Let me work through each item carefully to determine if it's a sentence, fragment, or run-on.
Key definitions:
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Sentence: A complete thought with a subject and verb that makes sense on its own.
-
Fragment: An incomplete thought — missing a subject, verb, or both. It doesn't express a complete idea.
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Run-on: Two or more complete sentences joined together without proper punctuation or conjunction.
Now let me analyze each one:
1.
"I have big problems."
- Subject: "I"
- Verb: "have"
- Complete thought ✓
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Answer: Sentence
2.
"I can describe the issue you must listen."
- This has two independent clauses: "I can describe the issue" and "you must listen"
- They are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction
-
Answer: Run-on
3.
"The girl will go to school she will go to the library."
- Two independent clauses: "The girl will go to school" and "she will go to the library"
- Joined without punctuation or conjunction
-
Answer: Run-on
4.
"The baby who is crying in the crib."
- This has a subject ("The baby") but no main verb — "who is crying in the crib" is a relative clause modifying "baby"
- No complete predicate for the main subject
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Answer: Fragment
5.
"The college with the best basketball team."
- Subject: "The college"
- No verb — "with the best basketball team" is a prepositional phrase
-
Answer: Fragment
6.
"Jane always tells the truth."
- Subject: "Jane"
- Verb: "tells"
- Complete thought ✓
-
Answer: Sentence
7.
"There is another side to the story."
- Subject: "another side" (existential "there" construction)
- Verb: "is"
- Complete thought ✓
-
Answer: Sentence
8.
"The policeman who is wearing the hat."
- Subject: "The policeman"
- No main verb — "who is wearing the hat" is a relative clause
-
Answer: Fragment
9.
"The mayor voted he cares about the issues."
- Two independent clauses: "The mayor voted" and "he cares about the issues"
- Joined without proper punctuation or conjunction
-
Answer: Run-on
10.
"The family will move they want a bigger house."
- Two independent clauses: "The family will move" and "they want a bigger house"
- Joined without proper punctuation or conjunction
-
Answer: Run-on
Final Answer:
1. Sentence
2. Run-on
3. Run-on
4. Fragment
5. Fragment
6. Sentence
7. Sentence
8. Fragment
9. Run-on
10. Run-on
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of fragments and run on sentences worksheet.
