2. My suggestion is just a shot in the dark, but it’s better
than nothing.
3. Janice got more than she bargained for when she offered
to help Larry with his math homework.
Cross out the inflated words in each sentence. Then substitute clear, simple language for the inflated words. (p.549)
1. When my writing implement malfunctioned, I asked the
professor for another.
2. The meaning of the movie’s conclusion eluded my
comprehension.
3. The departmental conference will commence promptly at
two o’clock.
Part three The Sentence
I. Complete Sentence and Sentence Fragments
To find a subject:
Who is the first sentence about? The boy. What is the second sentence about? That fish.
To find a verb:
What does the first sentence say about the boy? He cried. What does the second sentence say about the fish? It smells.
Common Types of Fragments: Dependent-word fragments:(p.415-6)
1. After I cashed my paycheck. I treated myself to dinner. a._______________________________ b._______________________________ 2. I won’t leave the house. Until I hear from you.
3. Rick finally picked up the socks. That he had thrown on the floor days ago.
4. I drove past the old brick house. The place where I grew up.
-ing and to fragments:(p.418-9)
1. Ellen walked all over the neighborhood yesterday. Trying to find her dog Bo. Several people claimed they had seen him only hours before.
2. We sat back to watch the movie. Not expecting anything special. To our surprise, we clapped, and cried for the next two hours.
3. I telephoned the balloon store. It being the day before our wedding anniversary. I knew my wife would be surprised to receive a dozen heart-shaped balloons.
4. At the Chinese restaurant, Tim used chopsticks. To impress his date. He spent one hour eating a small bowl or rice.
Added-detail fragments:(p.421)
1. Before a race, I eat starchy food. Such as bread and spaghetti. The carbohydrates provide quick energy.
2. Bob is taking a night course in auto mechanics. Also, one in plumbing. He wants to save money on household repairs. 3. My son keeps several pets in his room. Including hamsters and mice.
Missing-subject fragments:(p.423)
1. Alicia loved getting wedding presents. But hated writing thank-you notes.
2. Mickey has orange soda and potato chips for breakfast. Then eats more junk food, like root beer and cookies, for lunch. 3. Every other day, Kara runs two miles. Then does fifty sit-ups. She hasn’t lost weight, but she looks trimmer and more muscular.
How to correct run-ons?
Method 1: period and a capital letter (p.430) Correct the following run-ons:
1. In the summer, ants are attracted to water they will
often enter a house through his dishwasher.
2. Humans have managed to adapt to any environment
they can survive in Arctic waste, tropical jungles, and barren deserts.
3. A five-year-old child knows over six thousand words
he or she has also learned more than one thousand rules of grammar.
Method 2: comma and a joining word (p.431)
Insert the joining word (and, but, for, so) that logically connects the two thoughts in each sentence:
1.
Teresa works full-time for an accounting firm, ____ she takes evening classes. 2.
I turned to the wanted ads, ____ I knew my dream job wouldn’t be listed. 3.
Lizards become sluggish at night, ____ they need the sun’s warmth to maintain an active body
temperature. 4.
The canoe touched bottom, ____ Dave pushed it toward deeper water.
Method 3: semicolon (p.434)
Insert a semicolon where the break occurs between the two complete thoughts in each sentences: (p.435)
1. The children stared at the artichokes on their plates
they didn’t know how to eat strange vegetable. 2. I changed that light bulb just last week now it’s blown
again.
3. Maya curled up under the covers she tried to get warm
by grasping her icy feet with her chilly hands.
Choose a logical transitional word to fill in the blanks. Use a semicolon before the connector and a comma after it:(p.437)
1.
Jackie
suffers
from
migraine
headaches
_________ her doctor has advised her to avoid caffeine and alcohol. 2.
Ray’s apartment is always neat and clean _________ the interior of her car looks like the aftermath of a tornado. 3.
I try to attend all my math classes ________ I’ll