Fragments, Run-ons & Sentence Traps

Concept

A complete sentence needs a subject and a finite verb and must express a complete idea. A fragment is missing one of these; a run-on joins two complete sentences without correct punctuation or a connector.

الجملة التامة تحتاج فاعلاً وفعلاً وفكرة مكتملة. الجملة الناقصة تفتقد أحدها، والجملة المتصلة تربط جملتين تامتين دون أداة ربط أو ترقيم صحيح.

Rules & forms

• Every sentence needs a subject + a finite verb.

  • • The students finished the exam. ✅
  • • Because the students finished the exam. ❌ (fragment)

• Fix a comma splice with a full stop, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction.

  • • It was late, we went home. ❌
  • • It was late, so we went home. ✅
  • • It was late; we went home. ✅

• A subordinate clause cannot stand alone — attach it to a main clause.

  • • Although he studied hard, he failed the test.

• Keep one finite verb per clause: don't double the verb.

  • • He is works here. ❌ → He works here. ✅

• Keep parallel structure in lists.

  • • She likes reading, writing and swimming. (not: ... and to swim)

Common mistakes & STEP traps

• ❌ Because he was tired.

  ✅ He went to bed because he was tired.

  A because-clause alone is a fragment.

• ❌ The exam was hard, everyone passed.

  ✅ The exam was hard, but everyone passed.

  Two clauses need a connector, not just a comma.

• ❌ The man who lives next door.

  ✅ The man who lives next door is a doctor.

  The relative clause left the sentence without a main verb.

• ❌ She enjoys running, cycling and to swim.

  ✅ She enjoys running, cycling and swimming.

  Items in a list must share the same form.