Lesson 13  -  Run-On Sentences

Tennessee Blueprint - 5th Grade
Assessed - Select the most appropriate method to correct a run-on sentence (i.e., conjunctions, semi-colons, and periods to join or separate elements) within context.

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In this lesson you will learn how to recognize and correct run-on sentences. A run-on sentence is two or more sentences that are incorrectly written as one sentence. The length of the sentence has nothing to do with it being a run-on sentence. Here are some examples:

Incorrect In the afternoon our judge came over and introduced himself he told us he'd be going with us that night.	Correct In the afternoon our judge came over and introduced himself. He told us he'd be going with us that night.
Incorrect Little Ann smelled a coon she took off.	Correct Little Ann smelled a coon, so she took off.
Incorrect My dogs treed they were across the river from us.	Correct My dogs treed; they were across the river from us.
Incorrect Everything was fine we reached midstream.	Correct Everything was fine, until we reached midstream.

Practice

Part A   Write run-on or correct in each of the blank spaces.

1. _____________________ The judge said, "You can't beat these Ozark Mountain nights for beauty."
2. _____________________ Grandpa started to say something his voice was drowned out by the bell-like cry of Little Ann.
3. _____________________ Grandpa got tangled up in some underbrush, and lost his hat and spectacles.
4. _____________________ Twenty minutes later we heard them coming back we stopped.
5. _____________________ Closing my eyes, I could almost see them running, bodies stretched to their fullest length, legs pounding up and down, white steam rolling from their hot breath in the frosty night.

Part B  There are four methods for correcting run-on sentences. The first is to simply make two sentences.

Example:
Grandpa snorted the judge laughed.
Grandpa	snorted	the	judge laughed.

In the following practice correct the following run-on sentences by adding editing marks to make two simple sentences.

1. We walked on every now and then we would stop and listen.
2. At that moment, the loud clear voice of a redbone hound, bawling treed, rang through the river bottoms it was the voice of Little Ann.
3. All three disappeared under the water I held my breath.
4. Grandpa got nervous he asked if I ought to whoop to my dogs.

Part C The second method for correcting run-on sentences is linking the sentences or clauses with a conjunction. (The seven coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember by the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.)  

Example:
We skinned the coon soon were on our way again.
We skinned the coon					soon were on our way again.

In this practice correct the following run-on sentences by adding a comma and a conjunction.

1. We knew we shouldn't be laughing we couldn't help ourselves.
2. I was sure the coon had walked the rail fence in some way had fooled my dogs.
3. The hackberry tree has something to do with his trick I don't know what.
4. I've been hunting coons and judging coon hunts for forty years I've never seen anything like that.

Part D The third method for correcting run-on sentences is joining the two clauses with a semicolon. Use a semicolon to join clauses when the ideas are closely connected and need no transition word to explain the connection between them. The semicolon, as used here, is the grammatical equivalent of a period.

Example:
It's daylight now if we walk up to the tree, the coon will jump out.
It's daylight now		if we walk up to the tree, the coon will jump out.

In the following practice correct the following run-on sentences by joining the two clauses with a semicolon.

1. I knew that Little Ann had scented the coon in the air the same as she had the ghost coon.
2. I'll tell you it was the prettiest sight I ever saw.
3. He jerked off his hat he let out a yell.
4. It wasn't a whoop or a screech it was about halfway in between.

Part E The fourth method for correcting run-on sentences is by making one of the clauses dependent by adding words such as since, which, that, although, because, or while.

Example:
We have to get one more coon I have to tree it myself.
We have to get one more coon		I have to tree it myself.

In the following practice correct the run-on sentences by making one of the clauses dependent. The following list of words will help you:

1. We came into the campground the hunters came out of their tents and gathered around us.
2. There is a tie for the championship there will be another runoff.
3. I turned them loose they started for the timber.
4. It was getting daylight the birds were singing.