Is it a complete sentence or a run-on?

Key Notes:

What is a Complete Sentence? ✅

A complete sentence expresses a full thought.

• It has a subject (who/what) 🌿
• It has a predicate (what the subject does or is) ⚡
• It starts with a capital letter and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation mark

Examples:

1. 🌞 The sun rises in the east. ✅
2. 🐶 The dog barked loudly. ✅
3. 🎂 My sister is baking a cake. ✅

What is a Run-On Sentence? ❌

A run-on sentence happens when two or more complete sentences are joined incorrectly.

• Usually missing punctuation (period, semicolon, or comma + conjunction)
• Makes the sentence confusing or too long

Examples:

1. 🌧️ It was raining we stayed indoors. ❌
   • ✅ Corrected: It was raining, so we stayed indoors.
2. 🍎 I like apples they are very tasty. ❌
   • ✅ Corrected: I like apples because they are very tasty.
3. 🚗 She drove to school she forgot her bag. ❌
   • ✅ Corrected: She drove to school, but she forgot her bag.

How to Identify ✅ or ❌

1. Count subjects + predicates:
   • 1 complete thought → ✅ Complete Sentence
   • 2+ complete thoughts without proper punctuation → ❌ Run-On
2. Check punctuation:
   • Missing period, semicolon, or comma + conjunction can create a run-on
3. Ask: Does it make sense as one complete idea or two ideas mashed together?

Examples for Practice

Sentence	Complete or Run-On?	Correction
🐦 Birds are singing.	✅ Complete Sentence	Already correct
🍫 I wanted chocolate I ate it quickly.	❌ Run-On	I wanted chocolate, so I ate it quickly.
👩‍🏫 The teacher explained the lesson.	✅ Complete Sentence	Already correct
🚴 I went cycling I fell off my bike.	❌ Run-On	I went cycling, and I fell off my bike.
🐱 The cat slept on the sofa.	✅ Complete Sentence	Already correct

Quick Tips 💡

• ✅ Complete Sentence = Full thought + subject + predicate
• ❌ Run-On = Two or more complete thoughts joined without proper punctuation
• ✅ Fix run-ons using:
  • Period (.)
  • Comma + conjunction (and, but, so, or, yet)
  • Semicolon (;)

✨ Remember:

• Complete sentences are clear and complete 🌈
• Run-ons are too long and confusing ⚠️
• Always check number of subjects/predicates + punctuation