Sentence Problems

In English, a clause is a group of words containing a subject and verb. A sentence is a clause that expresses a complete thought. This type of clause is known as an independent clause. Problems occur when independent clauses are joined together incorrectly. Study the following examples.

Independent Clauses	Incorrect Sentences	Problem
The students worked hard on the project. They deserved a high score.	The students worked hard on the project they deserved a high score.	Run-on
The students worked hard on the project. They deserved a high score.	The students worked hard on the project, they deserved a high score.	Comma Splice

Explanation: The first incorrect sentence is a RUN-ON sentence. The two independent clauses have been joined together without a connector or any punctuation marks. The second incorrect sentence is known as a COMMA SPLICE. Here, a comma has been incorrectly used to join the two independent clauses together. There are four ways to correct such errors.

1. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Example: She worked hard on the project, so they deserved a high score.

2. Use a semi-colon followed by a conjunctive adverb, such as: consequently, however, on the other hand, nevertheless, meanwhile, and therefore.

The formula is semi-colon + conjunctive adverb + comma.

Example: The students worked hard on the project; consequently, they deserved a high score.

3. Use a semi-colon without a connecting word.

Example: The students worked hard on the project; they deserved a high score.

4. Create two sentences by adding a period at the end of the first independent clause and capitalizing the first word of the second independent clause.

Example: The students worked hard on the project. They deserved a high score.

Dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses, contain subjects and verbs. However, unlike independent clauses, they do not express complete thoughts. They are simply parts of sentences, or fragments. Consider the following examples:

Fragment	When we arrived at the restaurant.
Explanation	Although this fragment, or dependent clause has a subject (we) and a verb (arrived), it has no meaning for the reader. It needs to be joined to an independent clause for it to make sense.
Corrected	When we arrived at the restaurant, our friends were already waiting for us.

Fragment	Because she was excited about the wedding.
Explanation	Like the first example, this fragment, or dependent clause contains a subject (she) and a verb (was), but it makes no sense on its own. However, we can easily correct the problem by joining the fragment, to an independent clause, as above.
Corrected	Because she was excited about the wedding, she couldn't sleep.