Run-ons, Comma Splices, And Fragments Quiz!

1. Select the answer that correctly completes each group of words to form a sentence or sentences. Normally, I wouldn't spend time with elves and fairies ___________ are so fascinating.

But; they

But. They

, but they

But they,

The correct answer is ", but they". This answer completes the sentence by indicating that the speaker wouldn't normally spend time with elves and fairies, but they find them fascinating. The comma before "but" helps to separate the contrasting ideas in the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is ", but they". This answer completes the sentence by indicating that the speaker wouldn't normally spend time with elves and fairies, but they find them fascinating. The comma before "but" helps to separate the contrasting ideas in the sentence.

2.

Select the answer that correctly completes each group of words to form a sentence or sentences. Having a car allows you to get places quickly _______________ don't have to ask your parents for a ride.

So you,

So you;

, so you,

, so you

The correct answer is ", so you." This completes the sentence by indicating that having a car allows you to get places quickly, so you don't have to ask your parents for a ride.

Explanation

The correct answer is ", so you." This completes the sentence by indicating that having a car allows you to get places quickly, so you don't have to ask your parents for a ride.

3. Which sentence below is correct?

Look through the window and you can see the mountain peaks in the distance.

If you look through the window, you can see the mountain peaks in the distance.

Look through the window, you can see the mountain peaks in the distance.

You can see the mountain peaks in the distance, look through the window.

This sentence is a conditional sentence, correctly structured with "if" clause expressing the condition ("if you look through the window") and the main clause expressing the result ("you can see the mountain peaks in the distance"). The other options are either grammatically incorrect or create awkward phrasing.

Explanation

This sentence is a conditional sentence, correctly structured with "if" clause expressing the condition ("if you look through the window") and the main clause expressing the result ("you can see the mountain peaks in the distance"). The other options are either grammatically incorrect or create awkward phrasing.

4. Which one is NOT a sentence fragment?

Sand piling up along the beach.

She wanted to use a shovel to dig a hole in the ground.

However, who wanted to be the winner of the contest.

The given answer, "She wanted to use a shovel to dig a hole in the ground," is not a sentence fragment because it contains both a subject (she) and a predicate (wanted to use a shovel to dig a hole in the ground). It forms a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. In contrast, the other options are sentence fragments because they lack either a subject or a predicate, or they do not form a complete thought.

Explanation

The given answer, "She wanted to use a shovel to dig a hole in the ground," is not a sentence fragment because it contains both a subject (she) and a predicate (wanted to use a shovel to dig a hole in the ground). It forms a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. In contrast, the other options are sentence fragments because they lack either a subject or a predicate, or they do not form a complete thought.

5. Which one is NOT a sentence fragment?

Although it was a more difficult test than the students had ever taken.

We decided to study before we went out to the party.

Her ability to remember details, after all, not what she used to be.

The given sentence "We decided to study before we went out to the party" is not a sentence fragment because it contains a subject (We) and a predicate (decided to study before we went out to the party), forming a complete thought.

Explanation

The given sentence "We decided to study before we went out to the party" is not a sentence fragment because it contains a subject (We) and a predicate (decided to study before we went out to the party), forming a complete thought.

6.

Select the answer that correctly completes each group of words to form a sentence or sentences. The best way to get to Columbus, Ohio is to take the highway __________ is no point in taking an airplane these days.

, there;

, there

. There

There

The correct answer is "there". The sentence is suggesting that taking the highway is the best way to get to Columbus, Ohio because there is no point in taking an airplane these days. The word "there" is used to indicate the reason or explanation for why taking the highway is the best option.

Explanation

The correct answer is "there". The sentence is suggesting that taking the highway is the best way to get to Columbus, Ohio because there is no point in taking an airplane these days. The word "there" is used to indicate the reason or explanation for why taking the highway is the best option.

7. Which one is NOT a sentence fragment?

Bobby receiving more than sixty boxes of donations this year.

Leaving for Florida soon.

Since Susan hasn't seen the dentist, her teeth are rotten.

The correct answer is "Since Susan hasn't seen the dentist, her teeth are rotten." This is not a sentence fragment because it contains both a subject (Susan) and a predicate (hasn't seen the dentist, her teeth are rotten). It forms a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. The other options, "Bobby receiving more than sixty boxes of donations this year" and "Leaving for Florida soon," are sentence fragments because they lack a subject or a predicate.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Since Susan hasn't seen the dentist, her teeth are rotten." This is not a sentence fragment because it contains both a subject (Susan) and a predicate (hasn't seen the dentist, her teeth are rotten). It forms a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. The other options, "Bobby receiving more than sixty boxes of donations this year" and "Leaving for Florida soon," are sentence fragments because they lack a subject or a predicate.

8. What does the following sentence need? Bobby is pleased with the purchase he made earlier in the day.

The sentence is correct.

The group of words is a dependent clause and can't stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a phrase and is missing a verb; it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a run-on or comma splice and needs a conjunction.

The given sentence "Bobby is pleased with the purchase he made earlier in the day" is grammatically correct and does not require any changes or additions. It is a complete sentence with a subject (Bobby) and a predicate (is pleased with the purchase he made earlier in the day). Therefore, the answer "The sentence is correct" is appropriate.

Explanation

The given sentence "Bobby is pleased with the purchase he made earlier in the day" is grammatically correct and does not require any changes or additions. It is a complete sentence with a subject (Bobby) and a predicate (is pleased with the purchase he made earlier in the day). Therefore, the answer "The sentence is correct" is appropriate.

9. Which sentence below is correct?

Our town has four restaurants only one open at 7:00 am.

Our town has four restaurants! only one is open at 7:00 am.

Our town has four restaurants; only one, is open at 7:00 am.

Our town has four restaurants, and only one is open at 7:00 am.

Only one is open at 7:00 am, our town has four restaurants.

The correct answer is "Our town has four restaurants, and only one is open at 7:00 am." This sentence effectively conveys the information that there are four restaurants in the town, and out of those four, only one is open at 7:00 am. The use of the coordinating conjunction "and" appropriately connects the two ideas in the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Our town has four restaurants, and only one is open at 7:00 am." This sentence effectively conveys the information that there are four restaurants in the town, and out of those four, only one is open at 7:00 am. The use of the coordinating conjunction "and" appropriately connects the two ideas in the sentence.

10. What does the following sentence need?

Until I receive confirmation that you have enrolled in classes this semester.

The sentence is correct.

The group of words is a dependent clause and can't stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a phrase and is missing a verb; it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a run-on or comma splice and needs conjunction.

The given sentence "Until I receive confirmation that you have enrolled in classes this semester" is a dependent clause because it starts with the subordinating conjunction "until" and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It is dependent on another clause to form a complete sentence.

Explanation

The given sentence "Until I receive confirmation that you have enrolled in classes this semester" is a dependent clause because it starts with the subordinating conjunction "until" and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It is dependent on another clause to form a complete sentence.

11. What does the following sentence need? Pauline yelled at the boy teetering on the bridge he fell in.

The sentence is correct.

The group of words is a dependent clause and can't stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a phrase and is missing a verb; it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a run-on or comma splice and needs a conjunction.

The given sentence "Pauline yelled at the boy teetering on the bridge he fell in" is a run-on or comma splice because it combines two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a conjunction. The phrase "he fell in" is a separate clause and needs to be connected to the main clause with a conjunction like "and" or "but" to create a grammatically correct sentence.

Explanation

The given sentence "Pauline yelled at the boy teetering on the bridge he fell in" is a run-on or comma splice because it combines two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a conjunction. The phrase "he fell in" is a separate clause and needs to be connected to the main clause with a conjunction like "and" or "but" to create a grammatically correct sentence.

12. Which sentence below is correct?

Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter, however in the summer he'll take a brief jog.

Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter, however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog.

Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog.

Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter; however in the summer he'll take a brief jog.

Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter; however, in the summer, he'll take a brief jog.

The correct answer is "Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter; however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog." This sentence is correct because it uses a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses, "Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter" and "however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog." The use of a semicolon is appropriate here because the two clauses are closely related and the second clause provides additional information or contrast to the first clause. Additionally, the sentence uses commas correctly to set off the word "however" as an interrupter.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter; however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog." This sentence is correct because it uses a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses, "Larry is never interested in going for a run in the winter" and "however, in the summer he'll take a brief jog." The use of a semicolon is appropriate here because the two clauses are closely related and the second clause provides additional information or contrast to the first clause. Additionally, the sentence uses commas correctly to set off the word "however" as an interrupter.

13. Which sentence below is correct?

We've done all that we can here to pack up the supplies.

We've done all that we can here, pack up the supplies.

Pack up the supplies, we've done all that we can here.

We've done all that we can here; pack up the supplies.

The correct answer is "We've done all that we can here; pack up the supplies." This sentence is correct because it uses a semicolon to separate two independent clauses. The first clause "We've done all that we can here" stands alone as a complete sentence, and the second clause "pack up the supplies" also stands alone as a complete sentence. The semicolon is used to show a stronger connection between the two clauses compared to using a period or comma.

Explanation

The correct answer is "We've done all that we can here; pack up the supplies." This sentence is correct because it uses a semicolon to separate two independent clauses. The first clause "We've done all that we can here" stands alone as a complete sentence, and the second clause "pack up the supplies" also stands alone as a complete sentence. The semicolon is used to show a stronger connection between the two clauses compared to using a period or comma.

14. What does the following sentence need?

Laughing that hard made my stomach hurt, I had to sit down.

The sentence is correct.

The group of words is a dependent clause and can't stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a phrase and is missing a verb; it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a run-on or comma splice and needs conjunction.

The given sentence "Laughing that hard made my stomach hurt, I had to sit down." is a run-on or comma splice because it contains two independent clauses ("Laughing that hard made my stomach hurt" and "I had to sit down") that are joined together with just a comma. To correct this, a conjunction like "so" or "therefore" should be used to connect the two clauses.

Explanation

The given sentence "Laughing that hard made my stomach hurt, I had to sit down." is a run-on or comma splice because it contains two independent clauses ("Laughing that hard made my stomach hurt" and "I had to sit down") that are joined together with just a comma. To correct this, a conjunction like "so" or "therefore" should be used to connect the two clauses.

15. What does the following sentence need? Planning on getting married for over a year.

The sentence is correct.

The group of words is a dependent clause and can't stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a phrase and is missing a subject; it cannot stand alone as a sentence.

The group of words is a run-on or comma splice and needs a conjunction or semicolon.

This group of words lacks a subject performing the action described by "planning," making it incomplete as a standalone sentence. A correct sentence would require a subject and possibly further clarification, such as "We have been planning on getting married for over a year."

Explanation

This group of words lacks a subject performing the action described by "planning," making it incomplete as a standalone sentence. A correct sentence would require a subject and possibly further clarification, such as "We have been planning on getting married for over a year."