Run-On Sentences
Run-sentences are problematic for English language learners and native speakers alike. Fortunately, once you understand what a run-on sentence is exactly, you can easily avoid them!
What is a run-on sentence? A run-on sentence is a sentence that joins two or more independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions. It can also occur when there are too many phrases or clauses in a sentence with no indications where one ends and another begins.
Example:
"I saw a movie yesterday it was really good."
This sentence can be corrected in two ways:
1. Add a period and create two separate sentences:
"I saw a movie yesterday. It was really good."
2. Add a coordinating conjunction (like "and" or "but"), or a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses:
"I saw a movie yesterday, and it was really good." or "I saw a movie yesterday; it was really good."
Either way, the two independent clauses are separated, making the sentence clear and easy to read.
What is an independent clause? To put it simply, an independent clause is a complete thought that is a grammatically correct sentence. An independent clause must contain a subject and a verb while expressing a complete idea. If it expresses a complete idea, you should never be left wondering “…and?”
Examples:
She went to the store. (Subject: she, Verb: went)
The dog barked loudly. (Subject: The dog, Verb: barked)
James enjoys playing basketball. (Subject: James, Verb: enjoys - this is the main verb while “playing” is a present participle verb acting as a noun phrase complementing the main verb)
What is a conjunction? Conjunctions are words that connect phrases or clauses in a sentence. Conjunctions can help you express more complex thoughts. They can be remembered with the acronym FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).
Examples:
She went to the store and she bought some groceries. (and)
The dog barked loudly, but nobody paid attention. (but)
James enjoys playing basketball, so he joined the school team. (so)
How can I use punctuation to make a complete sentence? If you would like to connect two independent clauses to express more complex thoughts or ideas than you can do this using punctuation. Independent clauses can be joined by a comma (,), semicolon (;), or colon (:).
Examples:
She went to the store, and she bought some groceries. (comma)
The dog barked loudly; everyone woke up. (semicolon)
James enjoys playing basketball: it keeps him fit. (colon)
The Takeaway
Now that you understand what makes a complete sentence, you can avoid the pesky run-on sentences that are so common among native and non-native English speakers. Simply ensure to connect your independent clauses with a conjunction or punctuation. Keep practicing these concepts and you will improve your speaking and writing skills in no time!
