Sentence, Fragment, or Run-on worksheet - Free Printable

Here’s the correct identification for each item as Sentence, Fragment, or Run-on, along with a clear explanation for each.

---

✔ Key Definitions:

- Sentence: A complete thought with a subject and verb, and proper punctuation.
- Fragment: Incomplete — missing subject, verb, or not a full thought. Often a phrase or dependent clause.
- Run-on: Two or more independent clauses incorrectly joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

---

## 📝 Answers & Explanations:

1. This position requires speaking, writing, and supervising skills.
✔ Sentence
→ Complete thought: Subject (“This position”) + verb (“requires”) + object. Properly punctuated.

2. This is not what I requested the color is too dark, and it's the wrong size.
✔ Run-on
→ Two independent clauses: “This is not what I requested” and “the color is too dark...” are improperly joined. Should be separated by a period or semicolon, or use a conjunction like “because.”

3. It is important to spend time studying, however, rest and recreation are also important.
✔ Run-on
→ “However” is a conjunctive adverb — should be preceded by a semicolon or followed by a period. This incorrectly joins two independent clauses with just a comma.

4. After searching through a loose-leaf binder of old homework assignments.
✔ Fragment
→ No subject or main verb; it’s a prepositional phrase starting with “After.” Doesn’t express a complete thought.

5. Luna stood up.
✔ Sentence
→ Subject (“Luna”) + verb (“stood”) + complete thought. Simple but complete.

6. Then calmed down about the situation.
✔ Fragment
→ Missing subject. Who calmed down? It starts with an adverb (“Then”) but no subject.

7. Mary, sitting on the edge of her chair and holding the puppy.
✔ Fragment
→ Descriptive phrase modifying “Mary,” but no main verb. Not a complete sentence.

8. Go straight home, do not stop at your friend’s house.
✔ Run-on
→ Two imperative commands (independent clauses) joined by a comma. Needs a period or semicolon, or “and” before “do.”

9. Probably two to three hours, depending on how hard the task is.
✔ Fragment
→ No subject or verb. It’s a phrase giving time estimate — incomplete thought.

10. The test was rumored to be extremely difficult.
✔ Sentence
→ Subject (“The test”) + verb (“was rumored”) + complement. Complete thought.

11. Harry and Ron should have prepared better for their exam.
✔ Sentence
→ Compound subject + verb + object. Clear, complete thought.

12. Keegan watched the video for a moment and then went back to work.
✔ Sentence
→ One subject (“Keegan”) + compound verb (“watched...went”). Correctly joined with “and.”

13. I like the way Judge Smith runs the courtroom because she has no trouble keeping order.
✔ Sentence
→ Main clause + dependent clause introduced by “because.” Properly structured.

14. First, they had to change then they had to run laps around the court.
✔ Run-on
→ Two independent clauses (“they had to change” and “they had to run...”) joined with no punctuation or conjunction. Add a semicolon or “and.”

15. Because the barking dog kept Jeremiah awake past three in the morning.
✔ Fragment
→ Starts with subordinating conjunction “Because” — makes it a dependent clause. Not a complete sentence.

16. Either she will or she won't, don't ask me.
✔ Run-on
→ Two independent clauses: “Either she will or she won’t” and “don’t ask me.” Joined incorrectly with comma. Needs period or semicolon.

17. At the beginning of the movie, but before the main character appeared.
✔ Fragment
→ Prepositional phrase + coordinating conjunction “but” — no subject or verb. Incomplete.

18. Will sneezed.
✔ Sentence
→ Subject (“Will”) + verb (“sneezed”). Imperfect grammar? Maybe — but if “Will” is a person’s name, it’s grammatically acceptable.

19. Russell knew the answer, but he didn’t raise his hand.
✔ Sentence
→ Two independent clauses correctly joined by comma + coordinating conjunction “but.”

20. I finished, Charlie did not.
✔ Run-on
→ Two independent clauses joined by comma only. Needs semicolon or conjunction (“but”).

21. If I go to school today, I will take the test, but my brother is staying home.
✔ Sentence
→ Dependent clause + two independent clauses properly joined with commas and “but.”

22. This increases the effect.
✔ Sentence
→ Subject (“This”) + verb (“increases”) + object. Simple and complete.

23. The tidal wave swept across the shore.
✔ Sentence
→ Subject + verb + prepositional phrase. Complete thought.

24. A warning blaring across the TV news tonight.
✔ Fragment
→ No verb. “Blaring” is a participle, not a finite verb. Lacks subject-verb agreement for a complete sentence.

25. Learning to play a musical instrument well takes a great deal of time.
✔ Sentence
→ Gerund phrase “Learning...” acts as subject + verb “takes” + object. Grammatically correct.

---

## 🟩 Final Answer Table:

| # | Type |
|----|-----------|
| 1 | Sentence |
| 2 | Run-on |
| 3 | Run-on |
| 4 | Fragment |
| 5 | Sentence |
| 6 | Fragment |
| 7 | Fragment |
| 8 | Run-on |
| 9 | Fragment |
| 10 | Sentence |
| 11 | Sentence |
| 12 | Sentence |
| 13 | Sentence |
| 14 | Run-on |
| 15 | Fragment |
| 16 | Run-on |
| 17 | Fragment |
| 18 | Sentence |
| 19 | Sentence |
| 20 | Run-on |
| 21 | Sentence |
| 22 | Sentence |
| 23 | Sentence |
| 24 | Fragment |
| 25 | Sentence |

---

Let me know if you’d like this formatted as a printable worksheet or need additional examples!