Lesson 14  -  Run-On Sentences -  More Practice

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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This lesson will provide additional practice with run-on sentences.

Things to Remember:

1. A run-on sentence is two or more sentences that are incorrectly written as one sentence.

2. The length of the sentence has nothing to do with it being a run-on sentence.

3. There are four methods for correcting run-on sentences. They are:

   1. Making separate sentences.
   2. 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.)
   3. Joining the two clauses with a semicolon.
   4. Making one of the clauses a dependent by adding words such as since, which, that, although, because, or while.

Practice

Part A Multiple Choice

1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and is not a fragment or a run-on.
   1. Looking up at the sky.
   2. The sky had turned dark gray fast-moving clouds were rolling through the heavens.
   3. Scared and thinking everyone might want to stop hunting.
   4. All game stirs just before a storm.
2. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and is not a fragment or a run-on.
   1. It was beginning to sleet the air turned cold and chilly.
   2. I whooped as loud as I could.
   3. If there was any danger of getting lost.
   4. I don't know it's all strange country to me.
3. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and is not a fragment or a run-on.
   1. It is bad.
   2. There's no telling where they are. May have crossed the river.
   3. Scared and knowing.
   4. You can't see or hear a thing we had better start back for camp.
4. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and is not a fragment or a run-on.
   1. Or made a move to go on.
   2. Sobbing.
   3. A man could freeze to death your dogs will give up and come in.
   4. That's what has me worried; they won't come in.
5. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and is not a fragment or a run-on.
   1. From which direction?
   2. From that way.
   3. I thought I did I'm not sure.
   4. I can't hear anything in this storm.

Part B Read the paragraph and find where each sentence begins and ends. To correct the run-on sentences, insert correct punctuation and use editing marks to show letters that should be capitalized.

1.      the men were giving up i felt the knot again as it crawled up in my throat salt water froze on my eyelashes kneeling down, i put my ear close to the icy ground in hopes i could hear my dogs, but i couldn't hear anything above the roar of the blizzard.
2.      just when i had given up all hope and had sunk to the lowest depth of despair, out of the white wall of driving sleet, my little dog came to me i knelt down and gathered her in my arms.
3.      i don't know how she did it straight into the face of the storm she led us time after time she would stop and turn her head this way and that i knew she couldn't scent or see anything instinct alone was guiding her over a winding and twisting trail, we followed.

Part C
Correct the following run-on sentences using a variety of methods.

1. (Correct by making separate sentences.)
   The judge looked at his watch it's almost five o'clock.
   
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2. (Correct by using a conjunction.)
   Papa lifted him to a sitting position he told the judge to start slapping his face.
   
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3. (Correct with a semicolon.)
   Papa shot time after time. It was useless we got no answer.
   
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4. (Correct by making one of the clauses a dependent.)
   We could get lost in here we'll be in bad shape.
   
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Part D
Correct the following run-on sentences using a variety of methods.

1. The ankle had twisted the searing pain must have made him unconscious.
   
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2. I stood rooted in my tracks I watched three big coons roll out of the busted old trunk.
   
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3. It's not long till daylight then you can go to them.
   
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4. It's the men from the camp they're searching for us.
   
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