Two independent clauses:
- "Some students would rather goof around than study"
- "some adults went through the same thing when they were in school"
- Joined only by a comma → Comma Splice (CS)
- ✔ Correction: Use a semicolon or conjunction.
- *"Some students would rather goof around than study; some adults went through the same thing when they were in school."*
- OR: *"Some students would rather goof around than study, and some adults went through the same thing when they were in school."*

👉 Answer: CS

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6. Some run-on sentences are easy to recognize, others are much more difficult.

- Two independent clauses:
- "Some run-on sentences are easy to recognize"
- "others are much more difficult"
- Joined only by a comma → Comma Splice (CS)
- ✔ Correction: Use a semicolon or conjunction.
- *"Some run-on sentences are easy to recognize; others are much more difficult."*
- OR: *"Some run-on sentences are easy to recognize, while others are much more difficult."*

👉 Answer: CS

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7. Joan's mother works at the hospital her father works at the school.

- Two independent clauses:
- "Joan's mother works at the hospital"
- "her father works at the school"
- No punctuation or conjunction → Run-on (RO)
- ✔ Correction: Add a comma and conjunction, or a semicolon.
- *"Joan's mother works at the hospital, and her father works at the school."*
- OR: *"Joan's mother works at the hospital; her father works at the school."*

👉 Answer: RO

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8. John had to go to his violin lesson, however, he will stop by when he is through.

- "however" is a conjunctive adverb. It needs to be set off by commas, but here it’s used incorrectly.
- The sentence structure is:
- "John had to go to his violin lesson," → independent clause
- "he will stop by when he is through" → independent clause
- But "however" is placed in the middle with commas, which splits the sentence improperly.
- This is actually a comma splice, because two independent clauses are joined only by a comma and an interrupting word.
- ✔ Correction: Use a semicolon or restructure.
- *"John had to go to his violin lesson; however, he will stop by when he is through."*
- OR: *"John had to go to his violin lesson. However, he will stop by when he is through."*

👉 Answer: CS

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9. Katrin enjoys shopping for clothes, especially when someone else is paying for them.

- One independent clause: "Katrin enjoys shopping for clothes"
- "especially when someone else is paying for them" is a dependent clause (adverbial phrase)
- So this is a correct sentence.

👉 Answer: C

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10. Time goes slowly when you are working, it seems to fly when you are playing.

- Two independent clauses:
- "Time goes slowly when you are working"
- "it seems to fly when you are playing"
- Joined only by a comma → Comma Splice (CS)
- ✔ Correction: Use a semicolon or conjunction.
- *"Time goes slowly when you are working; it seems to fly when you are playing."*
- OR: *"Time goes slowly when you are working, but it seems to fly when you are playing."*

👉 Answer: CS

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11. Akira will meet us at the skating rink later; he has to go home to pick up his skates.

- Two independent clauses joined by a semicolon → Correct (C)
- Semicolon is appropriate here.

👉 Answer: C

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✔ Final Answers:

| # | Answer |
|---|--------|
| 1 | CS |
| 2 | RO |
| 3 | RO |
| 4 | C |
| 5 | CS |
| 6 | CS |
| 7 | RO |
| 8 | CS |
| 9 | C |
| 10 | CS |
| 11 | C |

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📝 Extended Task:

> Write two run-on sentences and two sentences with a comma splice. Exchange papers with a classmate and correct each other’s sentence errors.

Example Sentences:

Run-on Sentences:
1. I love reading books I can’t stop once I start.
2. She went to the store she bought milk and bread.

Comma Splice Sentences:
1. I finished my homework, I went out to play.
2. The weather is nice, we should go for a walk.

✔ These can be corrected using semicolons, conjunctions, or periods.

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