Course Content
Sentence Structure
A sentence is a group of words that can stand alone. To express a complete thought, it must contain a subject and a verb. Every sentence consists of at least one clause or more, and most have a number of phrases as well. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. A phrase is a group of words that does not have both a subject and a verb. E.g. Dogs bark. - This is a sentence with subject and verb E.g. The explorers slept in yak-hide tents. – This is a clause E.g. Looking out of the window, John saw a flying saucer. – Highlighted is the phrase.
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1. Relationship Words
Sentence Structure Exercise
Relationship Words Exercise
2. Sentence Fragments
Sentence Fragment Exercise
3. Run-on Sentences
Conjunctions Exercise
Run-On Sentences Exercise
4. Nonessential Information
Nonessential Information Exercise
5. Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced modifiers Exercise
6. Ambiguous Modifiers
Ambiguous Modifiers Exercise
Mastering “Sentence Structure” for SAT Success

A run-on sentence is actually two complete sentence stuck together, either with just a comma or with no punctuation at all.

Conjunctions connect clauses to show continuity, cause-and-effect, contrast, or the sequence of events.

              WRONG: The children had been playing in the park, they were covered with mud.

              WRONG: The children had been playing in the park they were covered with mud.

              How to correct run-on sentences:

  • Use a conjunction.

RIGHT: The children had been playing in the park, so they were covered with mud.

  • Join the clauses with a semicolon.

RIGHT: The children had been playing in the park; they were covered with mud.

  • Make one of the clauses subordinates.

RIGHT: Because the children had been playing in the park, they were covered with mud.

RIGHT: The children were covered with mud because they had been playing in the park.

  • Combine the two independent clauses into one independent clause.

RIGHT: The children had been playing in the park, and they were covered with mud.

  • Create two separate sentences.

RIGHT: The children had been playing in the park. They were covered with mud.

** Be careful with words like accordingly, however, meanwhile, and therefore. These words cannot be used with a comma to join independent clauses. Yet they can be used with a semicolon to join independent clauses.

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